Designed by Christian Dior in 1956, now a famed classic. A romantic and carefree bouquet is composed around Christian Dior’s lucky flower and the emblem of Dior couture, lily of the valley. The fragrance is further softened with notes of jasmine, lilac and sandalwood. Diorissimo is a chance to indulge yourself in the soft, delightful scent of springtime. Classically feminine!

Years ago, I worked as a support tech at an ISP. Yes, a very geeky job (don't worry, I was pretty good at it), and the entire workplace was dominated by men. Since I was always in the back in the "tech lair" as we called it, I never bothered to wear makeup or wear anything especially dressy (jeans and t-shirts was - and is - my usual uniform). I wore some jewellery because I always wear rings and frequently wear earrings, but other than that, I was always pretty "butch" at work.

One day, though, I came to work wearing perfume (probably an Estée Lauder one like White Linen), just because I felt like it. A co-worker who was also a pretty good friend and who also happened to be a reasonably funny guy sniffed the air as I entered the tech lair and said in a slightly funny accent, "Somethin' smells kinda.... FLOWERY in here!"

I found it hilarious. I've told the story many times to various people (and I still remember that co-worker with great fondness, where ever he is now). My husband has certainly heard the story more than once...

Well, the day that I first got my bottle of Diorissimo, I wore it with great enthusiasm. It's mostly a lily of the valley fragrance, and I happen to love lilies of the valley, and it's got extremely appealing notes of lilac and I also happen to love that. It is very, very floral, and it smells to me like a spring garden. This is not a sophisticated fragrance, nor is it particularly complex. It's a fresh, flowery, extra flowery, floral fragrance. I hope I'm getting that across. It's very, very flowery.

When I went to pick up my husband from the train I ws wearing Diorissimo and he got in the car and said, and I quote, "Somethin smells kinda... FLOWERY in here!" which made me laugh. Turns out he really doesn't like this fragrance that much. He finds it too floral, says it smells like it would draw bees and give you hayfever.

But, hey, that's just his opinion, right? I like the stuff on occasion (not every day, though!). I love the notes in it, and the way it develops into a soft, almost soapy base. I don't mind that it's not very sophsticated or complex, I just really like it on those days when I'm feeling like something particularly, unashamedly, unmistakably floral.

And right now, on this particular afternoon, there certainly IS something that smells kinda.... FLOWERY in here. And it's me, wearing Diorissimo.