New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What do you consider

post #1 of 28
8/2/12 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 
your biggest complaint with the fragrance industry? Too many flankers? Too much or not enough oud lately? Too many releases in general or not enough? Something totally different?
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
post #2 of 28
8/2/12 at 8:33pm
My complaint would be the loss of classic styles by a lowest common denominator regulation effect.

I think IFRA has a very real and very legitimate purpose, but the question is, where does consumer choice end? A certain amount of legitimate choice has been taken away from the consumer, IMO. The consumer needs ways to say "I'm willing to take a known risk on THIS."
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 28
8/2/12 at 9:21pm
Agree with redneck. IFRA and the destruction of the classics is my biggest complain. Both the aromachemical houses and certain brand owners are at fault - the aromachemical companies for having created such rules, and the brand owners for not having complained.

cacio
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 28
8/2/12 at 9:23pm
My only complaint would be lack of availability of some lines in the States.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 28
8/2/12 at 9:28pm
LVMH's overwhelming influence on the French market. In France it is impossible to find vintage Guerlain, Dior, Givenchy... on the internet. LVMH forbids it and has asked eBay and other sites to:
1. remove all listings of any of their products
2. prevent French internet users from viewing and buying LVMH products listed on foreign eBay sites
3. prevent French internet users from reselling vintage Guerlain, Dior and Givenchy.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 28
8/2/12 at 9:44pm
+1 for what Red and Cacio said .
Also too many flankers and too many general releases .
I am amazed also by the new number of niche brands popping up.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 28
8/2/12 at 10:37pm
Too many flankers and boring sweet scents, too many 'noirs' that aren't noir..too nice of bottles for the juice..mainstream houses don't take a jump and do something different and bombastic..many both mainstream and niche are weak in the longevity and juice, too thin models, I am like totally done with the lollipop phase in mainstream scents already, like let's get something ORIGINAL here, did I mention models need to eat more?, not enough more mature models, too much photoshop in ads, overcharging for weak, watered down smelling scents...ya, I guess there's a few lol.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 28
8/2/12 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mimi Gardenia View Post

+1 for what Red and Cacio said .
Also too many flankers and too many general releases .
I am amazed also by the new number of niche brands popping up.

All of the above are good points:

IFRA
Too many flankers
Too many new niche companies
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 28
8/2/12 at 11:29pm
I agree with Redneck. I'll had that that most of us seem not to have an historical memory. Too often we experience what I call an "old fragrance with a new label". I'm not talking about the flankers but the overal lack of creativity in both niche and designer houses.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 28
8/2/12 at 11:32pm
Too many flankers that are actually good or at least remotely useful/justifiable
Too much disregard, disrespect and dilettantism towards the customer - both the SA nor the PR department of most scent manufacturers and/or retailers are less and less attentive towards the demands of more knowledgeable customers, because most of them know that recent fads and mass market trends equal "where the big money is"
Both legit environmental concerns and bogus claims of environmental concerns used as an excuse to tamper, to manipulate with the price and the quality
"Niche is the new mass-market"
Combined with the aforementioned, little diversity in spite of new variations, flankers, concentrations, even new brands overflowing the market
Extreme disdain towards and underrating of well-made, influential and good quality classics
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 28
8/2/12 at 11:56pm
To all the valid things said above, I'll add my particular grouse: when they make 50 ml bottles so ridiculously expensive in comparison to the 100 ml (see for example Amouage and Frederic Malle). Ok they needn't be half the price, but when the difference is so small the customer just feels conned.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 28
8/3/12 at 12:07am
Lack of availability.
I am getting really tired of seeing $90 bottles that were going for $60 years ago..retail.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 28
8/3/12 at 2:17am
All the above + the lack of transparency.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 28
8/3/12 at 6:41am
The use of synthetic notes. They sure are charging us for natural notes.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 28
8/3/12 at 7:04am
Great points by RP, cacio and Reminiscent. I have no problems with the proliferation of niche brands, as long as they are competent. But half-baked also rans?? C'mon... We don't need designer clones in niche clothing.
My other little gripe: the lack of travel sized bottles of 15-30 ml. I don't see why I should be made to pay for 100 ml of anything.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 28
8/3/12 at 8:40am
Also - the increase in prices of fragrances in the last 2-3 years. Since I am wearing Carnal Flower - I will use it as an example. Bottle bought 2010 - $300 ( before tax in US )
Bottles for sale today $340 ( before tax in US)
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 28
8/3/12 at 8:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto View Post

My complaint would be the loss of classic styles by a lowest common denominator regulation effect.

I think IFRA has a very real and very legitimate purpose, but the question is, where does consumer choice end? A certain amount of legitimate choice has been taken away from the consumer, IMO. The consumer needs ways to say "I'm willing to take a known risk on THIS."

+1, this is mine as well.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 28
8/3/12 at 10:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mimi Gardenia View Post

Also - the increase in prices of fragrances in the last 2-3 years. Since I am wearing Carnal Flower - I will use it as an example. Bottle bought 2010 - $300 ( before tax in US )
Bottles for sale today $340 ( before tax in US)

So is that price worth it to you just because you choose to splurge on this particular hobby? In other words, let's say a great Malle bottle is a 9.5/10 and is $340, but a great designer release is a 7.8/10 and $50. Is the difference in price justified because you actually do like the Malle that much more instead of just the latest Armani? Or do think it's rare that a designer bottle is worth buying at all?
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 28
8/3/12 at 10:53am
Raw material costs have increased in a horrible scary way over the past five years; fragrances are going to be more expensive if the fragrance houses and the distributers of fine fragrances are going to maintain their profits.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 28
8/3/12 at 1:14pm
Too many scents with poor sillage and/or longevity.

It's a shame to spend good money on a scent that smells very good, only to have it disappear in a few hours.
I realize this is in part based on the inherent properties of the ingredients, and maybe nothing can be done by the fragrance makers to alter this. It's just a pet peeve of mine.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 28
8/3/12 at 2:25pm
Not enough sales. Everything else goes on sale at some time or another: hard drives, clothing, peanut butter...why not fragrance? Can't the Bay have a 50% off sale once and a while?
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 28
8/3/12 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stew View Post

So is that price worth it to you just because you choose to splurge on this particular hobby? In other words, let's say a great Malle bottle is a 9.5/10 and is $340, but a great designer release is a 7.8/10 and $50. Is the difference in price justified because you actually do like the Malle that much more instead of just the latest Armani? Or do think it's rare that a designer bottle is worth buying at all?

The thing is, I will still buy a scent at increased cost. It doensn't matter to me if it's a Malle and Carnal Flower or Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel . if I love it , wear it and I can afford to, then I will still buy the scents I love . So yes, the price is worth it to me if the scent is worth it to me.
However I cannot help observing the great increase in price across board .
David Ruskin - thank you for your input. I realize that but I cannot help but moan ,I guess.
( It is not just fragrances, I noticed the cost of food has risen too . At least where I live. )
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 28
8/3/12 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto View Post

My complaint would be the loss of classic styles by a lowest common denominator regulation effect.

I think IFRA has a very real and very legitimate purpose, but the question is, where does consumer choice end? A certain amount of legitimate choice has been taken away from the consumer, IMO. The consumer needs ways to say "I'm willing to take a known risk on THIS."

Absolutely second this - if they are worried about allergies, I dont see why they dont sell the fragrance with a warning label. They sell cigarettes, dont they? How dangerous is that! These restrictions are killing the perfume industry and destroying perfume as I have known it.

I hope it's only a matter of time before a consumer movement makes these companies reconsider their attitude.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 28
8/4/12 at 11:22am
There's far, far, too much calone around - horrible stuff!
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 28
8/4/12 at 10:41pm
Creativity is the major factor to me.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 28
8/5/12 at 7:05am
Rip off prices, lack of longevity and power of scents, lame scents, the mutilating and discontinuing of classics, silly advertising.
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 28
8/9/12 at 5:11pm
Reformulating while keeping the same name, bottle and price, even after only 2-3 years of production. I'm not talking only about IFRA regulations, but also of using cheaper ingredients just for increasing their profit. E.g. Dior.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 28
8/9/12 at 6:05pm
1. Fragrances with really good top notes and mediocre base notes.

2. Flankers, which are bad, and are NOTHING like the original.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.