Diorama by Christian Dior: created by Edmond Roudnitska and launched in 1948 in France, in USA by 1949.
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Diorama was available in the following:
Mademoiselle, 1949:
Cue, 1951:
Home Journal, 1953:
Christian Dior, 1970:
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Homes and Gardens, 1954:
Cue, 1966:
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Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a sweet fruity chypre fragrance for women with a slight oriental essence.- Top notes: bergamot, peach, melon, plum, aldehydes
- Middle notes: jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, rose, lily-of-the-valley, violet, caraway, , meridian fennel, strawberry, pepper, raspberry, galbanum
- Base notes: patchouli, labdanum, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, oak moss, Virginia cedar, castoreum, civet, leather
Diorama was available in the following:
- parfum
- eau de toilette
- eau de cologne
- dusting powder
"From France. Dior's sulky, sweet Diorama. $5 per dram."
"Dior suggests a tender, blossoming fragrance. Miss Dior, for the young in spirit. For the worldly wise, Diorama, a vivid, opulent perfume. $5.00 for a dram."
Home Journal, 1953:
"Dior's deep-toned scent of elegance, Diorama."
Vogue, 1968:
"Adventurous and slightly Oriental Diorama."
"A second scent, Diorama, was launched in 1949, when the first licence for Christian Dior stockings was agreed with Julius Kayser."
Bottles:
In the early 1950s, Diorama parfum was presented in Baccarat cut crystal urn/amphora shaped flacons, in blue, ruby and white cut to clear crystal.
Another rare presentation is the Baccarat crystal obelisk, from the 1950s.
The New Yorker, 1953:
"Dior, a practical fellow, has made some plain bottles for Diorama and Miss Dior. Sold with funnels, these are meant to refill the fancy bottles that were presumably, last year's Christmas presents. $9 a quarter ounce and $24 an ounce."
Home Journal, 1953:
"Dior makes refills for his deluxe urns in both Miss Dior and Diorama. Refill for the $30 bottle. $20."
Homes and Gardens, 1954:
"An elegant and delightful gift is Christian Dior's " Duo," of a 1/2 oz. amphore of Miss Dior perfume, and another of Diorama, in a grey-and-gold case."
Cue, 1966:
"Christian Dior has just introduced a complete aerosol perfume collection. In addition to the purse-size atomizer (at $5), you can now color-select your favorite in three sizes — Miss Dior in white package, Diorama in grey, Diorissimo in pink, Diorling in yellow."
Fate of the Fragrance:
Diorama was discontinued by 1990. But it was re-orchestrated with modern ingredients and relaunched in 2010 as part of Dior’s collection Les Creations de Monsieur Dior.
The new version's composition:
- Top notes: bergamot, ylang ylang, orange blossom
- Heart notes: Indian jasmine, Turkish rose, peach, caraway, Egyptian cumin, plum
- Base notes: patchouli, Virginia cedar
Les Creations de Monsieur Dior Diorama is available as:
- 50ml eau de toilette
- 100ml eau de toilette
