Take a moment to guess: what do you think were the top new fragrance launches last year? I know I was surprised....
Here are the top 5 prestige fragrance launches:
Sean John Unforgivable
Vera Wang Princess
Juicy Couture
Calvin Klein Euphoria Men
Ralph Lauren Polo Double Black
(NPD Group via cosmeticnews)
Your thoughts? First, I was shocked to see that 3 of the 5 top new launches for 2006 were men's fragrances. And second, Vera Wang Princess??
Elsewhere, NPD notes that "Eight of the top ten new prestige fragrances in 2006 were from designers, such as Vera Wang Princess and Juicy Couture. In fact, designers have been adding more incremental dollars to the fragrance category than celebrities have in the last few years." And apparently, none of this year's top 10 are from female celebrities, a distinct change from 2005...
...when four made the list, according to NPD: Fantasy by Britney Spears (Elizabeth Arden), Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, Baby Phat Goddess by Kimora Lee Simmons, and Live by Jennifer Lopez (all from Coty). (via MediaPost's Marketing Daily)
The downturn in sales of celebrity fragrances has been widely reported over the last year, but I'm guessing we're going to see an upswing this year with Sarah Jessica Parker Covet, Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani L.
What makes these fragrances so prestiges when they are so commonly sold at the local malls and there's nothing special about any of them.
It is a commonly used category description to distinguish from mass market scents, which would be sold in drugstores & the like.
I'm still mulling over this whole conflicts of interest issue that we have been discussing on Ina's and Patty's blogs, R. So to be honest, nothing would surprise me these days.
But Vera Wang Princess????
Hugs!
I am just very glad men are so interested in perfume, it appears.
R, Vera Wang Princess truly does shock me. The Juicy, I would have guessed, but not VWP.
The conflicts of interest issue is very interesting, and I do think in this sense, the perfume blogs are to some extent in their own little vacuum — and please understand that I don't mean this as a criticism of anyone — seriously!! I make that point not only because I don't want to seem like I think I'm more ethical than anyone else, because truly, I am not, but also because my own thinking on the issue has changed drastically over the past year.
But there have been major scandals in other blogging “niches” about accepting gifts from companies whose products you are reviewing, and I think it is worth, first of all, having a policy about what you will accept and what you won't, and giving a hard look at how you interact with perfume and PR companies in general.
If men actually bought them! I would *love* to know how many of those purchases were made by women.
I wholeheartedly and completely agree with you, babe. That's what I mentioned on perfumeposse and Marina's blog today; What's wrong with some standards or guidelines?
Anyway, I've already opened my big mouth and said more than enough about this issue, so I will just leave it at that.
Hugs and love!
I can believe that vera wang princess was a best seller. It was top at sephora 10 bestsellers list and selling very well with the teens. Mostly because it's a girlish pink frosting scent and they can spend money in no time at all. All the mom's and dad's were buying it for them too! I guess she picked one that instantly attracts young women.
Very interesting list.
The perfume world is evolving constantly and what was good before doesn't quite cut it anymore.
Thanks for bringing this here.
Oh, I can completely believe it is a best seller. Just wouldn't have pegged it as #2! And guessing you're right that lots of parents bought a bottle.
I seriously doubt the celebrity category is “over” — I think in general, the celebrity releases in 2006 just weren't as good as they were in 2005. We'll see what happens in 2007…