How does one capture the scent of “joy” or that of any emotion, for that matter? Well, if you’re Dior’s master perfumer François Demachy, you tap into your inner feelings, play with a bounty of ingredients, add spokesperson Jennifer Lawrence into the mix, et voilà: Joy Eau de Parfum is born. Ok, so obviously there’s so much more to it than that, but doesn’t my version sound like fun?
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Is it strange that even this box gives me joy?
JOY Eau de Parfum (CAN $119.00/50 ml) | Let’s get the elephant(s) in the room out the way, shall we? Yes, I’m aware that the iconic fragrance ‘Joy by Jean Patou’ will always be THE one and only that people will refer to when they hear this name, so it may seem rather presumptuous on the part of Dior to have assumed it. I also understand that Dior actually bought that venerable fragrance house, so I’m guessing all the legalities were dutifully attended to and even though I’ve never personally smelled the Jean Patou version, my gut tells me that the two are nothing alike. It may also be a coincidence that the name of this fragrance just happens to be the same name/title of a movie that spokesperson Jennifer Lawrence starred in — but then again, coincidence or not, I personally don’t mind the tie-in. Lastly, I did some quick research and some people are comparing this to CHANEL’s Allure, but again, since I’ve never worn or smelled that, I couldn’t say — and neither am I bothered by it. Ok … now for the fun stuff!
The bottle with the name in modern silver raised lettering that fronts the deceptively simple (but still sophisticated) column-like shape, is crowned by a matching silver cap that appears to have fine silver threading — a nod to the House’s fashion heritage, no doubt.
Imagining what “joy” is and then trying to bottle that, was not the intention here, but rather it became more a poetic license on the word, with the freedom to interpret the meaning in an olfactive way: lighthearted and fun without veering into the overly clichéd. The body of the fragrance encompasses flowers, woods, and even musks, providing a rounded feel that is light enough to wear every day, but can still trail languidly away into evening.
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Rose (both in Essence & Absolute), Jasmine
- Heart Notes: Sandalwood, Cedar, Patchouli
- Base Notes: Musks
JOY by Dior expresses the remarkable feeling of joy by providing an olfactive interpretation of light. What I mean by that, is that this perfume resembles certain pointillist paintings that are rich with with a precise, yet not too obvious, technique. Each of us perceives light, without thinking about it, in our own way. This perfume is constructed in a similar manner thanks to multiple nuances and myriad facets, which lead to a crystal-clear fragrance expression. It required a lot of time, development and abstraction, but in the end, it has an immediate and lively presence
— François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator
So here’s the thing; I’m not a perfumer and can only speak for what works for me & my body’s unique chemistry. That said, I happen to steer clear of anything that falls in the aldehydic or powdery category, as those scents tend to trigger an instant migraine — so I approach with caution. One quick spritz of Joy, and I was literally beaming from ear to ear; I don’t know why, but this fragrance made me actually feel happy. I felt transported to certain memories I hold dear, and then it hit me: THAT’s what this fragrance was all about. The fact that I happen to adore Jennifer Lawrence, didn’t hurt the cause either …
Available at Sephora & Dior counters nationwide
Kindly provided by Dior for my unbiased consideration
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