Posted by Kevin
on
12 August 2009
Thanks to “old” Givenchy marketing and publicity, whenever I see or hear the word “Givenchy” I think of Hubert de Givenchy. In ‘candid’ and professional photos he always looks at ease, and I don’t know anything about his private life…and that’s a GOOD thing. When the man or woman behind a brand is “mysterious” (or just plain circumspect) it’s easier to approach the brand’s products in a way that’s personal, a way that’s not besmirched by or connected to the designer’s life and personality — his or her drug use, dieting and exercise regime, sex life.
Every time I go into my local Nordstrom store and spray on some Armani Privé Bois d’Encens, the Armani sales person tells the same old “Creation Story” — how young Giorgio always went to church with his grandmother and loved the incense-infused services; Armani asked his perfumer to recreate the church-incense aroma with Bois d’Encens. Being susceptible to imagery, now, when I spray on Bois d’Encens, I imagine the too-tanned, white haired head of today’s 75-year-old Armani on a six-year-old boy’s body and see a classic Italian grandma, black dress and stockings, lace veil pinned to her head, pulling little Armani down a cathedral aisle, censers swinging and smoking all around them. I don’t like other people’s faces (and life stories or fantasies) intruding on my perfume experiences.
Justin Timberlake is the “image” of Givenchy’s two new men’s perfumes: Play and Play Intense, and he comes with a lot of baggage…
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Posted by Robin
on
16 July 2009
Christian Dior will launch Fahrenheit Absolute, a darker, “more intense” version of 1988′s Fahrenheit fragrance for men, this August (and see also: 2007′s Fahrenheit 32).
The fragrance notes include violet, myrrh, incense and oud…
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Posted by Robin
on
4 June 2009
Parfums Regine’s has launched Zoa Night Perfume, a new fragrance to mark the brand’s 20th anniversary. The original Zoa perfume from Regine’s launched in 1992.
Zoa Night Perfume is an ambery-powdery floriental developed by perfumer Emilie Coppermann. I will update with notes later if I can find them…
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Posted by Robin
on
26 May 2009
Van Cleef & Arpels plans to launch Collection Extraordinaire in September. It will be the brand’s first foray into high-end niche perfume, and will debut at around the same time as Cartier’s upcoming collection, Les Heures du Parfum.
The Collection Extraordinaire fragrances, meant to pay homage to nature, are Gardénia Pétale, Orchidée Vanille, Lys Carmin, Muguet Blanc, Bois d’Iris and Cologne Noire…
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Posted by Robin
on
10 October 2008
The Six Scents Fragrance Initiative is a new, ongoing collaboration between Symrise, Metaproject and Seven New York. The group plans to launch six new fragrances every year with a percentage of the proceeds going to charity. Six Scents: Series One will launch next month, and will benefit Designers Against AIDS' International AIDS Awareness Education Center in Antwerp, Belgium.
Each of the six fragrances was developed by a celebrated designer working in conjunction with a Symrise perfumer. The fragrances for Series One, curated by Joseph Quartana of Seven New York, are:
Fragrance 1: Urban Tropicalia ~ by Alexandre Herchcovitch. According to perfumer Joachim Correll, “The inspiration for this fragrance was driven by the way that Alexandre creates fashion: The creative liberty he uses to design fashion which can be used equally by men or women…”
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