Designers Bet Big On Pricey Scents

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 26th 2007 at 3:03PM

If you are anything like me, you may have found yourself completely burned out on perfume. Lately I've found that many fragrances have seemed to be too synthetic and sweet, bubblegum scents that hit the skin and quickly dissipate. It turns out that I am not alone, the Wall Street Journal has a great piece on the changing fragrance world. Many high-end brands who have, in the past few years, been catering to the masstige market by creating fragrances at the lower price point are now taking a different approach because the sales of the perfumes have been dropping off. Instead, companies like Chanel and Prada have launched ultra-exclusive scents that use pricey ingredients and have richer, more evocative fragrance profiles.

A quick sampling:
--Tom Ford created his Private Blend, a line of 12 fragrances that run from the frankly floral to more masculine smells like tobacco and cedar.
--Chanel created their Les Exclusifs line of six signature scents that had perfume lovers raving.
--Hermès has a new line of unique perfumes called Hermessence, like the other designer lines, this one moves into new ground with scents like the lavender-and-licorice-smelling Brin de Réglisse.
--Giorgio Armani's Privé line costs $185 a bottle and lures purchasers not just with ingredients bergamot, neroli and vetiver but with those sexy bottles made of African kotibe wood and caps that look jade, moonstone, amethyst and other gemstones.

These scents aren't exactly making big profits yet but the companies are hopeful that they will have more staying power with consumers than some of the cheaper, more forgettable designer brands. One thing that the WSJ article doesn't mention but which I would guess is also a factor is that each of these lines isn't just one signature fragrance, but a set. And the idea of owning a complete set, especially that looks as pretty as the Armani line shone above, may lure scent lovers to collect the whole line rather than just one bottle.

Tags: armani, chanel, fragrance, hermes, perfume, prive, scent, tom ford

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Barrett Jan 21st 2008 6:08PM

Cannot wait to see QVC tonight !!!

The Debut of DDF Skincare !!!! WOW.
Proctor and Gamble out did themselves !!

Julie Ambrose to debut as spokesperson with
Lisa Robertson QVC Host.

7 Lines to be offered and Julie Ambose to be on for 1 HOUR !! WOW.

GO DDF !! My Fav !

B