Why we Don't Like Celebrity Fragrances

I have nothing against JLo and Britney Spears. They have things that they're good at. And their fans certainly love them. But I wouldn't buy perfume from them!

Associating a fragrance with a person has been done before- probably the most famous example was when Marilyn Monroe answered a reporter's question by saying the only thing she wore to bed was two drops of Chanel No. 5. But there are two differences between Ms. Monroe's endorsement of her favorite perfume and celebrities designing and marketing their own fragrances.

Firstly, Monroe was not paid (or even solicited!) by Chanel to make that statement. Although a lot of women may have gone out and bought Chanel No. 5 because they were inspired to emulate Marilyn Monroe, that was not the intention of the manufacturer.

Coco Chanel was a legendary fashion designer and perfumer from 1909 through her death in 1971. She commissioned six perfumes from a famous perfumer Ernest Beaux to make six perfumes, (numbered 1-6.) Number 5 was Chanel's favorite and she initially gave it to clients free at her boutique. Chanel had pioneered many revolutions in the fashion industry by 1921 (when Chanel No. 5 was introduced) and had created a style that was worn by many famous French and American celebrities.

Secondly, celebrity perfumes create a culture of "wannabe-ism" that I don't believe is healthy. We all have role models that we like certain things about, but the idea of capturing the essence of a person in a bottle does not do justice to the person being captured or to the person buying the scent. Most of us have different moods. Most women I know have a dresser topped with 8 or 10 bottles of scent that they enjoy for different occasions and moods. I would imagine that is true of JLo and Britney Spears as well. In fact, if I had the money celebrities make, I would have a hundred bottles on my dresser! As it is, I need to be a bit more selective.

Women (and men) should find scents that capture a particular mood or feeling for them, and do it very well, rather than portray an image of a particular person they want to emulate.

Third, I'm kind of particular, but I've not found a celebrity fragrance that is really worth the money. I'm conjecturing, but I think this might be because they are rushed to market to capitalize on a particular person's popularity, and more attention is paid to marketing than to developing the very highest-quality product.

For myself and my store, you won't find any celebrity scents on me!

Why we love the way the French Think!

Photo - the Champs d'Elysees on a rainy spring night.

1. They don't have a lot of hangups about work, food, and relationships.
   
2. They take long vacations.
   
3. They enjoy their meals rather than eating in the car.
4. They take long walks and hold hands.
5. They use half the closet space and still look better than we do. (They only buy really good things and they wear them many different ways.)
   
6. They don't have hangups about sugar and butter and salt, and still don't get fat (see Mirelle Guliano's book!)
   
7. They drink less Red Bull and more wine.
8. They are more focused on enjoyment and less focused on accomplishment.
   
9. Even when they argue, they sound so civilized!
10. They spend less money on houses and cars, and more money on flowers and perfume!