Unsung Perfume Hero: Providence Perfume Co. Divine (2009) Review + Just Divoon Draw

 jayne mansfield divoon pool mickey hargity

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 bikini

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.

jayne mansfield  flowers

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.

jayne mansfield perfumes boudoir

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 - Kiss Them for Me [480p)

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.)

providence perfume co divine perfume

 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

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

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22 comments

  • leathermountain says:

    I had never heard of the concept of divoon, but it is a great example of itself! I’m in the US. Thank you for a delightful review.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I think the most divoon thing about Einsof review is how Jayne Mansfield’s pictures in orange swimsuit perfectly suited the review of Divine as if both have been inspired by a mixture of orange blossom and rose de mai..In some pictures, i almost mistake Mansfield for Marilyn Monroe..mid 1950s was really the age of blonde bombshells. thanks for the generous draw. I am in the US

  • This sounds pretty lovely – big orange blossom and rose, and vanilla?? I love the imagery – glamour, animalics, blond hair and bright red lips. Sounds like a good one. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • I had a co-worker who would declare things “Divoon” – I always thought she was creating her own word. Learning she wasn’t making it up was Divoon! I thought comparing Jayne Mansfield to the perfume was divoon as well. She is one of the original blonde bombshells, and who wouldn’t want to be like her? Love the notes, I think it would smell divine! Ummm… I mean, DIVOON!
    I’m in the US, thanks for the draw!

  • “…the sweetest amber accord lovingly embraces each note, holding it as if their dissipation were too much to bear.” That sentence was Divoon, as was the link to one of my favorite Siouxsie and the Banshees songs. I am in the US, and thanks for letting us know that the clock is ticking for Divine Noir. So much perfume, so little time.

  • I love and I love amber, and if I could channel just a little bit of Jayne Mansfield’s old school glamour that would be awesome 🙂 I am in the US, and thank you.

  • The song in the video up there is the only song I ever heard with the word divoon in it. 🙂 US

  • The beautiful and tragic Jayne Mansfield was summed up perfectly in this review. I particularly like the phrase “She is neroli in an orange-zested push-up bra.” The notes of Divine sound lovely! I’m in the US.

  • Jennifer Witt says:

    Any fragrance that can connote Jayne Mansfield AND siouxie and the Banshees has got to be amazing! I would love to give this one a whir. I live in the US.

  • I loved the photos of Jayne Mansfield, sadly now forgotten by so many. Thank you for keeping her spirit alive! Va va voom! I live in the USA.

  • I was fascinated by Jayne Mansfield as a child- so feminine and haughty, but I sensed her tenderness. Einsof’s review of Divine, with the great photos of Jayne, evokes many memories. To connect through a scent inspired by her would be lovely. I’m in the U.S.

  • silvrolive says:

    Rose, orange blossom, vanilla, and amber sound “divoon” to me! I love music video and pics as well. In the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Curvaceous and feminine appeals to me and that dry down description. Yes, tragic is a word that can be linked to Jayne Mansfield yet iconic was her presence and her image will be long with us. Einsof has a way with words no doubt and bring everything to life about this perfume which I’m sure lives up to its name. Thank you for the draw and eloquent review. I am in the US

  • Oh my goodness, thanks for introducing me to that divoon pool. A pink heart-shaped pool; that would satisfy all my girlie cravings! Orange blossom nd amber sound wonderful. Maybe I would like this better than the Charna creation that I am currently craving, Hindu Honeysuckle. I am in the USA.

  • Thank you Einsof and CaFleureBon for the wonderful review of my Divine perfume. It’s always been one of my favorite creations. How did you know I adore Siouxsie and the Banshees?

  • Marion Low says:

    It’s totally “divoon” that Jayne Mansfield was as smart as she was beautiful. She spoke perfect French. Love the orange bikini that matches the red-orange lipsticks of the ’50’s. She was an icon; so great to remember her through a lovely perfume called “Divine’. I’m in the US, thanks for the chance.

  • I’ve never seen a heart-shaped pool before. Orange blossom and rose together – that sounds divoon to me! I’m in the US. Thanks for the drawing!

  • Ooh, just the thought of OB and rose notes supported and complimented by vanilla and amber make me swoon. I’ve always thought Jayne Mansfield was the coolest – sexy and smart and in control of her image with a wink and a nod. And Ms. Charna herself is absolutely divoon!

  • everything about this review is divoon
    The great photos of jayne Mansfield the description of Charna’s early perfume and its inspiration .
    I love the phrase it’s divoon I think I am going to start using it
    Usa reader

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    Einsof’s review of Divine was very interesting, especially with his comparisons to Jayne Manfield’s champagne lifestyle. And now I have a new word to describe beyond divine – “glamor with hidden depth” – divoon.

  • I can’t seem to find an orange perfume that really clicks with me, but the old-school glamour evoked by this review piques my interest. I’m in the US; thanks for the draw!

  • “Divoon” review! I just love that Siouxsie song, too. I didn’t know that was a tribute to Jayne Mansfield until reading this. Thanks! I’m in the US.