I was 13 years old when I got my first bottle of White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor. I can admit now that the sheer opulence of the fragrance was a bit much for a girl in Jamaica who just barely broke into her teenage years…even the silage was epic. But it was a gift from my dad and during that time if he gave me a bag of rocks it would have been the best present ever. To say I stood out in a crowd wearing White Diamonds would be an understatement of gargantuan proportions. However, I didn’t mind…I even felt special. Fast forward some twenty-plus years and a whiff of Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds Lustre takes me right back to those early years. While White Diamonds Lustre pays serious homage to the original scent, this version is one that is more suited to a younger, more modern sophisticate that possesses the same style, grace and elegance of the fragrance inspiration, Elizabeth Taylor. This make actress, Nia Long, a perfect ambassador for White Diamonds Lustre.
At first whiff, White Diamonds Lustre is very similar to the original White Diamonds. However, the heavy floral scent dissipates rather quickly leaving behind a scent that is a bit lighter and fruitier than the original. Carlos Benaim, creator of both fragrances, describes White Diamonds Lustre as a luminous floral bouquet with:
- Feminine: Sparkling fruity top notes of Italian Bergamot, Mandarin and Pear.
- Glamorous: A Blooming heart that shares the richness of Narcissus Flower, delicacy of Jasmine, luminosity of Orange Flower and depth of Orris.
- Iconic: A Sensual dry-down of amber, enveloping woods and musk.
Of the scent and Elizabeth Taylor, Nia Long, says:
The perfume smells great when you first spray it but if you wait 20 minutes, it warms up to your body chemistry. It has some of my favorite notes; jasmine, citrus, raspberry, pear and sandalwood. I like that it’s not all floral, it has a little bit of a musky smell.
Elizabeth Taylor was fearless, she had a voice and she felt that women needed to be celebrated all the time. I think the fragrance is a reminder of how we should look at ourselves, we are diamonds and there are many facets to us. We should celebrate ourselves and while some may not be able to wear real diamonds everyday, a great bottle of perfume is definitely within reach.
White Diamonds is one of the best selling fragrances in the world, and while it is a unique and complex fragrance, I don’t think that’s the only reason for its success. This award winning fragrance is so popular because of what Elizabeth Taylor represents. She was strong, fearless, glamorous, sophisticated and unapologetic about her life choices. That is something a strong-minded 13 year old in Jamaica understood. With Nia Long as the ambassador for the new White Diamonds Lustre, we can all be reminded of the best of Elizabeth Taylor and have a modern representation of all the wonderful qualities that she embodied.
The White Diamonds Lustre collection consists of Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Body Cream, Body Powder, Body Lotion and Body Wash and is available in varying sizes and retails between $26.50 – $68. All are available at Macys and Macys.com.
Have you tried White Diamonds? Will you try White Diamonds Lustre?
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This post was written by Christene Carr. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and her personal blog
