Some 2006 Fragrances

[Tink]

I have noticed alot of fragrances that were launched near the end of 2006, are already doing horrible.

Betsey Johnson - they already sell it at Marshalls (for you who don't know the store its a discount retail store)

Hilary Duff's with love - you can buy it for 20 dollars cheaper at clairs. what i don't get is why vendors would send department stores gift sets for $55 and small chains gift sets with little diffrence for $30. it just came out so no way can the fragrance me a pull from other department stores. *shrugs*

Tracey Ellen's Tracy/Liz Clairborns Vintage Soul and Curve Chill - We were overstocked in it, and after Christmas Dillards had so much they actually had to put them half off to sell them, and Department stores NEVER have sells on their fragrances

[TDDanae]

There's just so many of them now. Like books, It seems so many people are making them now and probably not enough people wanting them.

[Tovah]

The mass-market fragrance industry is ridiculously over-saturated. There's too much to choose from, and too much of the same types of fragrances. The artistry that went into Patous, Chanels, Guerlains, Carons, etc. in many cases has been replaced by a sort of "assembly line" of creators. Only a few fragrances releases from the past few years have really stood the test of time, so far.

I'll name a few "successful" new releases, please add any you can think of. By "successful" I'm thinking they'll do well on the market for a long time; possibly becoming "classics". Tink's topic really interests me, because I swear I've noticed that the more new fragrances there are, the faster they become "discount" scents, and then disappear...

I think these mass-market fragrances have been "successful" (but I don't know for sure):

Angel (obviously)
Narciso Rodriguez For Her
Prada
Chinatown
Marc Jacobs
RL Romance
D&G Light Blue
Stella McCartney
Vera Wang
Sublime
L'eau d'Issey
Chanel Allure
Chanel Chance
Eau des Merveilles
Cuir Amethyste
Kenzo Flower
Lolita Lempicka
West Side
Clinique Happy

[Bois et Musc]

...

I think these mass-market fragrances have been "successful" (but I don't know for sure):

Chinatown
Sublime
Cuir Amethyste
West Side

Im not sure these are mass-market fragrances - I thought Sublime has been discontinued

[kewart]

A great topic Tink and wise words from Tovah, as usual.

I do so agree that the market is becoming saturated with 1001 fragrances,

because every other fashion designer, jeweller, pop singer and film star feels

the need to further enhance their income and status with an eponymous

scent. The low point in my book was when reality t.v. star Jane Goody

brought one out!!

Maybe I'm getting old and nostalgic, but wasn't it better when there were

just a few, authentic perfume makers, well-versed in their art, producing

masterpieces like the Carons, Guerlains, Fragonard, Molinard etc.?

Yes, I know I,m being elitist here, but it's like any art form (music, painting )

the best of the new survive (Dylan, Beatles, Bernstein, Warhol,Dali, Picasso)

and the other pretenders fade away.......

[coumarin]

Maybe I'm getting old and nostalgic, but wasn't it better when there were just a few, authentic perfume makers, well-versed in their art, producing masterpieces like the Carons, Guerlains, Fragonard, Molinard etc.? Yes, I know I,m being elitist here, but it's like any art form (music, painting ) the best of the new survive (Dylan, Beatles, Bernstein, Warhol,Dali, Picasso) and the other pretenders fade away.......

If you look at flea market vintage perfume bottle collections, you'll see lots of unknown country store brands worn by women who would never see Paris or New York. I suspect that looking back at what survives from the past and tends to produce the illusion of higher quality, because no one bothers to save the unmemorable crap. But who knows how many unknown gems were lost along with the mediocre stuff?

It's easier to pick out the good stuff from the past, as time has done the editing for you. The present is an open book, and we're here help write it, deciding with our purchase and sharing choices which working perfumers succeed, which scents survives into the future. If you ask me, that's the adventure (and the fun) in supporting any art.

[Candy Perfume Boy]

I think it's good to have a wide variety. Although i do agree that the whole celebrity fragrance genre is a bit out of control. Some celebrity fragrances (SJP Lovely and JLo Live) are quite well made, whereas the majority are just boshed together linear fragrances. But i do think it's good that fashion designers bring out perfumes, the fragrances they make seem to run along side their couture lines. For example, Kingdom is in essence very similar to Alexander McQueens romantic and sophisticated fashion. I think what i'm trying to say (very badly) is yay for well made, well thought out scents by perfume houses and fashion houses but nay to the ones that are there solely for making money and are completely lacking in passion.

[Bois et Musc]

It 's all about short term profits, it 's more profitable and much easier to release hundreds of "new" fragrances ever year that will encounter a very short success than trying to release perfumes expected to become classics!
The strategy is come up with "new" fragrances that are nothing new really, create the illusion of new when it always goes down to fruity florals anyways that "smell good" with more importantly strictly NO character, therefore consumers get bored with them so fast that they feel like buying something else, something "new"!

[Tink]

I think these mass-market fragrances have been "successful" (but I don't know for sure):

Angel (obviously)

lets stick with 2006 ^^;;

A great topic Tink and wise words from Tovah, as usual.

I do so agree that the market is becoming saturated with 1001 fragrances,

because every other fashion designer, jeweller, pop singer and film star

Even though it gets quite annoying that everyone is coming out with a fragrance, I think the parfume world needs it. Being a young adult and a Sales Associate, I know that classics like Chanel are just not cutting it for the young crowd. Just within the last 5 or so years did they come up with fragrances that didn't make the mass of young people want to hurl, i don't mean any offense to people who adore number 5 or coco, but to majority of young people, it is not a pleasing fragrance.

I think all these random fragrances poping up urges serious companys to make fragrances to appeal to the younger crowd.
example:
Light Blue
Very Irristable
Oscar Bamboo

AND a sells rep from chanel visited me to talk about the products and sells plans for 2007 and shesays they are coming out with a cleaner fresher and lighter scent in the spring to appeal to young adults.

I think it's good to have a wide variety. Although i do agree that the whole celebrity fragrance genre is a bit out of control. Some celebrity fragrances (SJP Lovely and JLo Live) are quite well made, whereas the majority are just boshed together linear fragrances.

That my dear, is all opinon based. It shouldn'tmatter the motives behind the making the fragrance, it's the smell. I do a test with most of my customers, i spray Paris Hiloton's fragrance and hav3 them smell it, but don't let them know what it is. You would be surprised that 90% love the perfume, but the moment you tell them the name their whole perspective on it changes. but through alot of convincing and having them realize that its not the name but the smell I have made it one of my top sellers

[Tovah]

I thought Sublime has been discontinued

No way! omg...omg...

Besides that revelation, which has given me hives, I agree that the Bonds and Cuir are not mass-market. I got off on a "new scent" tangent...sorry

[Tovah]

Sorry about that, Tink, it didn't sink in with me that you meant just 2006 and I think I led the post off-track.

So, 2006 enduring scents...ummm...

Black Orchid will probably last beyond current trends. Baghari...maybe?

Besides the Paris one, what else seems to be selling well?

[Bois et Musc]

lets stick with 2006 ^^;;




That my dear, is all opinon based. It shouldn'tmatter the motives behind the making the fragrance, it's the smell. I do a test with most of my customers, i spray Paris Hiloton's fragrance and hav3 them smell it, but don't let them know what it is. You would be surprised that 90% love the perfume, but the moment you tell them the name their whole perspective on it changes. but through alot of convincing and having them realize that its not the name but the smell I have made it one of my top sellers

The motives do matter! we re talking marketing motives here, this is a billion dollar industry, it 's marketing executives at round table meetings who decide on the best strategies to turn up the most profits. the result? 90% of fragrances are "smell good" fruity florals designed to appeal to the largest consumer groups possible. It 's scents that have to smell and instantly appeal to everyone on paper strip, we re not talking about classic scents or niche scents like the Malles or Lutens that need reveal themselves on the skin after 45 min! Expected performances of mass marketed perfumes are not about quality, creativity or artistic interest, it 's just profit and short term over-consumption.
Consumers are manipulated to buy more; they re sold "new" and "must-have" false ideals. The buzz of multi-million dollar ad campaigns and the illusion of "smell good" fragrances that actually have so little character and substance leave consumers frustrated and bored to death so consequently people keep buying always more and more "new" stuff!
Mediocrity is good for business!
Victoire Gobin Daude told me last year she couldn 't survive as an independant perfumer (she called her line 'parfumerie artisanale'), her line is made of rare and very expensive high end ingredients, corporations like LVMH just want to deal with perfume lines that cost less than 5 euros a bottle at the most to produce and market (think +80% of mass marketed fragrances production cost is marketing (ads, commercials etc) and NOT ingredients!) to sell it at least ten times more in retail! They have no time and interest in developping independant perfumers with too little margins of profits.
When you pay at Sephora $68 for Vera Wang Princess 3.4Oz bottle in EDT (not even EDP!!), probably less than $3 went into for the ingredients costs.

[Zibeline]

Personally I'm delighted that the manufacturers are cranking out new scents and that people are buying! Young people have to start somewhere and develop an interest in scents. If the only things available were costly niche scents, they'd put their dollars elsewhere. With mass availability perhaps some aficionados will develop over time...

It might be nice to think young people will focus rapidly on quality, but it's largely not the case...and it has been this way for a very long time! Young fragrances came and went 35 years ago too. Not as many, but they were there "skinny dip" "young and free" "babe" with its Margaux Hemingway campaign, immediately come to mind. Love's soft lemon and that "baby soft" line sold like mad. With the possible exception of Babe, the old trendy scents were pretty poor. We bought the marketing.

[Margareta]

I find all these new releases a great pitty! I guess many of them will just dissapeare after a short time. I am a bit scared to give my hart away to a frag if I probably not am able to get a secound bottle of it, in a year or two. And this is what I feel for many new releases. So I don´t get so many... If more people than me feels the same way, it makes the new releases dissapeare even faster...

[Margareta]

It shouldn'tmatter the motives behind the making the fragrance, it's the smell. I do a test with most of my customers, i spray Paris Hiloton's fragrance and hav3 them smell it, but don't let them know what it is. You would be surprised that 90% love the perfume, but the moment you tell them the name their whole perspective on it changes. but through alot of convincing and having them realize that its not the name but the smell I have made it one of my top sellers

I find it nice to have a perfume-sellers oppinion here om the board! You do see what really appeal to people! I talk a lot to the sellers when I am buying, so I have understod you sellers have another point of view than me, who am only using the fumes. - It is a fun examlpe you are writing, and I believe you are totaly right! Paris Hiltons fragances are very nice! - But I can´t even imagin myself wearing them, just because of their name! So I am prejudicted!!!

[Elf]

I have begun to suspect that there are computer programs based on a large number of marketing "focus groups", ie: preferences of large numbers of people who tested various scents, that essentially churn out "recipes" for new perfumes, so that the perfumer is many cases is becoming marginalized. This would explain in part the fruity/floral/vanilla thing that happens over and over and over. Also, perfumes are probably considered more like light bulbs now. About 50 years ago, indandescent light bulbs were made to last quite a few years. Then companies found that they could make more money if everyone made cheaper (ie: crappy) lightbulbs that only lasted a couple months. The old factories which made the good bulbs were redone to make garbage (this occurred in Hungary and other places). Only garbage was made and sold. This trend followed to electronics, which are meant to basically self-destruct after a year or two, so that consumers will buy MORE. Perfumes are pretty much the same now in the mass market. Basically clones, just a color/bottle/slight tweakage of the same basic scent, cheapest ingredients possible (as Luca Turin points out in his excellent book). People get bored long before the bottle's used up, they buy MORE, and the company makes more money. Pretty simple, really. The answer is to support your local artisanal perfumery!

[sherrie11]

Here is The Fragrance Foundations list of 2006 U.S Women's Fragrance Introductions (sorry, I know it's looooonnng list!). You will probably see more than a few that you tried and forgot in 2006!

ACQUA DI PARMA IRIS NOBILE EAU DE PARFUM - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
AFFECTION - Mary Kay Cosmetics
AGENT PROVOCATEUR EAU EMOTIONELLE - Selective Beauty
ALFRED SUNG BIJOU - Elizabeth Arden (Riviera Concepts)
ANGEL GARDEN OF STARS Rose Angel - Thierry Mugler Parfums
ANNA SUI DOLLY GIRL ON THE BEACH - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
ANTHOUSA Citrus Sorbet, Fig Vetiver, White Tuberose - Anthousa
APPARITION SUN BY EMANUEL UNGARO - Gary Farn, Ltd.
ARMANI CODE FOR WOMEN - Giorgio Armani Parfums
AROMATICS ELIXIR VELVET SHEER - Clinique
BABY DOLL LUCKY GAME - YSL Beaute
BABY PHAT GOLDEN GODDESS - Coty Prestige
BADGLEY MISCHKA - Elizabeth Arden (Riviera Concepts)
BAGHARI DE ROBERT PIGUET - Fashion Fragrances & Cosmetics Ltd.
BETSEY JOHNSON PARFUM - Karis Group Ltd.
BEYOND PARADISE BLUE - Estee Lauder
BIJAN BLACK FOR WOMEN - Five Star Fragrance Co.
BLACK ORCHID - Tom Ford Beauty/Estee Lauder
BLUE RUSH - Avon
BOHISTA - mark.
BOUCHERON LES EDITION BLEUES - YSL Beaute
BOUCHERON TROUBLE EAU LEGERE - YSL Beaute
BURBERRY LONDON - P&G Prestige/Interparfums
CANDIE'S HEARTBREAKER - Coty Beauty U.S.
CARNAL FLOWER - Frederic Malle
CASSIS ROSE - The Body Shop
CHOCOLOVERS - Aquolina
CHYPRE ROUGE - Serge Lutens
CITRON - Slatkin & Co.
CITRUS VERBENA - L'Occitane
CK ONE ELECTRIC (unisex) - Coty Prestige
CK ONE SUMMER CALVIN KLEIN (unisex)- Coty Prestige
CLEOPATRA - Tocca Beauty
COCO CREMA - Stacked Style
COCO EXTREME - Comptoir Sud Pacifique
COEUR D'ETE - Miller Harris
COOL WATER GAME FOR WOMEN - Coty Prestige
COTTON - The Body Shop
COZY CASHMERE - The Body Shop
CREED ORIGINAL SANTAL (unisex) - International Cosmetics & Perfumes
CRYSTAL AURA - Avon Products, Inc.
CURVE CHILL FOR HER - Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
DANIELLE BY DANIELLE STEEL - Elizabeth Arden
DELICES DE CARTIER - Cartier
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES FORBIDDEN FRUIT - Coty Prestige
DIANOCHE DAISY FUENTES - BeautyBank/Estee Lauder Cos.
DISCOVER COLLECTION ALABASTER, JADE, ROSEWOOD - Banana Republic
DKNY RED DELICIOUS WOMEN - Donna Karan Cosmetics
DOLCE DEW - Stacked Style
DONNA KARAN GOLD - Donna Karan Cosmetics
DREAM ANGELS DESIRE - Victoria's Secret Beauty
DZONGKHA (unisex) - L'Artisan Parfumeur
EAU DE REGLISSE (unisex) - Caron
EAU GOURMANDE - Laura Mercier
ELEMENT OF DESIRE - Creative Universe Beth Terry
ELIXIR DES MERVEILLES - Hermes Parfums
ETERNITY SUMMER CALVIN KLEIN - Coty Prestige
EXOTIC COCONUT - Bath and Body Works
F BY FERRAGAMO - Gary Farn, Ltd.
FIGUE - Calypso Christian Celle
FIORE FLIRT - Stacked Style
FIRE ISLAND (unisex) - Bond No. 9 New York
FIRST VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS EAU DE TOILETTE POUR L'ETE - YSL Beaute
FLORENCE - Tocca Beauty
GARDENIA - Calypso Christiane Celle
GAULTIER2 (unisex) - Beaute Prestige International
GIVENCHY AMARIGE MARIAGE - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GIVENCHY ANGE OU DEMON - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GRASSROOTS HAPPILY EVER AFTER - BeautyBank/Estee Lauder Cos.
GUCCI ENVY ME 2 - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
GUERLAIN AQUA ALLEGORIA GROSELLINA - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GUERLAIN AQUA ALLEGORIA TUTTI KIWI - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GUERLAIN COLOURS OF LOVE - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GUERLAIN INSOLENCE - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
GUERRILLA 1 AND GUERILLA 2 (unisex) - Commes des Garcons
GUESS GOLD - Parlux Fragrances
HANAE MORI MAGICAL MOON - International Cosmetics & Perfumes
HEIRESS PARIS HILTON - Parlux Fragrances
HERMESSENCE PAPRIKA BRASIL (unisex) - Hermes Parfums
HERVE LEGER ROSE LEGER - Gary Farn Ltd.
HYPNOSE - Lancome/L'Oreal
IN CONTROL CURIOUS BRITNEY SPEARS - Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
IN LOVE AGAIN JASMIN ETOILE - YSL Beaute
INNOCENT SECRET - Thierry Mugler Parfums
ISLAND MICHAEL KORS FIJI - Michael Kors Beauty
JIL SANDER STYLE - Coty Prestige
JO MALONE - Nectarine Blossom & Honey
JUICY COUTURE - Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
KENZO AMOUR - Parfums Kenzo
KISS HER - Gemini Cosmetics
LACOSTE INSPIRATION - P & G Prestige Products, Inc.
LANVIN RUMEUR - Interparfums
L'EAU PAR KENZO LOVE L'EAU - Kenzo Parfums
LIVE LUXE JENNIFER LOPEZ - Coty Prestige
LOVELY SARAH JESSICA PARKER LIQUID SATIN - Coty Prestige
LUCKY NUMBER 6 - Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
MANDARINA DUCK - Idesa Parfums
MANDARINE TOUT SIMPLEMENT - L'Artisan Parfumeur
MARC JACOBS BLUSH INTENSE - Coty Prestige
MARC JACOBS SPLASH (unisex) Grass, Rain, Cotton - Coty Prestige
MARC JACOBS SPLASH Autumn Collection (unisex) Violet, Ivy, Amber - Coty Prestige
MARY KATE AND ASHLEY COAST TO COAST MALIBU STYLE - Coty Beauty
MARY KATE AND ASHLEY COAST TO COAST SOHO CHIC - Coty Beauty
MATTHEW WILLIAMSON - Juniper Brand Development
MIHIME - Keiko Mecheri
MILLE ET UNE ROSES - Lancome/L'Oreal
MIMOSA PARFUM - Calypso Christian Celle
MISS SIXTY - Coty Beauty U.S.
MISSONI - Aramis & Designer Fragrances
OPIUM FLEUR IMPERIALE EAU D'ORIENT - YSL Beaute
ORANGE FLOWER & CITRON - Slatkin
ORGANZA HARVEST - Parfums Givenchy
OSCAR BAMBOO - YSL Beaute
OSCAR ISLAND FLOWERS - YSL Beaute
OSCAR TROPICAL FLOWERS - YSL Beaute
PACIFIC PARADISE - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
PHILOSOPHY THE FRAGRANCE - Philosophy
PLAY-DOH - Demeter Fragrance Library/Hasbro
PRADA TENDRE - Puig Prestige Beauty/Coty
PURE WHITE LINEN - Estee Lauder
RALPH LAUREN HOT - Ralph Lauren Fragrances/L'Oreal
ROBERTO CAVALLI HER PINK - Clarins Fragrance Group
ROBERTO CAVALLI SERPENTINE - Clarins Fragrance Group
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO INCANTO CHARMS - Gary Farn, Ltd.
SEL DE VETIVER (unisex) - The Different Company
SEQUIN SPARKLE - The Body Shop
SENSUAL AMBER - Bath and Body Works
SEXY LITTLE THINGS - Victoria's Secret Beauty
SHANGHAI BUTTERFLY - Elizabeth Arden (Nanette Lepore/Riviera Concepts)
SHEER EUPHORIA CALVIN KLEIN - Coty Prestige
SHEER STELLA - Stella McCartney Parfums/YSL Beaute
SIRA DES INDES JEAN PATOU - P & G Prestige Products, Inc.
SOIR DE LUNE - Sisley Cosmetics Worldwide
SONGES - Annick Goutal Parfums/Gary Farn Ltd.
STACIE J GOLDEN - Revelations Perfume & Cosmetics
STELLA IN TWO STELLA McCARTNEY - YSL Beaute
THE SCENT OF PEACE - Bond No. 9 New York
THE O.C. FOR HER - AMC Beauty
TOMMY GIRL 10 - Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries
TOMMY GIRL SHIMMER AT TWILIGHT - Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries
TOMMY GIRL SUMMMER - Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries
TOUCH - Tocca Beauty
TRACY ELLEN TRACY - Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
TRESOR EAU DE PRINTEMPS SHEER - Lancome/L'Oreal
UME - Keiko Mecheri
VALENTINO V ETE - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
VANILLE AMANDE - Comptoir Sud Pacifique
VANILLE CITRON - Comptoir Sud Pacifique
VANILLE PINEAPPLE - Comptoir Sud Pacifique
VERA WANG PRINCESS - Coty Prestige
VERSACE BRIGHT CRYSTAL - Fragrances Exclusive, Inc.
VERY COOL FOR WOMEN - Gemini Cosmetics, Inc.
VERY IRRESISTIBLE GIVENCHY HARVEST - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
VERY IRRESISTIBLE GIVENCHY SUMMER - LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group
VERY SEXY NOW - Victoria's Secret Beauty
VINTAGE SOUL BY CURVE - Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
WEST SIDE (unisex) - Bond No. 9 New York
WITH LOVE HILARY DUFF - Elizabeth Arden
WONDERFUL INDULGENCE - Beauty Bank/Estee Lauder Cos.
YSL PARIS EAU DE PRINTEMPS ROSES DES VERGERS - YSL Beaute

[mochi227]

The mediocre fragrances being released, or as Tink points out, the changing tastes of young people, who choose frags that a more mature (read that as age and/or tastes) customer would reject, seems to me analogous to what happens with cars, restaurants, clothing brands, etc.

You could drive a Mitsubishi Eclipse or you could drive a Maserati GranSport
You could eat at Applebee's, or you could eat at Nobu
You could wear H&M, or you could wear Dolce Gabbana

Part of it is price point (and less so with perfume!), but the other part is taste, knowledge, and access. If you don't have the money to dress/smell your desired socio-economic niche, find the budget equivalents, buy on sale, go to samples sales, get samples, do what you have to do to find the quality and fine craftsmanship you desire.

The mediocre perfumes will probably always be there. Perhaps the reason there seem to be so many now is that teenagers have a lot of disposable income. They are courted as a market segment with real purchasing power. There is not enough bad taste in the world to completely knock out the good designers, the luxury automobiles, and perfectly presented dinner. So with perfume.

[tinker424]

No way! omg...omg...

Deep breaths Tovah! People, please remember, we do not, under ANY circumstances use the "D" word around Tovah!

[gloomy_liv]

lets stick with 2006 ^^;;
It shouldn'tmatter the motives behind the making the fragrance, it's the smell. I do a test with most of my customers, i spray Paris Hiloton's fragrance and hav3 them smell it, but don't let them know what it is. You would be surprised that 90% love the perfume, but the moment you tell them the name their whole perspective on it changes. but through alot of convincing and having them realize that its not the name but the smell I have made it one of my top sellers

I do exactly the same thing when I'm working - for example, when we launched "Forbidden Fruit" by Desperate Housewives, I offered customers a spray, just calling it "Forbidden Fruit" and not telling them who it was 'by'...quite a few people (including some older ladies, who tried to put me off offering them a try by saying "Oh, I only wear Chanel No. 5...") liked the scent...when they asked me who made it, then I tell them. But you'd be surprised at the number of people who said "Oh, Desperate Housewives, that's horrible..it just smells like a desperate housewife!" - even though a minute before they said it was nice!! The same goes with the JLo fragrances, and even "Darling" by Kylie Minogue...they like it, until you tell them who it's by! That's not saying every single customer who tried it hated it after finding out the brand...but a few of them weren't convinced.

[Tink]

Sorry about that, Tink, it didn't sink in with me that you meant just 2006 and I think I led the post off-track.

what else seems to be selling well?

^___^
at my department, the 2006 that are selling well are:

vera wang Princess
Sarah Jessica Parkers Lovely was shortly before Christmas began
Paris Hiltons Heirss
Armani Code for women
Tommy 10
Miss Dior Cherie (my biggest seller)
Escada Into the Blue
Burberry Londen

I work at a small macy's fyi ^^

The motives do matter! we re talking marketing motives here,

so you are telling me if you found a fragrance that made you absolutley orgaze everytime you smell it, but it was produced by some celebertiy looking for quick money you would turn your nose up to it and pick a fragrance that you don't like as much by a serious perfumer?

I find it nice to have a perfume-sellers oppinion here om the board! You do see what really appeal to people! I talk a lot to the sellers when I am buying, so I have understod you sellers have another point of view than me, who am only using the fumes. - It is a fun examlpe you are writing, and I believe you are totaly right! Paris Hiltons fragances are very nice! - But I can´t even imagin myself wearing them, just because of their name! So I am prejudicted!!!

I do exactly the same thing when I'm working - for example, when we launched "Forbidden Fruit" by Desperate Housewives, I offered customers a spray, just calling it "Forbidden Fruit" and not telling them who it was 'by'...quite a few people (including some older ladies, who tried to put me off offering them a try by saying "Oh, I only wear Chanel No. 5...") liked the scent...when they asked me who made it, then I tell them. But you'd be surprised at the number of people who said "Oh, Desperate Housewives, that's horrible..it just smells like a desperate housewife!" - even though a minute before they said it was nice!! The same goes with the JLo fragrances, and even "Darling" by Kylie Minogue...they like it, until you tell them who it's by! That's not saying every single customer who tried it hated it after finding out the brand...but a few of them weren't convinced.

Nice to see another SA ^^

but exactly what i mean, somethese new fragrances could be so succesfull and last more then ten years if it wasn't for the celebirtys they choose to endorse them. out of all the fragrances I have with celebirty endorcments that has never got a noseturned up at is Sarah Jessica Parker.

but if people could look beyound the face on the box and just go by what they like these fragrances could be around for along time.

Like itell my customers, choose what you like, do pick by the name or populariy.

[Lian]

Sometimes I find Basenoters too much of an elite group. I love perfume but I simply don't have access to niche scents. Ordering online is too expensive and risky since I can't sample for free and the country I reside in now hasn't even heard of Creed or Bond.

You can say you can try harder to find quality on sales, but sometimes it really is not available and you have to make do. Frankly, not all mass marketed perfumes are bad and sometimes I get tired to see people discount everything when it doesn't come with a huge price card. Beggers cant be choosers, be happy you have the choice but also understand a lot of people simply can't afford the expensive scents and still make an effort to smell nice and educate themselves a bit more.


When Lolita Lempicka's L was released it seemed all of basenote was in love with it while it is mass marketed, has it been forgotten so easily now because too many people recognized a good affordable( although it is already stretching my wallet) scent and bought it?

[djuna]

Lian - I hear you, and there have been times when I've felt the same way. I have a strong contrarian streak, and when something is extremely popular or well-praised, my instinct has always been to avoid it. But you really ought to try ordering decants from places such as FragrantFripperies.com or Dragonfly Scent Me on eBay, where you can order small vials of the niche stuff, often for below $20 or $30. If you have a large collection to rotate with, 5ml can last a long time.

Though I'm not in love with niches per se (I really don't get the love for L'Artisan or Bond No. 9 - they have a few very nice fragrances, but none so far that I love) I do believe that certain houses, such as Lutens, Caron, and Malle (my Holy Trinity of the moment) tend to produce scents that are more innovative and viscerally moving than any of the scents on the market. The reason, I think, is that these houses (particularly Malle) respect the artistic integrity of their noses and allow them the freedom and resources that they need to create great scents. That just doesn't seem to be the case with more commercial perfume houses, which are always thinking in terms of the lowest common denominator, simplifying their work so that they can sell to a broad consumer base. That often means ironing out the (potentially offensive) quirks that make perfumes truly interesting. If you look at the Basenotes reviews for the Lutens, there are nearly always a lot of negative reviews mixed in with the raves. When I sniffed Arabie, it was instant love, but I've heard that it smells like barbecued meat, or like a sweaty guy working at an Indian food restaurant. But the best niche scents rise above anything you'll find in the newer commercial releases. When I sniffed Carnal Flower and En Passant for the first time, they nearly made me cry. There is a difference; it is real. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't smelled it myself.

[Margareta]

Lian - I feel like you sometimes, too. And here I am anyhow, reading every day I can reach a computor. But, Lian - not everyone at BN are elitistic. And if you read behind the lines, you can get many good advise for perfumes you can get, as all types of fragances are mentioned. I don´t really care if someone is elitistic, and I don´t feel a lower person myself if someone is! Life is not a competition about who owns the "best" or the largest number of perfumes when we dies!!! Life with perfumes is about to feel as good as possible.

I just red an interwiev with the beauty-guru Ole Henriksen. His most importaint advice for feeling good was:
"KEEP IT SIMPLE. It doas not matter if it conserns beauty-rutines, food, exercise or furnishing, clothes, travels or things, simplicity is always to prefer. Excesses infallibly results in you just wanting more, and you never get really satisfied."

I guess this goes for perfumes, too.

I can´t get the Creed or the Bond either, they are not for sale in my country, but I am very pleased with what I have got anyhow! Perumes are expencive, and I am not rich, so I will never get a very large number of perfumes. But BN has helped me to find some really nice scents, and I am very grateful for that.

[gloomy_liv]

Lian - sometimes I feel like I don't belong in Basenotes, because everyone seems to own a few expensive/niche fragrances that I've either never heard of or just can't afford. I can't order online, because I just can't afford it. All of the fragrances I own are either bought from department stores. The only niche fragrances I have are samples which I have gotten straight from the perfume house.

I have found that Basenotes members have both niche & "mass-marketed" fragrances in their collections...eg. someone might own a Malle fragrances, as well as a Calvin Klein!

Even though I can't afford to buy a lot of fragrances, and also though a lot of fragrances aren't available here in Australia, I still read all the threads here in the community, to see what opinions people have on certain fragrances... this is how I learn about fragrances - not just by sniffing testers at the stores, but from people's notes and opinions! Hopefully, one day I can try a few of the fragrances that I've read about (Bond, Caron, etc...) - but until then, I build up my knowledge (and dream!!)

[Tink]

Lian too~ ^_^(lol) - i feel the same way sometimes. but for me, i feel like alot of people on basenotes ( i couold be wrong) tend to praise a fragrance because of the name or its stature in th3e world. such as este lauders youth dew, or chanel number 5. maybe I am just too young but i can't see how any young adult can find these fragrances wonderful you know? but i love hear peoples thoughts on things, you do learn alot. and like gloomy, i hav3e not heard of alot but its great to hear of something then try to findit ^^

[coumarin]

Just because others have different taste, doesn't mean your views aren't welcome. I think you are probably right that younger tastes and department store fragrances are underrepresented on Basenotes -- all the more reason why your input is a valuable addition to Basenotes. Keep posting (and posting reviews), and I bet others with similar viewpoints will join in.

[Tovah]

I do believe that certain houses, such as Lutens, Caron, and Malle (my Holy Trinity of the moment) tend to produce scents that are more innovative and viscerally moving than any of the scents on the market. The reason, I think, is that these houses (particularly Malle) respect the artistic integrity of their noses and allow them the freedom and resources that they need to create great scents. That just doesn't seem to be the case with more commercial perfume houses, which are always thinking in terms of the lowest common denominator, simplifying their work so that they can sell to a broad consumer base.

When I sniffed Carnal Flower and En Passant for the first time, they nearly made me cry. There is a difference; it is real. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't smelled it myself.

I agree with such enthusiasm that I am speaking outloud to my computer screen, "Exactly! Yes!"; and my family is looking at me in a puzzled way.

I swear Carnal Flower was an epiphany for me. I've loved fragrances my entire life, but this one made me see them in yet another new way. I did cry the first time I smelled En Passant, and the first time I smelled Bois des Iles Parfum. Of course those are personal reactions, and not necessarily common ones, but I do believe that perfumes made for art's sake are crafted to elicit emotions; not just to smell pretty/sexy/pleasant/clean, etc.

[Tovah]

Lian too~ ^_^(lol) - i feel the same way sometimes. but for me, i feel like alot of people on basenotes ( i couold be wrong) tend to praise a fragrance because of the name or its stature in th3e world. such as este lauders youth dew, or chanel number 5. maybe I am just too young but i can't see how any young adult can find these fragrances wonderful you know? but i love hear peoples thoughts on things, you do learn alot. and like gloomy, i hav3e not heard of alot but its great to hear of something then try to findit ^^

Old Lady here, (I'm 41), and you couldn't pay me to wear Youth Dew or Chanel No. 5. You definitely fit in here. Your contributions are wonderful. Fortunately, I don't see too many Basenoters "praising" fragrances for name or stature, but I probably ignore posts that do this. For the most part, we're a picky bunch of connoisseurs and, if you look at members' wardrobes, we have a huge range of tastes. So you're right where you belong.

I love reading your posts - you're so insightful. Your genuine love for fragrance, and your obviously talented nose are really apparent in your posts. I look forward to your posts and I respect your knowledge (and Lian's and GloomyLiv's). I swear I've been planning to sniff Paris Hilton's stuff and Britney Spears stuff since your first post on this thread. It's not snobbery, but I just haven't really come across them. There's so much to smell that these never came to the top of the list. After your post, I decided they're worth a sniff!

It's so great to know an SA "understands" the fragrances and isn't impressed by marketing trends. I wish you worked around here. I'm so glad you're on Basenotes!

[Tink]

Old Lady here, (I'm 41), and you couldn't pay me to wear Youth Dew or Chanel No. 5. You definitely fit in here. Your contributions are wonderful. Fortunately, I don't see too many Basenoters "praising" fragrances for name or stature, but I probably ignore posts that do this. For the most part, we're a picky bunch of connoisseurs and, if you look at members' wardrobes, we have a huge range of tastes. So you're right where you belong.

I love reading your posts - you're so insightful. Your genuine love for fragrance, and your obviously talented nose are really apparent in your posts. I look forward to your posts and I respect your knowledge (and Lian's and GloomyLiv's). I swear I've been planning to sniff Paris Hilton's stuff and Britney Spears stuff since your first post on this thread. It's not snobbery, but I just haven't really come across them. There's so much to smell that these never came to the top of the list. After your post, I decided they're worth a sniff!

It's so great to know an SA "understands" the fragrances and isn't impressed by marketing trends. I wish you worked around here. I'm so glad you're on Basenotes!

that made me smile, thank you ^^ i am glad you enjoy it, i love everyones input on things. it has really helped me to understsand customers more. plus i learn alot. tell me what you think of the fragrances m k^^