D&G Anthology La Temperance 14

The Verdict

D&G Anthology La Temperance 14 is one of those fragrances that people discover years after discontinuation and immediately start mourning. Released in 2011 as part of the Tarot-inspired Anthology collection, it was never a blockbuster -- but the people who found it tend to treasure it. Named for the Temperance card, which symbolizes balance and harmony, it delivers exactly that: a poised, powdery iris fragrance that never tries too hard. With a Fragrantica average of 3.87 out of 5 and a PerfumeMaster score of 8.7 out of 10 from a smaller pool of voters, it sits in that sweet spot of respected-but-not-hyped. The catch, as always with discontinued designer fragrances, is finding a bottle.

What It Smells Like

The opening is unexpectedly lively for such a refined composition. Ambrette (musk mallow) and pink pepper create a spicy, slightly sweet first impression that one reviewer described as having "early 2000s designer-esque vibes." The pink pepper is bright and clean, with none of the burn that pepper notes sometimes carry. As it settles, the heart reveals the star of the show: iris and orris root, supported by rose and hibiscus. The iris is powdery and soft, evoking what multiple reviewers independently described as "expensive makeup" or "the inside of a high-end cosmetics counter." It is not a cold, austere iris in the Serge Lutens tradition -- it is warm, approachable, and gently feminine. The base brings musk, patchouli, and oriental notes that provide a subtle warmth without competing with the iris. One reviewer felt the overall effect was reminiscent of "being in a pink, warm and fluffy cocoon."

When to Wear It

Spring and fall are ideal. The powdery lightness works beautifully in transitional weather -- warm enough to let the iris bloom, cool enough to prevent the muskier base from feeling heavy. Community data strongly favors daytime wear, and this is clearly an office and business fragrance. It is the olfactory equivalent of a well-tailored blazer: appropriate everywhere, offensive nowhere, and quietly impressive if you pay attention. One Basenotes reviewer called it "a pleasant and rich office-safe iris -- extremely calming." Summer can work in air-conditioned environments, but winter diminishes its already modest presence.

Longevity & Projection

This is La Temperance's most significant weakness, and the community is in near-universal agreement about it. Longevity sits at 2 to 4 hours for most wearers, with the fragrance becoming a faint skin scent relatively quickly. One reviewer lamented it "has NO staying power" while another described it as "a skin scent in just a couple of hours." Aggregated performance data suggests "lasting power of 1-3 hours" with projection described as "soft and close to the skin." This is the tradeoff for such an airy, refined composition -- the same lightness that makes it elegant also makes it ephemeral. Plan for liberal application and midday touch-ups. A Basenotes reviewer added the silver lining: "sometimes that is exactly what I want -- perfect for the office."

The Community Says

Fans speak of La Temperance with a collector's fondness. "Surprisingly really great -- really desirable and lasts relatively long on me," wrote one Fragrantica reviewer who bucked the longevity consensus. Another found it "absolutely gorgeous in cooler weather," describing the iris-musk combination as "like being in a pink, warm and fluffy cocoon." A Scentbird reviewer praised its sophisticated character, noting it is "not a sweet fragrance, more on the sophisticated and musky side."

Critics acknowledge the beauty but question the substance. One reviewer found it "a vaguely musky, indistinct mess" lacking identity. Another detected a pencil-lead quality in the dry-down that disrupted the experience. The most common complaint is straightforward: it simply does not last long enough to justify seeking out a discontinued bottle. Comparisons to Chanel 1957 and Moschino Toujours Glamour surface frequently, with one reviewer declaring it "literally a weaker version of Moschino Toujours Glamour."

Who Should Buy This

Iris lovers and powdery fragrance devotees who enjoy the hunt for discontinued bottles. If you find that iris scents tend to work on your skin and you appreciate refinement over volume, La Temperance 14 delivers a genuinely elegant wearing experience. The discontinued status makes it a conversation piece in a collection, and the Anthology line has an appealing conceptual hook with its Tarot imagery.

Skip it if longevity is non-negotiable for you. Skip it if you can find Chanel 1957 -- it scratches a very similar itch with better availability and performance. And think carefully about the secondary market premium: paying collector prices for a fragrance that lasts 3 hours on skin requires either deep pockets or deep devotion to iris.

The Bottom Line

La Temperance 14 is a beautiful, well-balanced iris fragrance that deserved a longer life on shelves than Dolce and Gabbana gave it. For the hours it lasts, it is genuinely lovely -- sophisticated, office-perfect, and quietly flattering in a way that few designer fragrances manage. The tragedy is that those hours are too few, and the bottle is too hard to find. If you stumble across one at a reasonable price, it is worth grabbing. If you have to overpay significantly, the magic may not survive the math.