Donna Karan by Donna Karan
Women 1992
Main accords
Description
Donna Karan by Donna Karan is a floral fragrance for women launched in 1992, created by IFF. Its olfactory pyramid unfolds with top notes of osmanthus, orange blossom, honeysuckle, pineapple, peach, bergamot, and green accents; a heart composed of ylang-ylang, carnation, heliotrope, lily of the valley, orchid, jasmine, rose, and cassia; and a base of suede, incense, amber, benzoin, tonka…
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When to wear it (votes)
Key notes
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Top
osmanthus
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Heart
ylang-ylang
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Base
suede
Community
273 votes
- Positive 83%
- Negative 15%
- Neutral 2.6%
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
883 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
273 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Winter
161 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
114 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Donna Karan
Donna Karan by Donna Karan is a floral fragrance for women launched in 1992, created by IFF. Its olfactory pyramid unfolds with top notes of osmanthus, orange blossom, honeysuckle, pineapple, peach, bergamot, and green accents; a heart composed of ylang-ylang, carnation, heliotrope, lily of the valley, orchid, jasmine, rose, and cassia; and a base of suede, incense, amber, benzoin, tonka bean, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, vanilla, vetiver, cedar, and citrus.
Flowers White flowers Fruits, vegetables and nuts Green, herbal and fougère Musk, amber and animalic Woods and mosses Resins and balsams Spices
More from Donna Karan
More from IFF
How it wears
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
Longevity
Leading answer Long-lasting
83 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
100 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally feminine
40 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
30 votes
Have you worn Donna Karan?
Tell us how it opens, how it settles on your skin, how long it lasts and when you wear it.
Selene
I remember walking into an old perfumery filled with boxes of used testers and discontinued bottles; among them, this one caught my eye not for its beauty (it lacks the elegant Lalique design) but for its weird, futuristic vibe. At first glance, it could be the perfume Charlize Theron wore in Mad Max. A huge surprise to read that it’s Donna Karan EDP, the brand’s first fragrance for women. It opens with a sweet, oily, dirty, narcotic leather note (for a moment, it faintly reminds me of Tabac Blond), those smoky leathers. But that memory is only for this part; afterward, the scent takes another direction. Beneath the leather, fruity tones emerge: pineapple and peach with vanilla hints burst onto the scene, the leather still there but totally influenced by this. Incense sharpens the presence of amber, tonka bean, and resins (benzoin). This floral becomes too transgressive to stay in that category. The fruitiness elevates as the fragrance evolves, patchouli and sandalwood peek shyly behind the leather. Musk lingers throughout the entire life of the scent. It’s hard to categorize the aroma, but what’s clear is that there aren’t many like this from the 90s; it’s a tough combo of leather, fruits, and woods to find and handle. This Donna Karan is very polarizing—sometimes I love it, other times it feels too transgressive, but I always come back. Once the fragrance reaches its final stage, it leaves behind a sexy, sweet amber scent.