The Scented Meeting

From a spiritual symbol to a luxurious treat, the Fig tree is saturated literally within biblical texts and has had numerous meanings for millennia, including wisdom and success. Alongside, as a symbol of love and passion, the ancient Greeks and Romans associated Roses with Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love. Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words, they also represent confidentiality. But what happens when they come together?

In the Garden of Eden, the Fig Tree was the forbidden tree that Adam and Eve ate from. And it was the tree’s giant leaves they used to hide their nakedness.

Yet, even with its patchy start, there are many ways in which this gnarly tree has been seen in very positive ways. For example, it is said, that if you see a Fig tree in your dreams especially if the tree bears fruit then you are going into a period of prosperity.

In Egypt, the tree connected with the earth mothers Hathor, Nut and Isis as the “Lady of the Sycomore Fig” or the Tree of Life. The large roots of a Fig tree represented the past, its trunk the present, and its branches the future to come. 

Buddha sat and meditated under the Fig tree for 12 years, whilst the Hindu God Vishnu was born under this tree. Many sages in ancient India practised meditation under this tree. Some consider it a symbol of Israel and the country’s religious life, whilst, in African culture, this blooming tree is known as the ‘Queen of trees.’

In general, the Fig tree is seen as a symbol of fertility, abundance, and prosperity. It is also often seen as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

The Rose also has a long and prosperous set of symbolism associated with it including love and passion. Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words, they also represent confidentiality. In fact, the Latin expression “sub rosa”(literally, “under the rose”) means something told in secret, and in ancient Rome, a wild Rose was placed on the door to a room where confidential matters were being discussed.

Each colour offers a distinct meaning as well as the number of stems in a Rose bouquet can also express specific sentiments. It is the national flower of the United States and the state flower of Georgia, Iowa, New York, North Dakota and the District of Columbia. In the UK the rose is the symbol of the labour movement.

So why the colliding of these two ancient spiritual plants? Because perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the Perfume Creation Director of Dior went to meet Dior’s partner producers in Grasse, during the magnificent early morning Rose harvest. And so came about the birth of the newest and limited edition perfume Dioriviera.

The Château de la Colle Noire lay close by to the fields in which he stood, with the sun-scape of the French Riviera visible in the distance. The sweet air mulled with the sunshine of a Mediterranean spring morning. Rose’s floating scent warmed and caressed him.

Yet someone else wanted to join the fragranced party, the sweet green honeyed notes of rose were challenged by a heady bitter fresh sharp green set of notes, pushing its way onto his Francis’s scented trail.

He recognised immediately the scent of a majestic Fig tree, of its leaves warmed by the sun, of the French countryside. Like. like a flash of lightning inspiration, almost like an addiction, took over.

He know this would be his next scent. And so this duo took shape, natural, graceful, sunny and sensual.

« The inspiration for the Dioriviera fragrance came to me suddenly in Provence, in the midst of a field below the Colle Noire estate.
The southern sun was shining, the May roses were in bloom, and a warm breeze was blowing through the leaves of a majestic fig tree, my sole companion. This magical moment was seared into my memory, and in that very instant, the desire to create a perfume arose. Upon my return to Paris, a creative period began during which I shaped this love-at-first-sight, crafting the contours of its olfactory silhouette and transforming the idea into my first fragrance for La Collection Privée. Dioriviera is a stunning, radiant composition.
It is a casual, modern beauty with a sun-filled scent that conveys the love affair between Christian Dior and the French Riviera. »

Francis Kurkdjian Creation Director, Parfums Christian Dior

Although the inspiration came from the garden, the composition work took place in Paris. It didn’t happen straight away but was like any great creation it had to mull away in Francis’s heart and mind; to bring this obsession in scent, alive.

This flower-fruit duo: Fig and Rose, Rose and Fig. Much time and care were given over time to arrive at the point of balance for an inviting, enveloping perfume; and eventually a joyful dialogue was forged.

Thus this is the fairytale story of how Dioriviera was created.

Made up, of course, of notes of Rose de Mai, the Fig tree and leaves, alongside honeyed notes facets of bright sunlight; a meeting of fruity florals that sum up summer breezes in green and floral lands whilst a gentle wind blows. A final flourish of soft wood right at the end brings the fragrance to a soothing finish and a magical climax; a dazzling sensory moment.

A great fragrance is so much more than its scented heart, it is the emotions it brings. Here this fragrance so magical, a creation for Francis, but also with emotive roots deeper than his own feelings. The original Monsieur of the House of Dior, Christian Dior, had his soul in Provence. A place to escape the frantic city of his working life in Paris to idyllic lush southern France. To rest recoup and be…

What better way to round off this such personal scent, one that reflects the originator and the new king?

A divine fragrance brings happiness to our living and being.

Just in case you love the sun-blushed glow from holidays in places like the south of France, created by Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, the Dior Backstage includes a selection of blushes. Six different shades, the iconic 001 Pink and 004 Coral shades, are now joined by four inclusive new colours.

Dior Backstage is a combination of runway-proof formulas and buildable, inclusive shades, the range can fulfil different makeup wishes for subtle or bold looks.

To order the new Perfume Dioriveria please visit Dior.com, Here and for Dior Backstage please visit Dior.com, Here