As a constructive suggestion in reference to a recently closed post, let me posit a three-tiered model of (perfume) culture:
1. globalizing culture: the world-wide Acqua di Gioficiation of trends and tastes driven by international corporations, technological innovation, globalized media and commodity flow. Result: uniformity. Even in supposedly culturally resilient/conservative Islamic cultures there's now a distinct presence of modern aquatics, whether marketed as consciously Western or under the guise of traditional names.
2. residual national/regional cultures: still relevant, national culture often really being a set of (formerly more) dominant middle or upper-class consensus values in a particular country rather than the reflection of national "character." The English tradition of men's colognes until after WWII might be an example. That style has been abandoned (Crown), but for the facade (Trueffit), reborn&modernized after bankruptcy (Penhaligon's) or doggedly hanging on (Trumper's) - it's still present, but not as all-pervasive as it used to be, and it has become an international style for those who enjoy it.
3. Subcultural cosmopolitan culture: A trend in a certain style of club in London will spread to similar clubs in Berlin, Chicago, Sao Paolo, St. Petersburg, Tokyo in no time, and vice-versa. Globally networked niche cultures cross-fertilizing each other, independent of corporate culture (which will pick up and try to popularize such trends - cf. vogueing in the 90s) or older type homogenous national cultures. BN is a nice perfume example. Someone in Europe raves here about Domenico Caraceni - a perfume most people will never hear of in their lives. A few months later luckyscent stocks it due to prodding from US basenoters who have gotten samples and want it.
View these three together and you may get an approximation of how outdated national (not to speak of continental) juxtapositions have become.
Constructive feedback, criticism and elaborations welcome.
1. globalizing culture: the world-wide Acqua di Gioficiation of trends and tastes driven by international corporations, technological innovation, globalized media and commodity flow. Result: uniformity. Even in supposedly culturally resilient/conservative Islamic cultures there's now a distinct presence of modern aquatics, whether marketed as consciously Western or under the guise of traditional names.
2. residual national/regional cultures: still relevant, national culture often really being a set of (formerly more) dominant middle or upper-class consensus values in a particular country rather than the reflection of national "character." The English tradition of men's colognes until after WWII might be an example. That style has been abandoned (Crown), but for the facade (Trueffit), reborn&modernized after bankruptcy (Penhaligon's) or doggedly hanging on (Trumper's) - it's still present, but not as all-pervasive as it used to be, and it has become an international style for those who enjoy it.
3. Subcultural cosmopolitan culture: A trend in a certain style of club in London will spread to similar clubs in Berlin, Chicago, Sao Paolo, St. Petersburg, Tokyo in no time, and vice-versa. Globally networked niche cultures cross-fertilizing each other, independent of corporate culture (which will pick up and try to popularize such trends - cf. vogueing in the 90s) or older type homogenous national cultures. BN is a nice perfume example. Someone in Europe raves here about Domenico Caraceni - a perfume most people will never hear of in their lives. A few months later luckyscent stocks it due to prodding from US basenoters who have gotten samples and want it.
View these three together and you may get an approximation of how outdated national (not to speak of continental) juxtapositions have become.
Constructive feedback, criticism and elaborations welcome.
It is an explanation of how the current global trends help to shape the local market of perfume… I guess.\\
