Needle In A Haystack: Diamond Water By JAR Parfums
June 29th, 2007
Today’s Needle In A Haystack is such a fancy perfume that it would never allow any sort of association with needles or hay for that matter - Diamond Water by JAR Parfums. If you’re not familiar with JAR Parfums, it’s founded by an American, Paris-based jewelry designer (Joel Arthur Rosenthal, hence the abbreviation) “who has a stellar client list for jewels that are inspired by nature and render it more beautiful in gems” (iht.com). As far as I know, the fragrances are sold in only two places - a free-standing boutique in Paris and a posh little room downstairs in the Bergdorf Goodman beauty department (which I also had the privilege to visit last fall). I won’t go into too much detail as to in what manner exactly the scents are available for testing, other than saying you don’t get to do a lot of touching and spraying yourself (if any at all!). Instead, it’s all done with the help of a medium (a charming man) who with a masterly sweep of hand, one by one, presents to you the jars filled with perfume-saturated fabric. If you then desire to do what all normal, self-respecting perfume maniacs like to do, that is, to do a skin test, you’re asked which scent in particular you’d like to try which is later on applied by the same hand, once again pretty much leaving you out of the equation. (I guess I have actually gone into detail describing the process - oh well). The presentation and the whole experience is obviously really cool with a certain enchanting flair. My only reservation (and perhaps a partial reason for not taking to JAR fragrances that much) is the air of superiority - you just feel sort of unworthy to not only smell but also wear these perfumes (which is also intensified by the fact no perfume notes are disclosed). Nevertheless, it’s still quite a remarkable experience, and I highly recommend it. Out of all the fragrances available, my favorite are Golconda and today’s pick, Diamond Water.
I’m afraid I have no recollection as to whether there was any explanation of the name and such, and I don’t know the official notes so I have to trust my nose. Diamond Water is a floral oriental with the emphasis on carnation. It starts out somewhat chilly, with a bite of cloves. It’s soon softened by what seems to be coconut (which adds certain creaminess) and nutmeg (which accounts for a gentle, dusty undertone). There’s probably some pepper thrown in for kicks. The scent really warms on skin, turning into an enveloping, fluffy blend. That’s about all I can say as far as the notes and development are concerned. I realize it’s hardly regal and fitting with all things JAR but, hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Diamond Water to me is a very appealing carnation fragrance, conjuring up deep, golden-purple satin. I’d very much like to own a bottle, if it didn’t have such a prohibitive price tag. Meanwhile, my sample suffices for occasional sniffs and visual effects in my memory.
Please be sure to check Marina’s pick of the day.
Entry Filed under: Needle In A Haystack, Perfume Reviews
18 Comments Add your own
1. chayaruchama | June 29th, 2007 at 5:54 am
The saints of sanity preserved me from stepping inside that den of iniquity this Spring, but it DIDN’T stop me from devouring the arms of those who had [ ask poor Juvy…I nearly ate her, poor girl !].
I’m still kicking myself for not buying Golconda at Colonial Drug [ Harvard Sq.] years ago, when it came out, because it was “too costly”…
HAH !
Just THINK of how much I’ve spent since…
Come over here, Inochka [said the spider to the fly]…
Closer… just a little bit closer, so I can smell you better….
2. Elle | June 29th, 2007 at 6:36 am
This is the only one of the JARs that I need. Seriously, need. Like I need air. Like I need to be adopted by Serge. Like I need Chinese plums to survive. I don’t need a house. If DH could only understand that and come to share my priorities in life, things would be so much better. Of course, if lemmings would quit poring in, I could set aside money and get this. I need to just put on blinders and save up.
3. Marina | June 29th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Shall we have the JAR experience you know when? I actually already know which one of their scents I like (Jardenia) so I am not sure I need all that frou-frou testing
But still…
Great review!!
4. newproducts | June 29th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Hmm, I’m not sure how I feel about coconut being a part of the blend.
I breifly toyed with undergoing the JAR experience at the sniffa, but there were too many people waiting for it. However did you obtain a sample when they are so prohibitive about you even touching the scent?
5. Judith | June 29th, 2007 at 7:35 am
I wholly enjoyed the JAR experience! You should definitely take M. there. Diamond Water is beautiful;, but I was simultaneously disappointed and relieved to find that it worked better on the skin of others than on my own. But then, I bought Golconda. Sigh.
6. winterwheat | June 29th, 2007 at 11:04 am
You know what? I really like reading perfume descriptions written by people who don’t know the notes. You get the true sense of the tester’s experience. Your summary was so evocative.
7. violetnoir | June 29th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Ina, a darling friend gave me a sample of DW last August. I just knew would love it…but I didn’t.
Oh, it was very pretty and all, but something about it just didn’t hit that “spot,” lol, know what I mean?
Hugs!
8. Gaia | June 29th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Diamond Water and Golconda are my two favorites, (though I need to try that dark Shadow again). There are bottles of both G and DW in my future. I resisted so far, but when a scent haunts one’s dreams, there’s only so much will power.
I didn’t identify the creaminess as coconut, but now that you’ve mentioned it, I believe you’re right. I hope you’ll reveiew Golconda as well.
9. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Chaya, I think I’ll stay right here. I’m scared!
10. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Elle, I knew you liked DW but this much? Wow. You’re scaring me. There’re so many awesome scents out there that you need to have.
11. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Marina, we sure shall! And we do need the experience.
12. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Minsun, my sample came from someone I swapped with. They do not give out samples (ugh!). Coconut is actually good in this one.
13. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Judith, see I’m still a little torn which one I really like. Must go find my sample of Golconda. At the sniffa last fall, I believe I tried Jarling which was really good and went all bad on me later, if you remember. I think that Hungarian man was the highlight of the whole experience.
14. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Kris, you flatter me but thank you!
By the way, when are you coming to see our new store?
15. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Robin, I kinda feel the same way about DW, and I’m not too upset in this case.
16. Ina | June 29th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Gaia, somewhere deep inside my soul I too wish to own these bottles but I don’t allow this thought to surface.
I’ll have to review Golconda, yes. Very intrigued to revisit it now.
17. faizanjax | June 30th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Clive Christian vs. JAR …whos going to win the battle of pretentious snobby display of “ok” juices ?
JAR sounds like its ahead by a note …
18. Ina | July 1st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Faizanjax, I can see what you mean. The world’s never without snobs.
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