Seamus Hammond
Donna Karan is a renowned fashion designer known for her iconic silhouettes and modern dressing, who launched her first perfume in 1992. The self-titled fragrance, 'Donna Karan for Women', was a rich and subtle scent with notes of apricot, bergamot, and neroli. Over the years, Karan has released numerous other perfumes, including the popular Cashmere Mist line and DKNY fragrances. With 182 perfumes to her name, the designer continues to offer new scents under the Donna Karan Beauty and DKNY labels. While some of the earlier perfumes, like the original 1992 edition, have been discontinued, they remain sought-after by collectors and fragrance enthusiasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Donna Karan |
| Fragrance Name | Donna Karan for Women |
| Year Introduced | 1992 |
| Perfumers | Rodrigo Flores-Roux, IFF, Jean Claude Delville, Frank Voelkl, Alberto Morillas, Harry Fremont, Trudi Loren, Yann Vasnier, Calice Becker, Anne Flipo, Maurice Roucel, Olivier Gillotin, Pierre Negrin, Jean-Marc Chaillan, Nicholas Calderone, Yves Cassar, Stephen Nilsen, Olivier Cresp |
| Fragrance Type | Female |
| Notes | Apricot, Bergamot, Green, Neroli, Osmanthus, Peach, Pineapple, Musky, Leathery, Spicy |
| Current Availability | Discontinued |
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What You'll Learn
Donna Karan's first perfume
Donna Karan, the legendary fashion designer, launched her first perfume, eponymously named 'Donna Karan', in 1992. The fragrance was created in collaboration with Estee Lauder, and was marketed for women.
The perfume is a hybrid of fruity, floral, and musky/oriental sandalwood fragrances. It opens with a strong scent of suede, which dries down to a light and modern aroma. The top notes include blackcurrant, which lends a green sweetness to the fragrance. The perfume is described as "sexy", "warm", and "elegant".
The bottle design is inspired by a black swan with opulent wings and golden feathers. The exotic bird is a wild, free, and dreamlike creature, born in a lustful fantasy. The essence of the perfume is powdery and animalic, with a strong presence of incense and suede.
The fragrance was discontinued, but it remains a favourite among many, with some reviewers calling it a "masterpiece". The perfume holds sentimental value for its wearers, bringing back memories and evoking the vibrant energy of New York City.
Since the debut fragrance, Donna Karan has expanded her perfume collection, with 182 perfumes in the fragrance base as of 2025. The brand continues to release new perfumes under the Donna Karan Beauty and DKNY labels, with the latest edition launched in 2025.
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Fragrances for men and women
Donna Karan is an iconic name in American fashion, known for her innovative system of dressing and iconic silhouettes. Her fashion brand has offered fragrances for men and women since 1992, with the debut of the Donna Karan for Women perfume. This first fragrance, created in collaboration with IFF, features top notes of apricot, bergamot, green notes, neroli, osmanthus, peach, and pineapple. It dries down to a musky, slightly leathery, and sweetly spicy scent with a touch of incense.
The early 1990s saw the launch of several other fragrances, including DK Men in 1994 (later renamed Fuel for Men) and Cashmere Mist in 1994, which originally started as a scent for body products. From 1997 to 2021, Donna Karan fragrances were produced under licensing arrangements with Estee Lauder, and since 2021, the license has been with Inter Parfums. The brand now offers two main fragrance lines: Donna Karan Beauty and DKNY.
Under the Donna Karan Beauty line, recent fragrances include a range of scents centered around cashmere and the "Liquid Cashmere" concept. These include Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition (2009), Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude (2010), Cashmere Mist Pearl Essence (2012), Cashmere Aura (2016), and Cashmere Veil (2017). The brand has also released variations such as Liquid Cashmere White and Liquid Cashmere Black in 2015, and Liquid Cashmere Blush and Liquid Cashmere Aqua, both in 2016.
The DKNY line has also seen new fragrances, including Donna Karan Gold in 2006, Donna Karan Woman in 2012, and Liquid Cashmere in 2014. Donna Karan continues to be a force in the fragrance industry, with a total of 182 perfumes in the brand's fragrance base as of 2025. The brand's perfumes are created in collaboration with renowned perfumers such as Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Alberto Morillas, Harry Fremont, and Yann Vasnier, among others.
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Cashmere Mist
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist is a timeless, clean, and classy fragrance for women. It was launched in 1994 and continues to be a popular choice for those seeking a warm and inviting scent. The perfume is described as a floral woody musk with top notes of bergamot, middle notes of suede, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley, and base notes of cashmere wood, musk, sandalwood, vanilla, and amber. The real cashmere essence is in the base of this fragrance, adding a warm and sensual touch.
The Cashmere Mist Eau de Toilette has received numerous positive reviews, with many highlighting its comforting and clean scent. Some reviewers compare the fragrance to the smell of fresh laundry, while others note its powdery and musky aspects. The perfume is also praised for its longevity and projection, lasting over six hours on the skin without being too sharp or overpowering.
The Cashmere Mist line offers a range of products beyond the Eau de Toilette. This includes an Eau de Parfum, a deodorant stick duo that is anti-perspirant and aluminum-free, and a luxury set featuring a mini spray and a purse spray for on-the-go use.
The Donna Karan brand has a long history of creating fragrances, with the first perfume, "Donna Karan for Women," launched in 1992 in collaboration with Estee Lauder. Over the years, Donna Karan has continued to release new fragrances, with 182 perfumes in the brand's fragrance base as of 2025. The brand has collaborated with numerous perfumers, including Nicholas Calderone, who created the beloved Cashmere Mist scent.
Overall, Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan is a well-loved and highly-rated fragrance that offers a warm and inviting sensory experience, capturing the essence of comfort and cleanliness.
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Donna Karan Gold
The fragrance is built on two main elements that carry a scent of gold: lily from Casablanca and amber. The lily is intended to be intoxicating and sparkling, attracting and seducing, while the amber provides a warm touch, reminiscent of gold. Additional notes in the perfume include acacia, white cloves, gold balm, golden pollen, and patchouli from East Asia. The composition is surprisingly minimalist for such a cult classic. It has been described as resembling a still life painting of flowers, with a unique, heady, green aroma.
The scent has been praised for its complexity, with some reviewers finding it sexy, mysterious, and unisex. The lily note in particular has been described as beautiful, rich, and spicy-ambery, holding its own against the spicy base. However, some reviewers have found the fragrance to be too strong and spicy for their taste.
Donna Karan's first perfume, "Donna Karan for Women," was launched in 1992 in collaboration with Estee Lauder. Throughout the 1990s, new fragrances for men and women were offered in collaboration with various perfumers. The brand has released 182 perfumes, with the earliest edition created in 1992 and the newest released in 2025. Perfumes continue to be offered under the Donna Karan Beauty and DKNY labels.
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$156
DKNY
Donna Karan is one of the most iconic names in American fashion, known for her innovative system of dressing and iconic silhouettes. In 1985, she started her own brand, Donna Karan New York, with her husband, Stephan Weiss. The brand has been owned by LVMH since 2000/2001.
In 1992, Karan launched her debut fragrance, 'Donna Karan for Women', in collaboration with Estee Lauder and IFF. This was followed by a men's fragrance, DK Men (later renamed Fuel for Men) in 1994, and other fragrances such as Cashmere Mist, Chaos, and Gold. Karan has since released numerous perfumes under the Donna Karan Beauty label, including the Cashmere Collection and the Liquid Cashmere series.
The DKNY line, a next-generation counterpart to the main Donna Karan New York brand, also has its own fragrances. While I cannot confirm if the original 1992 'Donna Karan for Women' perfume is still in production, the Donna Karan Beauty and DKNY labels continue to offer perfumes.
The original Donna Karan perfume is described as having a unique, rich, and subtle scent, with notes of apricot, bergamot, green, neroli, osmanthus, peach, and pineapple. It dries down to a musky, slightly leathery, and sweetly spicy scent with a touch of incense. This fragrance is highly sought after by collectors, with some commenting on its elegant and classy aroma.
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Frequently asked questions
Donna Karan's first fragrance, Donna Karan for Women, was launched in 1992.
Donna Karan fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers including Rodrigo Flores-Roux, IFF, Jean Claude Delville, Frank Voelkl, Alberto Morillas, Harry Fremont, and Trudi Loren.
Donna Karan has released over 180 perfumes since 1992, including Black Cashmere, Pure Cashmere, Donna Karan Essence, Donna Karan Gold, and Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition.
Donna Karan perfumes can be purchased through online retailers such as fragrantica.com, nstperfume.com, and fragrancenet.com. They may also be available at select department stores and beauty specialty shops.
