Christian Dior Dior Addict 2 : Perfume Review

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Dior_addict_2

Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Original Dior Addict was created by Thierry Wasser in 2002, who was also responsible for Addict Eau Fraîche. I am not sure about the authorship of Dior Addict 2, but I will warn that it is unlike the other two compositions, which are vanilla génoise soaked in orange and bourbon syrup and bourbon sorbet, respectively. Dior Addict 2 is a light fruity-floral interpretation, featuring the notes of bergamot, grapefruit, orange, verbena, lily of the valley, lotus, freesia, pineapple, watermelon, grenadine, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber and musk.

Dior decided to expand into the younger market for the summer 2005, and there is no other way to characterize Addict 2 but as having a girly attitude. It is sparkly and pink, with glittering grapefruit notes fizzing on the skin. Red fruit notes are like jelly squares floating in the water, shiny and moist.  Modern aroma chemicals reproduce fruit as a shiny photographic rendition, as opposed to dimly lit Impressionist painting. Whatever the case may be, there is nothing subtle about the acrylic vividness of fruity notes in Addict 2, yet it is not a bad thing in itself. The sparkle and pink rhinestone feel of the composition is softened in the dry down, as the light fruity musk starts to dominate the base notes.

Addict 2 plays up certain clichés of a “young” scent, however, the result is far better than most fragrances of its ilk. If you like Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll or more subdued Yves Saint Laurent In Love Again and Hermèssence Rose Ikebana, Addict 2 might be something to consider.

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17 Comments

  • parislondres: I agree V – that it is not a badly created fragrance and we cannot use the word “subtle” to describe this perfume. I was not impressed so it never made to my collection. 🙂
    However, I believe there is a huge fan following for this… July 26, 2005 at 4:03am Reply

  • Robin: V, you are fast!! I won’t get to my sample for months. Thanks for the great review, it doesn’t sound like something I need to hurry about 🙂 July 26, 2005 at 8:57am Reply

  • Laura: It’s funny, V. What with your blog and NST’s, I find myself wanting to at least try things I’d have passed by without a second thought before. Just so I’ll know about even the things you don’t like! I call it my Scentimental Education, if you please. July 26, 2005 at 5:43am Reply

  • Victoria: Dear N, I found it not unlike YSL ILA and I loved the top grapefruity notes. Every time I have worn it for testing, Mr. P. commented several times how much he likes it. xoxo

    Dear L, this made me smile, because I have been trying to be open-minded about things I would ordinarily not consider at all. This is a great strategy, because I discovered some interesting things along the way.
    xoxo July 26, 2005 at 8:40am Reply

  • Victoria: I like the original Addict, therefore I was curious about a new version. Plus, it being citrus based gave me more impetus to start sampling the moment I got home! But yes, this celerity is uncharacteristic for me. 🙂 July 26, 2005 at 9:11am Reply

  • julien: I don’t like marketing fragances without hearts and minds.
    I am so disapointed from Dior…
    Well,it just makes me sure of myself in the loving of confidential fragances.
    Thanks for your post.
    Today i will try carthusia fragances!:)
    Kisses,dear. July 26, 2005 at 5:41pm Reply

  • julien: Yes,i will…well,according to the site and my tastes,i think “la sirena”is the one that could like me most.
    I adore opoponax,so i guess i will love it…and if it has amber,vanilla and is powdery,it will be made for me…. July 26, 2005 at 6:18pm Reply

  • Victoria: I agree, but Addict 2 is not bad at all. Of course, being marketed for a specific demographic, it does smell like what one would expect. Yet, it is much more interesting than most of the fragances that try to do the same thing.

    Carthusia Mediterraneo is the one I like most of all, even though I did not care for it at first. Several people I know really like Fiori di Capri. Let me know how you like them! xoxo July 26, 2005 at 5:49pm Reply

  • Victoria: I like opoponax too, so I think that I shall sample La Sirena too. July 26, 2005 at 6:56pm Reply

  • julien: My dear,i promised you i was about to smell it today and i kept my promise.
    The truth is that this fragance is a mix in between Opium,an amber scent and opoponax.
    Not that bad but maybe a little too heavy,without subtlety…
    I should smell it again…

    I also smell the prada fragance,did you try it?
    I think it is a quite interesting fragance a woody oriental,made of orange,amber,precious woods,powdery,young yet elegant.
    Really good…

    Promise number two,when i shall smell better these scents i would tell it to you first.

    So enjoying sharing my tastes and tests with you.
    I maybe don’t say it that much,but thank you for everything.

    Kisses Dear,
    Julien. July 27, 2005 at 6:28pm Reply

  • Victoria: Thank you, dear Julien, for sharing! It is always great to hear what new things you are discovering. I have a sample of both Prada and Prada Intense, but it has been too hot lately to test them properly. I hope that next week the temperatures will come down, and I can test more fragrances.
    xoxo July 27, 2005 at 7:14pm Reply

  • Atreau: I can’t wear grapefruit fragrances so this wouldn’t be one for me. There was major controversy when the original Addict was released, as former drug addicts protested the name of the fragrance. One of the department stores in town decided not to sell it because of all the fuss. We were the only city that I know of where the fragrance was pulled. July 27, 2005 at 9:58pm Reply

  • Victoria: S, I cannot say that the name appeals to me, but it has nothing to do with the drugs. It is just bland. On the other hand, I should post a picture of Ukrainian ice cream wrapper I discovered one day. It has marijuana leaves and poppy flowers all over it and is called, “Stop, It is a Drug.” I guess that it is supposed to be facetious, but it just made me shudder. It is particularly disconcerting, because Ukraine has a severe drug problem. July 27, 2005 at 10:11pm Reply

  • Jim: It’s impressing that, when I first smelled Addict 2 at London’s Heathrow I thought about YSL’s ILA almost instantly. The top note is remarkably similar, I think.
    I wouldn’t say it’s a poorly done fragrance, but I didn’t have the impression of something new. September 1, 2005 at 11:21am Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Hi Jim, you are right. It is not a bad fragrance, but it is hardly exciting. September 1, 2005 at 11:46am Reply

  • Katie: Having finally tried Addict 2 I can finally comment on it! I actually checked back earlier to reread your review in order to refresh my memory on your take. I wish it had at least stayed sparkly on me. Unfortunately, it the fizz all popped out of it quickly, and the effect on my skin was so flat. A shame, really, since I like the musk in it.

    You’re so right, it’s got a very girlish attitude. I can dig that
    in a fragrance, but just not this particular one. I wish I got sparkly from it! Nor did get vivid, really. I would even say this is a subtle and/but boring scent. Amazing how different personal chemistry can affect these things. September 5, 2005 at 4:22pm Reply

  • BoisdeJasmin: Katie, the initial accords are very sparkling and fizzy on my skin, and although they soften, the overall impression is bright and glittering. In the drydown, it is all soft musk, which is not my favourite part, but I do not tend to like white musk in general. I loved reading your review of it! September 5, 2005 at 4:35pm Reply

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