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Versace Vanitas ~ new perfume

Posted by Robin on 22 October 2010 34 Comments

Versace Vanitas fragrance advert

Versace will launch Vanitas, a new fragrance for women, in November, although it will not reach the US until 2012. Vanitas is meant to be Versace's "couture" perfume offering, and will be more expensive than other Versace fragrances.

Vanitas was developed by perfumer Dora Baghriche Arnaud; the notes include lime, freesia, tiare, tonka bean and cedar.

Versace Vanitas will be available in 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum; prices will start around $75. (via wwd)

Filed Under: new fragrances
Tagged With: dora arnaud, versace

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34 Comments

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  1. GalileosDaughter says:
    22 October 2010 at 8:36 am

    Wonder how Profumum’s lawyers feel about the name. Actually, probably pretty good since it’s a slam-dunk for them.

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    • Robin says:
      22 October 2010 at 9:15 am

      Many small niche houses do not bother to trademark names. Also, Versace has been using the name Vanitas already — on eyeglasses & possibly other things.

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    • Femme says:
      21 July 2011 at 5:31 am

      You cannot trade-mark a Latin word – or any word in any language. 🙂

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  2. malijo789 says:
    22 October 2010 at 8:59 am

    2012? Seriously?

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    • Robin says:
      22 October 2010 at 9:16 am

      It does seem long, was wondering if WWD meant to print 2011?

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      • thenoseknows says:
        22 October 2010 at 7:27 pm

        Vanitas is an OLD Versace Code going back to the Late 80’s/Early 90’s! it was a name for a Graphic Print in the 90’s Mostly and there was a Versace Book Published with the name “Vanitas” (which i Own and TREASURE!) it is taken from the Latin Phrase “Vanitas Vanitatum” or “Vanity of Vanities” as well as another Translation “Everything Is Vanity”

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  3. miss kitty v. says:
    22 October 2010 at 10:51 am

    Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but that doesn’t sound very “couture” to me.

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    • klytaemnestra says:
      22 October 2010 at 10:58 am

      I was thinking the same thing. I love Versace as a designer, but the fragrances have never done anything for me. This doesn’t sound any more exciting than anything else they’ve released recently.

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      • Dolly2 says:
        22 October 2010 at 12:23 pm

        Me neither. In fact Versace’s Red Jeans is in a three way tie on my list of worst fragrances that I have smelt/worn.

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        • klytaemnestra says:
          22 October 2010 at 12:25 pm

          I have never sniffed it. I’m curious now, what are the other two?

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          • Dolly2 says:
            22 October 2010 at 12:46 pm

            Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion (I am in complete agreement with The Guide in calling it a foghorn) and last year I ordered a sample of mbo2 from Luckyscent, which if you sneezed, you missed the whole thing. I think it was the shortest lasting perfume I have ever come across.

          • Dolly2 says:
            22 October 2010 at 12:52 pm

            Kly- I really don’t know if I received a bad bottle, but RJ was horrific.Truthfully, it smelt like mothballs.

          • klytaemnestra says:
            22 October 2010 at 1:19 pm

            Eww, moth balls. Who knows. Might be just the way you’re smelling it — I Googled it, that bottle is appalling at the very least. A scent I can’t stand is Clinique Happy which to me smells like bad deodorant & Lysol cleaner, but it’s a very popular mainstream scent. Then again, maybe it just didn’t mesh well w/ my younger sister and I know she was swimming in it.

        • AmyT says:
          22 October 2010 at 3:26 pm

          Yellow Jeans was far, far worse.

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          • artdecades says:
            22 October 2010 at 6:58 pm

            Yellow Jeans make me think of soiled pants.

            who thought that name was a good idea?

    • Robin says:
      22 October 2010 at 11:35 am

      WWD did not give much of a description of the scent itself…would like to hear more.

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    • artdecades says:
      22 October 2010 at 6:56 pm

      I have to agree. Even the starting price seems to be less than a lot of brand name fragrances

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  4. Kayliana says:
    22 October 2010 at 11:32 am

    I can’t believe they stole Profumums name!!!! Their Vanitas is the only fragnance I have worn since I bought it. And I have nevre recieved more compliments from men, women and children! Weird name when vanilla is not in the notes. Also shouldn’t there be a skull or something in the photo?? Not just a gorgeous blonde? Weird referance on Versace’s part.

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    • boojum says:
      22 October 2010 at 3:20 pm

      Why would it need to have vanilla in the notes? Regardless, tonka often smells a good bit like vanilla, at least to me. The blonde looks half-dead to me, with that eye makeup and ultra pale skin… though at least she isn’t skeletal. As for the name… there are lots of duplicates out there, especially those using everyday words.

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  5. Owen says:
    22 October 2010 at 11:45 am

    the notes don’t sound very tempting :/
    I hope it’s nice though, the only Versace’s I like are Versence and the blue one for men that looks like corocodile skin round edge, is it man eau fraiche ?? and they’re both kind of faint and boring.

    where the US has film launches before everyone else, the UK makes up for it in perfume 😉

    and does vanitas mean vanity?

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    • klytaemnestra says:
      22 October 2010 at 12:08 pm

      It does, though it is usually used as a reference to the fleeting nature of all things. It was an art style that used the symbolism of decay & death to signify the vanity of material things and whatnot.

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  6. prism says:
    22 October 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Tonka bean and cedar sound rather masculine to me… should be interesting at least!

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  7. Dolly2 says:
    22 October 2010 at 1:49 pm

    Robin- Is there no more “lazy” polls?

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  8. Dolly2 says:
    22 October 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Sorry about the bad grammar. That should of read,”Are there no more lazy polls?’

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    • Robin says:
      22 October 2010 at 4:13 pm

      Sure there will be, why? We never had them every weekend.

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      • Merlin says:
        23 October 2010 at 5:11 pm

        I had also been confused, thinking they were a regular! Maybe you had it a couple of times in a row when I had just started paying attention!

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        • Robin says:
          23 October 2010 at 7:29 pm

          We try to do 3 a month. This month we might only manage 2.

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      • Dolly2 says:
        24 October 2010 at 3:24 pm

        When I first joined, they seemed little a weekend occurance.

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  9. alotofscents says:
    22 October 2010 at 4:41 pm

    Lime and cedar always make me think of masculine…but the flowers, who knows? They may smell amazing together. That can’t be all the notes. I once ordered Bulgari Femme and not once did I see it list benzoin as a note. I have a bad reaction to it, and it had to go back, sniff, sniff, lovely bottle though.

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    • rlikestosmell says:
      24 October 2010 at 4:39 pm

      It kinda sounds like a train wreck to me. Lime and cedar = Bay Rum. Freesia and Tiare = overly frilly. Tonka… dear lord don’t let it be that plasticky tonka…

      I’m just thinking, that until someone posts that they’ve tried it and swooned, I’m considering this another “what were they thinking” scent.

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  10. thenoseknows says:
    22 October 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Is This a Rehash of the Fragrance by Versace Called “Couture” that was in the Studded Leather Train Case and sold for like $2,200.00 a couple years back and was in LIMITED release? Or is it new? is that older “Couture” Still Available, I saw a picture for it last year in Bazaar and was wondering if it is still available… I like the Sound of this scent and $75.00 is kinda a bit high for a start price but only if it’s the 30ml that starts there, if it’s the 50ml… then Not Really!

    The Notes do sound Nice, Lime, Tiare, one of My Faves, Freesia and Cedar… Not Bad At All!!!

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    • Robin says:
      23 October 2010 at 7:30 pm

      This one sounds quite different from that one…

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  11. jonr951 says:
    12 January 2011 at 8:28 pm

    Tried it at Nordies today. Blah. But then again I haven’t been in love with any Versace fragrance. But still, for the price I was expecting more. Nice bottle though. Oh well. I’m glad I didn’t love it cuz it would have been a pretty penny. I do want a bottle of Love Chloe though. That was very nice. And totally forgot to look for Eau So Fresh. So annoyed at myself. : (

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  12. APassionateJourney says:
    18 January 2011 at 4:12 am

    Tested this yesterday at Nordies. Me likey :)! I’m not crazy about that initial burst of Lime but it dries down to a crisp, clean sophisticated scent that I can’t stop sniffing. I’ll have to get me the 1.7 for 95 bucks since I don’t do big bottles anymore 🙂

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