For all of the importance of the actual frangrance of a fragrance, how important is the fragrance or designer brand, the concept or image behind the fragrance, and the the look of the bottle and other packaging?
As purists by intent, we often strive to care only about the scent, or at least convince ourselves that only the scent matters. I have tried in my past few sample binges to neutralize all other factors through blind sampling. They were interesting experiements, but ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps with a luxury so ephemeral, the associated images and ideas are a necessary or vital element of the experience. After all fine fragrance is a luxury, and blind sampling ulimately makes me feel like something is missing. Like like trying to evaluate a full-colour painting from a greyscale print.
While it was not my first fragrance by any means, the first fragrance I owned that I fully enjoyed was l'eau d'Issey - of which I was an early adopter in '94 or '95. I was at that time a fan of Miyake's vision, so anithetical to the party lines of New York and Paris. His antifragrance was likeweise, so different at that time from anything else. I loved the cold frosted obelisk of a bottle, and even the ads which flouted the industry norm by just showing that bottle without further embelishment. No bare skin, no zombie-eyed models. It was a pleasure everyday to open the bathroom cabinet and anoint myself from that bottle. It wasn't just a scent - though amazingly complimented - it was an idea and a larger experience. How many others feel the same way today with their Creeds and Guerlains, et al?
Conversely, how can ideas (or the lack thereof) and image prevent us from enjoying a fragrance? I once blind bought a bottle of Kenneth Cole Reaction on the recommendation of a beautiful girl to deliberatly break with my usual pattern. At first smell, the scent evoked laughter - watermelon bubblegum - but it was actually a nice fragrance it is fruity fresh style, once I got over the idea of smelling like something I thought would be sold to 12 year old girls.
It was extremely well suited to the desert summer. What stopped me wearing it wasn't so much the scent itself, but the displeasure of picking up the chintzy Reaction bottle everyday. I could no longer bear to wear "Kenneth Cole."
Thoughts?
As purists by intent, we often strive to care only about the scent, or at least convince ourselves that only the scent matters. I have tried in my past few sample binges to neutralize all other factors through blind sampling. They were interesting experiements, but ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps with a luxury so ephemeral, the associated images and ideas are a necessary or vital element of the experience. After all fine fragrance is a luxury, and blind sampling ulimately makes me feel like something is missing. Like like trying to evaluate a full-colour painting from a greyscale print.
While it was not my first fragrance by any means, the first fragrance I owned that I fully enjoyed was l'eau d'Issey - of which I was an early adopter in '94 or '95. I was at that time a fan of Miyake's vision, so anithetical to the party lines of New York and Paris. His antifragrance was likeweise, so different at that time from anything else. I loved the cold frosted obelisk of a bottle, and even the ads which flouted the industry norm by just showing that bottle without further embelishment. No bare skin, no zombie-eyed models. It was a pleasure everyday to open the bathroom cabinet and anoint myself from that bottle. It wasn't just a scent - though amazingly complimented - it was an idea and a larger experience. How many others feel the same way today with their Creeds and Guerlains, et al?
Conversely, how can ideas (or the lack thereof) and image prevent us from enjoying a fragrance? I once blind bought a bottle of Kenneth Cole Reaction on the recommendation of a beautiful girl to deliberatly break with my usual pattern. At first smell, the scent evoked laughter - watermelon bubblegum - but it was actually a nice fragrance it is fruity fresh style, once I got over the idea of smelling like something I thought would be sold to 12 year old girls.
It was extremely well suited to the desert summer. What stopped me wearing it wasn't so much the scent itself, but the displeasure of picking up the chintzy Reaction bottle everyday. I could no longer bear to wear "Kenneth Cole."Thoughts?
