According to The NPD Group, Inc., one of the leading market research companies, while overall sales of prestige fragrances sold in U.S. department stores have declined, premium price fragrance sales are up significantly.
Premium fragrance products priced at $100 and above, represented approximately nine percent of total fragrance juice sales in Q1 2009, and generated $26 million, a 10 percent increase from Q1 2008.
— From NPD Reports Premium Price Fragrance and Makeup Sales Thriving at The Financial.
I know that my premium price fragrance PURCHASES were certainly up…
Sigh. I’m guilty on that one too.
I think a large part of that increase is from purchases by readers of Now Smell This.
Ha! 🙂
I agree, I think it’s us! We all saw our totals for the quarter… 🙂
Ack. Then we must run more frequent damage polls to discourage overspending, LOL…
Are you kidding? We’re keeping the industry afloat! WIthout us it’s all Heidi Montag and Lady Gaga scents as far as the eye can see.
For every purchase caused by a review in NST, a dollar should go into the NST bank account.
NST could then buy more perfume to review.
A perpetual money machine!
LOL…works for me!
I’m relatively new to this ever-expanding world of wonders (i.e. perfume). In thanks mostly to this website and the T/S book–well and an old bottle of Cabochard (gray velvet ribbon and all) that I found in a resale shop, I’ve entered the gerbil ball. ordering samples and all that– so far after 132 vials only one purchase –habanita of all things. But you know, I wonder if sales are up because its an access to luxury that women who can’t afford designer handbags can have. I’m a poor graduate student, I literally lived below the poverty-line last year, and yet I was still able to pluck out, cautiously, my 132. I also have found my sample-dabbles much more fulfilling than a new dress or pair of shoes. I don’t quite know why yet; maybe because they’re not so overtly on display.
I misread this as you bought 132 samples all at once.
Not that I would put that past anyone on here.
LOL!
I think that’s absolutely true…for many women, the perfume is the only thing from a couture line that they can afford. Comically though, it’s also what funds the couture line…most of these houses could not continue without the sales from the fragrances.
Another thought on the perfume / couture link… not only is the perfume the only thing from the line many of us can afford, it’s the only thing we can actually USE. Even if I wanted to drop 5K on a dress, I’d have no place to wear something like that (I live in a casual college town and work from home). Perfume (at least for me) is something I wear for myself, and I can wear it anywhere, even at home. To me, it’s less restrictive than clothing, and that’s one of the things I like about it.
So true!
Turin says somewhere that true chic, as opposed to luxury, is a blend of the very expensive with the cheap. I like that thought.
Also, I’m never tempted by pricey skin care products. They promise a younger you but many of the claims (I think) they are garbage. $100 spent on face cream might – but probably won’t – make you look younger. But a $100 fragrance will deliver exactly what it promises: it will make you smell fabulous. Fragrance is the more honest product. For a fragrance you love, it’s worth every cent
Agree with you on the skincare except for the $100+ I spend on my beloved Retin A 🙂
talking about Retin-A! I’ve been a long time user of Retin-A manufactured by a Switzerland company and it costs me about 7 or 8 US dollars here in Malaysia, I’ve heard a lot people are buying dozens of this and bring it back to US, you don’t need prescription here to buy one. Recently, I believe the company was bought by Neutrogena, now it costs double!!
Now I have to hunt high and low over a generic one that’s still reasonably priced.
Oh dear, is that Janssen Cilag?? Because that’s what I’ve been using, from Mexico & South Africa, and just now asked someone to pick up some more for me. In the US, I pay nearly $150, when I’ve bought it overseas I’ve never paid more than $15.
But have to say: if they’ve doubled the price, that’s still a huge bargain compared to what I pay here.
yes, that’s it, now I only get Neutrogena’s one 🙁
Did you watched Michael Moore’s sicko? There’s a part in the movie where Michael Moore decides to take some sick 9/11 volunteers (developed respiratory diseases but was denied government fund and unable to afford medical care) to Guantanamo Bay because he heard that it’s the only place in the States that provided free medical care. After being denied entry, the decided to went to Cuba, at there they found out that the inhaler that cost a hundred dollars only cost 50 cents in Cuba 🙁
Thanks…I’ll be ok with the Neutrogena if it’s only double the cost overseas…still much cheaper than here. And yes, saw Sicko!
Yeah right, 132 Samples all at once. I’m THE ONE floating the Fragrance industry 🙂 lol. No, I have to like be totally sad, and eek out five or six at a time, and diligently swap on MA. That’s an interesting connection I never made Robin, about how one funds the other.
Although, I should add. That in addition to the Habanita, the other of the 132 that sorely tempted me: bank card in hand at the Amouage site until I talked myself down was Jubilation 25. Although, from the polls I’ve read here, I guess that’s not exactly going to be push me to the front of the line.
No idea if you can still find it anywhere, but didn’t that one come in travel size? 15 ml or something like that, I seem to recall.
Oh, I so wish. Thanks for reminding me to keep scouring for that. I know some of the other Amouage scents did have the travel size. And here’s where I feel like a sucker: I really like those full size bottles, how they look, the caps remind me of jellyfish. It’s totally sick I feel this way: I’m not even someone who’s putting anything on display: the contraband habanita is hiding in my closet. I still refuse to admit to anyone about my hobby. F & F just somehow think part of writing ones dissertation involves having my nose attached to the crook of my elbow. I had a houseguest (floor guest) over the weekend who kept interrupting me at my desk, who asked if I was sad. 🙂
LOL —that’s a great idea….if I get caught too frequently with my nose in my elbow , I’ll just work up a couple sniffles and a wavering “no, I’m ok…”
oh btw….I think I saw Amouage Jubilation 25 at scentsplits.wikidot.com I know the bottles are lovely but it’s easier to scrape up $25 than to scrape up $300.
Thanks Daisy! You know, it really would behoove me to start leaving bizarre pretty bottles out of the equation early on in my perfume quest, and just stick w/ the scent.