The re-estabishment of these fragrant roots in Grasse by two behemoth brands at a time when a potent cocktail of geopolitical unrest, exchange-rate volatility and economic uncertainty have weighed on many parts of the luxury market is not surprising. Global sales of premium perfumes are expected to hit $29 billion this year, and are set to grow 3 to 4 percent annually through 2020, according to the research group Euromonitor International.
— Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, both owned by LVMH, refurbish estates in Grasse because of "the business of carefully conjuring up, then encapsulating, characters, dreams, memories and emotions". Read more at Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior Follow the Scent of Opportunity at The New York Times.
“Perfume today has lost its soul. It is far too mass and too marketed, lacking in personality.”
— Michael Burke, Chairman and Chief Executive of Louis Vuitton
I’m a regular New York Times reader, but the Style Section clearly seems to come straight from PR press packs. Which always makes me wonder about the rest of the paper.
I agree! I do like the times as well, but we get the WSJ delivered only so I mostly ready NYT online.
So true. But also true of the beauty coverage in many papers — it often seems to be of lesser quality than the rest.
Definitely the profiles of individuals, whether business people, actors, or whatever – are based on PR. I think it should be labeled, like advertising.