Comments on: Strange Invisible Perfumes: an interview with Alexandra Balahoutis http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/ a blog about perfume Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:16:00 -0400 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5466 Anonymous Fri, 16 Sep 2005 22:14:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5466 Kathy's a keeper ;-) c2xist -- are you telling me that Barney's niche perfumers specialize in the 16th C. fragrances? No retro Egyptian or Roman scents? No 18th C French? I know that educated perfumers are trained to be blazingly precise, so I do believe you. I must read more about 16th C fragrance. It must be the "in" thing. I'm supposing you meant from Europe, right, not India, the Far East, or the US? Very interesting. Kathy's a keeper ;-)

c2xist — are you telling me that Barney's niche perfumers specialize in the 16th C. fragrances? No retro Egyptian or Roman scents? No 18th C French? I know that educated perfumers are trained to be blazingly precise, so I do believe you. I must read more about 16th C fragrance. It must be the “in” thing. I'm supposing you meant from Europe, right, not India, the Far East, or the US? Very interesting.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5465 Anonymous Tue, 13 Sep 2005 01:20:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5465 Hi Kathy, Thank you for your spirited defense of niche & natural perfumes, you said it much better than I would have :-) Hi Kathy, Thank you for your spirited defense of niche & natural perfumes, you said it much better than I would have :-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5464 Anonymous Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:34:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5464 I believe the reason natural perfumery continues to exist, and refuses to die in the face of such assumptions is that there are so many absolutely hideous perfumes inhabiting the counters of department store in the world, made by, I'm assuming, those very perfumers who sneer at the craft of the less well-resourced and less fully-educated-in-the-way natural perfumer Indie. If being steeped and trained in the contemporary craft of perfumery is superior, how can they continue to produce such mind-numbingly boring, forgettable, mundane, and downright smelly fragrances every year? One must see that many people feel the need for a different type of fragrance experience in their life, and it is those people who support and keep the niche market alive and thriving. I'm a prime example, and I don't think I'm unusual. I've had the normal experience of fragrance sampling at perfume counters, and having to come home and take a shower because the fragrances were so hairsprayish, synthetic and refused to meld or mercifully die. It happens more often than not, and to everyone who's fragrance-shopped. It doesn't seem to sink into the perfume industry to take seriously this problem (and it *is* a problem), but these niche perfumers did, understood, and responded. That is why clients speak of them with respect and affection. In many ways they are our fragrance "consciences". I feel most large commercial perfume houses aren't as responsive to the desires of persons such as myself. Natural perfumers truly *are* more interested in their clientele's needs, as they have had the same unsettling commercial fragrance experiences as ourselves, and were unhappy with the state of it. I enjoy the diversity of fragrance experiences. If we were left at the mercy of contemporary large perfume companies, can you imagine the limited choices that would be given us? I, for one, shudder. Also, there was mention of these indies being stuck in the 16th century. But, branding these perfumes as "unfeminine" as you did, is the more backward of the attitudes, and more appropriately belongs to a different time. Hooray for niche houses! P.S. - My fragrance collection is about 2/3 mainstream and 1/3 niche/natural. I believe the reason natural perfumery continues to exist, and refuses to die in the face of such assumptions is that there are so many absolutely hideous perfumes inhabiting the counters of department store in the world, made by, I'm assuming, those very perfumers who sneer at the craft of the less well-resourced and less fully-educated-in-the-way natural perfumer Indie. If being steeped and trained in the contemporary craft of perfumery is superior, how can they continue to produce such mind-numbingly boring, forgettable, mundane, and downright smelly fragrances every year? One must see that many people feel the need for a different type of fragrance experience in their life, and it is those people who support and keep the niche market alive and thriving.

I'm a prime example, and I don't think I'm unusual. I've had the normal experience of fragrance sampling at perfume counters, and having to come home and take a shower because the fragrances were so hairsprayish, synthetic and refused to meld or mercifully die. It happens more often than not, and to everyone who's fragrance-shopped. It doesn't seem to sink into the perfume industry to take seriously this problem (and it *is* a problem), but these niche perfumers did, understood, and responded. That is why clients speak of them with respect and affection. In many ways they are our fragrance “consciences”.

I feel most large commercial perfume houses aren't as responsive to the desires of persons such as myself. Natural perfumers truly *are* more interested in their clientele's needs, as they have had the same unsettling commercial fragrance experiences as ourselves, and were unhappy with the state of it.

I enjoy the diversity of fragrance experiences. If we were left at the mercy of contemporary large perfume companies, can you imagine the limited choices that would be given us? I, for one, shudder.

Also, there was mention of these indies being stuck in the 16th century. But, branding these perfumes as “unfeminine” as you did, is the more backward of the attitudes, and more appropriately belongs to a different time.

Hooray for niche houses!

P.S. – My fragrance collection is about 2/3 mainstream and 1/3 niche/natural.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5463 Anonymous Fri, 09 Sep 2005 01:47:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5463 Welcome, and thank you for sharing your point of view. I like all kinds of perfumes, from the niche fragrances at Barneys to mass market to prestige to "naturals", and I am not sure why you would feel insulted that others are practicing a different kind of perfumery than you. Welcome, and thank you for sharing your point of view.

I like all kinds of perfumes, from the niche fragrances at Barneys to mass market to prestige to “naturals”, and I am not sure why you would feel insulted that others are practicing a different kind of perfumery than you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5462 Anonymous Fri, 09 Sep 2005 01:27:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5462 Maybe your inability to understand the world of synthetics is due to only four years of study. In my world four years gets you to first grade. The world of synthetics has allowed true creativity, when use by perfumers with experience and an understanding of the craft. I have smelled your fragrances, I believe U2's song sums it well. "Stuck in a moment". You will join all the other Niche fragrances at Barney's that are stuck in the 16th century. I see nothing remotely femenine about any of them. The Niche market is more boring than the prestige market. Perfumery is an art and is not learned over night. This article is an insult and shows a true lack of knowledge of our craft. Maybe your inability to understand the world of synthetics is due to only four years of study. In my world four years gets you to first grade. The world of synthetics has allowed true creativity, when use by perfumers with experience and an understanding of the craft. I have smelled your fragrances, I believe U2's song sums it well. “Stuck in a moment”. You will join all the other Niche fragrances at Barney's that are stuck in the 16th century. I see nothing remotely femenine about any of them. The Niche market is more boring than the prestige market. Perfumery is an art and is not learned over night. This article is an insult and shows a true lack of knowledge of our craft.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5461 Anonymous Thu, 08 Sep 2005 14:20:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5461 Lucky you -- I have to drive 30 minutes to smell any perfume! I *think* that Barneys will be her first off-site retailer, but it will be interesting to see if this line becomes more widely available. Lucky you — I have to drive 30 minutes to smell any perfume! I *think* that Barneys will be her first off-site retailer, but it will be interesting to see if this line becomes more widely available.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5460 Anonymous Thu, 08 Sep 2005 04:10:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5460 Great interview - sounds like a very interesting lady! I have never heard of this perfume line before, but it sounds very intriguing - especially since her ingredients are natural. I do have a perfume shop in my city that sells all kinds of niche lines. Perhaps one day SI perfumes will show up there! Great interview – sounds like a very interesting lady! I have never heard of this perfume line before, but it sounds very intriguing – especially since her ingredients are natural.

I do have a perfume shop in my city that sells all kinds of niche lines. Perhaps one day SI perfumes will show up there!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5459 Anonymous Tue, 06 Sep 2005 19:41:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5459 Yes, she has, but we won't hold her Hollywood pedigree against her! :):) Hugs and love! Yes, she has, but we won't hold her Hollywood pedigree against her! :) :)

Hugs and love!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5458 Anonymous Tue, 06 Sep 2005 18:29:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5458 Oops, messed up the last one, here is a list: http://www.moviemagnet.com/magnet.asp?t=A&i=60835 Oops, messed up the last one, here is a list:

http://www.moviemagnet.com/magnet.asp?t=A&i=60835

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5457 Anonymous Tue, 06 Sep 2005 18:07:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/09/05/strange-invisible-perfumes-an-interview-with-alexandra-balahoutis/#comment-5457 Her face looks familiar dear R - maybe she has even done small roles in some films. xoxo Her face looks familiar dear R – maybe she has even done small roles in some films.

xoxo

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