While her US equivalent is tiring of the endless product launches, the fickle fragrance consumer continues to queue up for the latest celebrity perfume or limited edition scent in Europe.
However, there are variations within the European market. The UK consumer is splashing on the celebrity scents while the French, who are less celebrity obsessed and know more about perfumery have not latched on to the trend.
— Read more in Fragrance sales plummet in US despite strong global figures, in Cosmetics Design.
The logic behind Ms. Dodson's rationale for the downturn in the US market is dubious — it's the same argument she uses to explain the strengthening of the market outside the US, that is, that fragrance is an accesssory that we update as quickly as our wardrobe; that would seem to me to encourage oodles of spending. But anyway. Myself, I'm fine with celeb fragrances. i don't have to buy them. My nose is turned happily towards FM, SL and the like, and my budget would exhaust itself exploring that rarified world decades before I'd have to worry about looking at Mariah Carey's new juice. Heck, I even LIKE some celeb fragrances on their own merits. While SJP's Lovely turned sour on me, Covet is gorgeous, all greens and lemons and lavenders underscored by creamy musk. Of course, I am still coveting (lol) FM's Therese, but it's unavailable here at the moment and four times the price of Covet when it is. Being a fragrance addict, I need a steady supply of morel, more, more!!! The only trouble with celebrity fragrances, to my admittedly small and insecure mind, is that I have to say I'm wearing Covet when someone asks, “what's that great scent you've got on?”
I don't see it as a satisfactory answer either. There were so many releases last year that it would be easy enough to buy something other than a celeb scent, if you so desired.
Do get some Therese! You can always find others to split a trio of 10 ml travel bottles 🙂
Absolutely!
Good idea on the trios. Hmmm — Therese, En Passant and. . .Carnal Flower? What would your three be, R.?
I'd have a hard time narrowing it down. Love Carnal Flower & En Passant too, & also love Vetiver Extraordinaire & Une Rose & Hiver. The problem is that I'm not sure Barneys lets you do mixed trios anymore — although pretty sure FM does if you order directly. So I meant buy a trio of Therese and find takers for the other 2 bottles — works out reasonably cheaply that way!