Our take
What does Dahlia Divin smell like?
After Dahlia Noir in 2011, Givenchy followed with Dahlia Divin in 2014. François Demachy wrote the formula. The dahlia has almost no scent, so the perfume invents its own flower. The opening bets on mirabelle, a juicy yellow plum, made livelier by pink pepper. The heart rests on sambac jasmine, sunny and slightly indolic. A rose comes along but stays in the background. The base is the best part. Sandalwood forms a creamy foundation, while vetiver and patchouli dry it out until it feels almost like a chypre. That dryness keeps the scent from slipping into easy fruitiness. Dior's J'adore, another golden bouquet of the same era, comes to mind. Dahlia Divin is woodier and less radiant, though. It also lasts better on dry skin. Its main weakness is the opening, which is a little syrupy for the first few minutes until the jasmine takes over.
When to wear it
A dressy floral for dinners and occasions. Two sprays on the neckline carry you through the evening.
It belongs to the Floral, Woody family. Dahlia Divin is one of 40 creations by Givenchy in our encyclopedia.
