Jayne Mansfield and husband Mickey Hargitay at Divoon "I love you Jayne"

Providence Perfume Co. has produced some of the finest modern botanical perfumes to be found. Not old enough to be vintage, but Charna Ethier is a perfumer with skills to produce a classic early in her career with Divine, created in 2009. Charna has said Divine is “…like a glamorous friend who is never without her red lipstick.” A glamorous friend with hidden depth, which is why I refer to it as “Divoon.” A phrase from another classic beauty, Jayne Mansfield- referring to her pink heart shaped pool and champagne lifestyle. Both Divine and Jayne are classic over-the-top florals with a flair for showmanship while maintaining technical expertise.

Jayne Mansfield in a orange leopard bikini

Acidic musk tinged by orange and pink florals hit the stage as Divine opens, the shocking image of platinum blonde as lights strike the brazen Mansfield. A polished carnal presence which because of it's perfectly balanced citrus accord and botanical animalic.  Does not offend in its bombshell revelations. Mimosas for all, there's a star about to perform; she will be haughty and she will be heavenly. She is neroli in a orange zested push up bra, boa bouquet draped to keep sensuality sunny and fun.  Tropical in Fairbanks or St. Tropez, one cannot escape the bikini tan lined joy in Divine.

Curvaceous and feminine, rose de mai and an orange blossom  as big as Jayne's persona reveal a tenderness and warmth floating on the surface of the original Divoon swimming pool on a summer's day- complete with a vanilla aspect courtesy of Madagascar vanilla. Here we languish in decadence, a practiced art of Ms. Mansfield and Ms. Ethier can translate this bigger-than-life aesthetic with outstanding projection for neither are wallflowers this divoon Divine nor the red lipped star.

Peter Basch 'Jayne Mansfield' 1950s with perfume at her boudoir

Several hours pass while the sweetest amber accord lovingly embraces each note, holding it as if their dissipation were too much to bear. She leaves but a trace of perfume and the soft musk of the presence of skin. The beauty of nature eventually fades, and so we lose Divine in a gentle dry down of golden powder- a fate unlikely of the memory of Ms. Mansfield.

 

Siouxsie & The Banshees paid tribute to the late Jayne Mansfield  in their 1991 song Kiss them for me “…oh it's divoon, it's serene…” a fitting description of Divine.  Known for Gothic influence, Siouxsie could be referencing a darker divoon offering which still exists (while supplies last) of Divine Noir– for the occult fan, or for hanging out with Anton LaVey.

Notes: sparkling orange blossom, neroli, rose de mai, bitter orange zest, amber, botanical musk, and creamy Madagascar vanilla.

-Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor

(disclosure: my sample was provided by Providence Perfume Co. for review.)

 Thanks to Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co.  30 ml of Divine for a US reader. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you thought was Divoon about Einsof's review of Divine. Draw closes 3/15/2015

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