But what's really different about L'Artisan Parfumeur is its whole attitude. "No other brand or perfume inspired L'Artisan," says Paméla. "It was so unique and took a different direction altogether." Here, perfumes aren't distinguished by day or night, age, culture, season or even gender boundaries. Each scent is a story. They're titled, (mostly in French) as if Ladybird classics.
— Columnist Laura Powell talks to Paméla Roberts, creative director at L'Artisan Parfumeur, in On the scent of a story at The Guardian.
That's interesting and good to see a niche house getting some press. I invited a friend over last night to try some new things – she likes Paris, Anais Anais and Gwen Stefani's LAMB, and is only familiar with lines carried by our Boots chain aka drugstores. I wanted to suggest some lighter interpretations of her favourite notes, plus one or two different directions. Of the 8 perfumes she rated highly or very highly out of 18 tested, 6 were from niche houses. So it does make you wonder how different the market shares of the perfume companies would look if the public at large had more access to these niche fragrances.
This article is very interesting….. and so true that it seems to be more about product branding, spin and marketing, than the development of a piece of art, which I consider perfume to be.
I do love L'Artisan Parfumeur's fragrances, especially Patchouli Patch. Sometimes I wear it alone, or layered with CdG Avignon or BT's Egyptian Musk.
L'Artisan is so much more widely distributed than they used to be, at least for that. I can find them in my local mall (at CO Bigelow).
They have their own spin, I guess, but they're still one of my favorite brands
Perfumes don't inspire? I wonder how many noses were inspired by Coty's Chypre or Dior Eau Sauvage…
'A handful of boutiques internationally'? Interesting definition of 'handful'. Although most people I know have never heard of the brand, it features heavily in UK magazine articles about perfume, and is ubiquitous in London shops. I think the brand is one of the best introductions to niche, because it's such fun and most of the scents are joyously wearable. Passage d'Enfer was the first ever perfume that both startled and enthralled me…still does, just wish longevity was part of the brand ethic!
that is what it is all about. I was once a mainstream fragrance rep and then i was lucky enough to work for L'artisan for 2 years. They are true to what they say. great product and knowledge comes from this company. If i could i would have them make me a custom fragrance.
I wouldn't mind a L'Artisan custom scent myself
I did not read her statement as perfumes don't inspire, just that L'Artisan was not inspired by anything else in founding their brand…
LOL — so true, there is a handful just in NY alone, and I think of them like Annick Goutal at this point, that is, they seem to occupy some space between mainstream and niche.
coming up to L'Artisan beeing my favourite brand I cannot accept you compare it with Annick Goutal, which I detest! but okay, they are both so-called “niche”, but the latter is not at all niche, because this niche stuff is part of the AG marketing tools.
in france they have about 30 own boutiques, in germany you get them in private held luxury department stores.
I admit I can identify with L'Artsian because they scents tell indeed a story. smelling at my botttle of CAP gives me a whole world, a “peinture” (canvas, picture) with fading, bright colours.
it is exactly the smell on the street in june when you are in front of the famous Jardin de Tuileries in Paris. I have been there, once, and it hit me right in my nose, heart and eyes
that's why I fancy that brand, they put feelings in a bottle.
That's exactly why I don't own a bottle of the wonderful Passage d'Enfer or Safran Troublant – for the price, those scents should stay with me at least 2-3 hours. This artistry needs to have some attention to customer satisfaction IMHO.
We shall have to agree to disagree — I do agree that Annick Goutal is “not all that niche”, but I don't think L'Artisan is either, at least, not anymore. Who does a better job of creating fragrances is another matter.
It is so relative, I think. Before perfume mania took a hold, I was vaguely aware of AG from magazine reviews, but not L'Artisan. AG was some distant luxury product you could only find in upmarket department stores ie not the ones in my neighbouring towns. So to me both houses will always feel niche, unless I move!
oh yes, probably L'Artsian truly is coming out of the niche. in any case it seems like i really detest AG, because I always have strong feelings regarding these products.
@vanessa
and oh I know the feeling very well, my source is first in fragrance via internet – never had the opportunity to shop and enjoy perfumes live.
I have been down to London and my work takes me to France and Germany, where the stock of niche lines carried in a Parfumerie in an “anywhere town” like, say, Scranton PA (to take a Stateside example) is extraordinary. But I don't go so often that those brands feel familiar or everyday. There is still a major “wow factor” involved in visiting shops that carry them. I guess anything that readily available loses its mystery/cachet to some degree. Is there such a thing as a “carpet and slippers” niche perfume?
I get 2-3 hours out of either of those, esp. if sprayed on lavishly. But not much more than that, and I do think L'Artisan should do spray samples, not vials — a dab from a vial, for many of their scents, is entirely insufficient.
True, it is also relative to where you live. I can find both AG & LAP in my local mall, and of course, either of them are readily available online, lots of choice as to where to buy.
i bought my CAP in paris/louvre and they had no samples for all scents! i bought one bottel and got only two samples. you are completely right, they should have bigger samples, or even better: the scents should last a bit longer…