Violet LeafOpens with
CassisHeart
CedarDries down to
Jean-Marc ChaillanThe nose · 40 fragrances · also made Chic For Men (2003)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Donna Karan · Sold as feminine
DKNY Be Desired
The quiet determination of a woman preparing for an important meeting, where the crispness of citrus notes meets the soft embrace of white florals.
Full bottle: Mid-range tier, typically $40–100. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
DKNY Be DesiredMid-range · $40–100
41%Similar accords, often for lessCool Water Happy Summer Man · DavidoffBudget tier, under $40 · shares 5 of its 14 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
DKNY Be Desired by Donna Karan was launched in 2015 and expertly crafted by perfumer Jean-Marc Chaillan. This Floral Fruity fragrance opens with a vibrant citrus-aromatic accord, featuring grapefruit and orange, which give way to the lush green notes of violet leaf and black currant. The heart is an intricate blend of jasmine and Turkish rose oil, adding a touch of softness and warmth. It settles into a base of cedar, amberwood, and cashmere wood, creating a harmonious balance between freshness and depth.
DKNY Be Desired captures the essence of modern femininity — crisp, vibrant, and effortlessly elegant. The fragrance’s composition is designed to transition seamlessly from day to night, reflecting Donna Karan's signature approach to fashion that empowers women with versatile and interchangeable pieces.
Apply two sprays to your pulse points and let it develop naturally on skin. The citrus opening is bright but fades within an hour, so the warm woody base will carry you through the day without overpowering.
Fig. 01 — DKNY Be Desired, Donna Karan
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
Live prices aren't shown yet. Each link opens that seller's own search; we may earn a commission.
Not sure it's you?
Five questions, about a minute, no account. You get a shortlist that fits how you actually wear fragrance.
Jean-Marc Chaillan
A Grasse childhood, an IFF careerJean-Marc Chaillan is a perfumer raised in Grasse, where his father worked as a perfumer and industry executive.
Designer Donna Karan
More from the house · United States
You Might Also Like
Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalDKNY Be DesiredDonna Karan · Mid-range · $40–100Davidoff · 2007Cool Water Happy Summer ManShares 5 of its 14 notesunder $40★ 4.04 (26)
With Roja Dove Innuendo
Adds powdery, yellow floral and rose; shares orange and jasmine.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 24%, disliked or hated by 23%.