BCBG Max Azria will launch Bon Chic next month. The new fragrance for women is the brand’s first since their license was acquired by Elizabeth Arden. The name is taken from the brand’s acronym, which stands for “bon chic, bon genre”…
She became exasperated
Not unexpectedly, the multimillionaire star was drawn to the most expensive raw materials in recreating the memory of her mother's perfume from more than 40 years ago, the perfumer revealed. "She has a real appreciation of luxury," he enthused. But when cautioned about safety restrictions on her favourite ingredients imposed by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), she became exasperated. "F*** IFRA!" she snapped at one point.
— Perfumer Stephen Nilsen talks to Katie Puckrik about what it was like to work with Madonna on Truth or Dare. Read more at Madonna's perfumer suggests the popstar remains a hard to woman to please at the Guardian.
Madonna Truth or Dare ~ perfume review
Truth or Dare is the debut scent from pop icon Madonna. I am frequently forced to “research” the “celebrities” whose perfumes I review here, but even I know who Madonna is, and so I assume you do too. An informal survey of young people (ok, I just asked my tween son) reveals that her fame is wide enough to cross generational boundaries, but Truth or Dare is aimed at a more mature audience than most celebrity fragrance efforts, albeit not one quite so mature as Madonna herself — they’re after women 25 to 45, with special emphasis on the 35 to 45 group. Once you cross 45, as we all know, you’re safely outside of the fragrance industry’s radar.
Truth or Dare is apparently associated with Madonna’s new lifestyle brand of the same name (next up: shoes), and it was made under licensing arrangements with Coty. I’ll repeat the statement from Madonna that I quoted when I announced Truth or Dare:
I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me, but that other people could relate to as well. Something classical and timeless and yet modern. My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like gardenias and tuberose, an intoxicating mixture [that was] feminine and mysterious. I wanted to re-create this scent, but with something fresh and new about it as well.1
I have no idea what Madonna’s mother wore, but I’ve always heard that Madonna herself wore Robert Piguet Fracas, and it’s easy enough to believe that Fracas was the reference for Truth or Dare — Truth or Dare is basically a big ole white floral with an armload of tuberose and a gardenia tucked behind the ear…
Quick sniffs: Vince Camuto, Miller Harris La Fumee, BCBG Max Azria
In my usual attempt to clear out the docket before the end of the year, here are some quick reviews: Vince Camuto, Miller Harris La Fumée, BCBG Max Azria.
Vince Camuto
Vince Camuto’s eponymous debut fragrance was made by Parlux, the same folks who’ve brought you fragrances by Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson — but before any of you anti-celebrity-fragrance perfumistas turn your noses up (pardon the pun), they also did the lovely Natori fragrance. The Vince Camuto is a floral chypre, in the modern (yes, it’s really an oriental) style, with a fruity top and a lightly spicy, sweet floral heart over a subtle leather and clean patchouli dry down. It turns drier and almost-smoky near the end. It does not, as it turns out, rival Natori (it’s in Macy’s instead of Saks, and in this case, it all fits) but it’s nicely done. If you’re looking for a sweet-ish, middle-weight oriental for winter and don’t want to cough up the dough for Natori, it’s worth a shot…
Madonna Truth or Dare ~ new fragrance
Madonna will launch Truth or Dare by Madonna, her debut fragrance, in March under arrangements with Coty. The fragrance is associated with her upcoming Truth or Dare lifestyle brand, and will be geared at women 25-45…