The story of Ungaro
The son of Italian immigrants in Aix-en-Provence, Emanuel Ungaro learned to sew from his tailor father. He moved to Paris and worked for Cristóbal Balenciaga. In 1965 he founded his own house. He became known for mixing things up: stacked prints, bright colour and close draping. The first fragrance, Diva, came out in 1983. Men's scents followed in the early 1990s in a numbered series that includes pour l'Homme III. In 1997 Ungaro teamed up with Salvatore Ferragamo and Bulgari to set up a dedicated fragrance company. After the designer left, the label changed owners several times. In 2016 La Diva revived the house's best-known name in a more current fruity style.
An olfactory signature
Ungaro perfumery likes an assertive kind of femininity. Diva is a floral chypre built around rose, with moss and woods underneath. It belongs to that 1980s generation that never apologised for being strong. La Diva translates the name for a younger crowd. Raspberry, pear and orange sit on honey and vanilla. Ungaro pour l'Homme III plays an aromatic woody tune, more classic, and it still has loyal fans. Generosity is the thread that ties the three together.
Which Ungaro perfume to choose?
If you like chypres and rose, smell Diva first. It suits autumn and winter, and one spray is enough. La Diva is sweeter and easier for daily wear, though it lacks the original's character. For men, Ungaro pour l'Homme III works at the office and on weekends. It stays a safe, cheap pick for fans of 1990s aromatics. Try older bottles if you come across them, since the formulas have changed.