La Collection Couturier Parfumeur Mitzah Dior for women

This is a bright, clamorous scent that draws some parallels to the other fragrances Demachy put together for the Couturier line. There's an opulence to much of the series that can cause them to come across as trying a little too hard, but this particular one isn't pushing any envelopes with its composition; Instead, it's clearly aiming for pleasantries—and in that respect, it's somewhat successful.

There's an initial blast of Damascone Beta (presumably in order to cite Dior's 1980s powerhouse scents), quickly giving way to a rich honey/vanilla that's slightly tempered by the spices. Patchouli peeks through and adds a snippet of freshness to the mix as the scent attenuates. What results is a semi-fruity, honeyed-rose aura that sits relatively low, straddling between "nice" and "mundane." Although the listed notes would disagree, I do pick up a hint of animalic dirtiness that's probably coming from labdanum. Sadly, I get virtually no incense at all as it's simply subsumed by the sweetness of everything else that's going on and the somewhat sickly base that's carrying the whole thing along.

Projection and longevity seem slightly below average: it sits relatively low in comparison to other Diors, and lasts around 4 hours on me. Pleasant, warm, rich, but ultimately boring, it's frankly not that far removed from the slew of honey/rose/vanilla synths that have plagued the market from cheap celeb scents to designer fruit-bombs. Despite this, I get the sense that it's created for absolute marination (which is probably why it comes in a ridiculous 8.4oz bottle) and is probably well-suited for such purposes. I'd list this as sniff-worthy if you happen to be in its presence, but aside from that, I wouldn't recommend seeking it out—specifically as there are plenty more scents out there doing what Mitzah is attempting, but with far more grace.

Kind of like I always used to read Janet Reno Loves You instead of Jean Reno Loves You and Maggot instead of Etro Magot, I kept thinking I was reading "Mitzvah" wherever I saw this scent advertised. So, I felt obligated to try it...hardee har har.(Sorry) Mitzah is a dreamy incense fragrance, the likes of which we experience all too rarely. It's not as smokey after awhile as it lead me to anticipate, but but it haunts with a labdanum and cinnamon warmth. It's for a woman that makes turbans, bold leopard prints (faux!), and a string of pearls the size of golf balls seem effortlessly stylish. I think Mitzah is gorgeous, and it's the kind of fragrance I admire, but it's black hair, tall and voluptuous, and I'm a redhead, short and boney. Mitzah is several sizes too big for me, in the way that I could never play the part no matter how brilliant are my acting skills. If this came in something other than a vat, I'd probably buy a little bottle to have purely for the thrill of sniffing it.

If a perfume ever felt it had a divine right to be considered beautiful it could be Mitzah from La Collection Couturier Parfumeur by Dior.

Formed with the easy precision of a skilled pattern cutter's hand, it is an apparently simple composition that only assumes its true form when worn.

From the start it is mainly smoke in the couturiers' mirrors, in all directions billowing clouds of incense take their time to clear. The clouds come from cones heavily flavoured with coriander, cinnamon and cardamon, meaning they are rich and spiced in their swirling.

When the dust does finally settle our newly dressed gentleman lacks only one thing: a floral buttonhole. A mistake rectified with the quick provision of a rose, one that continues to emanate its Damascene scent the rest of the day.

Only one element now remains: a sweetness to add humour to this show of the dark arts.

Here come the bees in their honeyed hoards to bring a sepia tint to the scene.

An icon is an icon and has sexuality rather than a sex.

Mitzah is the first icon of the silent screen.

I was fortunate to receive a sample of this perfume from a friend. First and foremost, this is a unisex scent, no question about it. Guys, don't be afraid of this one, it works very well on men's skin. Secondly, I come so close to wanting to call this a masterpiece. It's one of the best perfumes I've tried in ages.

Mitzah grabs you by the shirt collars immediately with a sweet and gently spicy opening. I first detect coriander and labdanum, and bright hints of rose and a melange of spices. About an hour or two later, this astounding middle appears: warm wood, cool incense, smoldering nuts and berries, rubbed patchouli leaves. Not far after begins the epically long ending, where honey/beeswax plays the solo, surrounded by the echoes of other spices. Rose is prominent in the base notes, too. Every element of this perfume slides in a long horizontal line from one to the other so the experience lasts a very long time, and its changes are subtle, smooth and slow... like the unfurling of an enormous flag in a gentle wind.

There is a deep red heart to this perfume, hinted at by it's gentle rose color. Such a careful hand combined these elements into a rich scent experience - sublimely stunning.

A wonderful, promising warm spicy opening. Then, a strange blast of overripe fruit - a moment of panic! Then, on to the notes that dominate, on my skin, the linear development: honey, vanilla and a hint of incense. The sweetness of these notes on my were disappointing. The spices all but disappeared, swallowed by the honey-vanilla. Good thing this was just a sample!

Deep in the most ancient part of Istanbul, a honey yellow Turkish crescent moon of midnight creeps over the walls of the Topkapi palace. Summer dreams on the Bosporus are heady with the heavy exotic fragrances of the Grand Bazaar that linger in the serpentine streets as they waft toward the incense filled gardens on the edge of the city. In such gardens on just such a night as this lovers have met ever since scandalous Theadora danced before the infatuated Emperor Justinian at the dawn of Byzantium.

Rare and sensuous this night is filled with promise and sweet delights of desire tinged with danger. Women of ripe beauty peek in the moon glow from behind screens of carved ebony. They whisper to one another that the night is never long enough when He is near and always unending and eternal when he is not. That is the song of longing, of loves promise never fulfilled. Desire and dust wrapped in silk put away to save for the thing that can never really be. It is the dream of love.

This is all and everything I have found in the glorious perfume from Dior called Mitzah. Named for Christian Dior’s muse and friend Mitzah Bricard it is heady and hypnotic but never overwhelming. It is what I would call deep and multi layered in its design, a real stunner for me that never shouts but rather insinuates and seduces the one who wears it. And in so doing casts a spell of enchantment beyond the wrist, or from behind the ear out into a waiting world of yes.


Mitzah opens in a temple garden loaded with incense where a smooth coriander feeds and supports an ethereal velvet red rose. Then suddenly oriental fresh spices scatter across the skin as if spilled from huge terracotta jars in the bazaar at Alexandria.

It is so well made that the middle notes slowly unfurl like Cleopatra wrapped in an oriental rug that lay for years on the floor of a cinnamon warehouse. The highly erotic labdanum snakes over this rug and licks like a cat the creamy warm vanilla within this bowl of golden scent. You dare not close your eyes or you will be lost in a sumptuous whirlpool.

There is a long lazy luxurious slow stretching dry down where the thick honey still sticks to the honey comb and drips down over a layer of pungent patchouli. All of this majesty and resplendency is carried on the remaining whisper of that first incense from ancient temples dedicated to pagan gods of love.

Mitzah has a stable and long lasting silage that speaks of quality and lasts on my skin a good seven to nine hours. It comes on strong but don’t let that scare you. It is an oriental with a genteel soul and the longer it lays languorously on the skin the softer it becomes. It never powders down but rather wafts on with that incredible smoky slightly sweet incense. Mitzah is listed as a woman’s fragrance but in my experience it is remarkably masculine in a smart Near Eastern manner. When I wear it men invariably ask me what it is and where they can get a bottle. Mitzah is a sly seducer that works well on a man and is his equal on a woman and will blend with both chemistries. The chemistry it inspires is of skin upon skin that sparks the heart to a sweet madness. This meeting is in fact the Algerian love knot fragrance that two lovers could wear. Smelling of each other when they are apart and bending into a kiss of fragrance when they meet.
FIVE GOLD STARS *****

For me, this is too intense, too reminisent of youth dew and opium that I remember from their vintage days. The incence, spice and patchouli that many love, simply give me a headache, a profound headache. That being said, I received this as a sample of La Collection Dior, so it is only one of many that I will be sampling.

Mitzah must have been a wonderful woman if this perfume which she inspired is anything to go by....It is a striking, strong blend of incense, roses and spices. I believe I also smell tobacco with the honey. As she was Dior's muse I imagine a super stylish french woman, slightly eccentric, 'jolie laide', wearing Le Smoking with a silk cravat and high heels. She has deep red lips, artfully styled hair, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other. She has a deep throaty laugh and fierce love of life. I agree with Sheerapop that the huge bottles are too much perfume but I do so want one very badly.I will wear this when I want to be as bold as Mitzah and feel as elegant and inspiring as a Dior muse.

For me "Mitzah" is the more curvy and voluptuous sister of "Bois D'Argent" (who is the slim, slick and suave Librarian).

Mitzah is warm, loud,full bodied scent full of sweet, ripe, sun kissed rose and honey.
The spices and francinsense dominate the core of the fragrance.

I can imagine this to be very nice in the cold of winter around Xmas time for it will radiate well in the cold and cheer you up.

Very sweet and balmy. Somewhat linear, meaning you will either love or loathe this big sister from the very first moment.

I find "Bois D'Argent" more intriguing.

After all the fuss I've heard about Mitzah I probably expected too much. Mitzah is a good spicy/woody oriental with a sweet edge. Incense is detectable but I honestly wouldn't classify this as an incense cmposition. Rose and honey perfectly blends together to assure a warm drydown while patchouli adds a "classic oriental" quality to a well crafted composition that's neither particularly original nor interesting.

Said that, if you're into this type of stuff, give a chance to Herve Domar Diamant Noir which does exactly the same thing at half the price.

Rating: 6.5/10

Too strong and slighty boring...

Next please

Unusual and mysterious. Opens with cinnamon, rose, incense and the musky amber scent of labdanum.

Then something extremely dry pierces through: coriander--biting and almost metallic. Discordant I think for such an otherwise buxomly incensed fragrance. A dry, smokey rosewood would have punctuated the notes better, or even peppery caraway.

Finishes as a sweet, earthy, honeyed incense but still with the sharp grating edge. It doesn't play nice on me, so I think I will pass on this one.

Dior La Collection Couturier Parfumeur MITZAH is a truly gorgeous incense perfume! All day I have been sniffing myself in delight and even considering the possibility of buying the large economy-size bottle.

Which brings me to a small digression and mini-rant: why are prestige house putting out jugs of juice? In this case, there can be no doubt that the juice in question is perfume--probably edp, to be more precise. MITZAH has great longevity and sillage. So why in the world would anyone of human body size need a 450ml vat? This trend we have seen chez Chanel and Guerlain, and I have to say that I don't comprehend it at all. The price per milliliter of these sometimes splendid creations is often less than that of low-brow chemical soup! But the consumer is expected to make a large volume commitment. So you cannot buy 1oz of MITZAH, though I do believe that 1oz would last a very long time.

That said, MITZAH, a sumptuous oriental featuring incense, honey, rose, labdanum and patchouli, among other notes, is breathtakingly beautiful. Please pass the jug my way!