One of the newest issues of Cosmetic World has landed on my desk. It makes an announcement of the new limited edition Yves Saint Laurent fragrance, Young Sexy Lovely. I thought that it was a marketing tactic to encompass everything, but the name apparently incorporates the monogram for YSL. Well, it is not as if the two are mutually exclusive... The fragrance contains notes of nashi pear, mandarin, blackcurrant, cherry blossom, magnolia, wine yard peach, crystalline musk, amber and cedarwood. The addition of the cherry blossom note should clue us in that Young Sexy Lovely is meant to appeal to Japanese consumers in the US market.
Yet, the most interesting feature of the issue is a piece by John Ledes called Perfume Burials. It discusses the unprecedented growth of fragrances and the difficulties the brands and the stores have in sustaining the numerous releases. If sell-through fails, then the unsold stock is destined to end up on the shelves of the discounters. His observations on the future of the celebrity fragrances are illuminating. "The 'celebrity' fragrance wave of the 2005-2006 fragrance flood will have its survivors. However, it will be the scent that survives and not the 'charm' of these 'ladies.'"
Hoooo dear Victoria,
Ladies ? The word is not correct. Ladies are always charming :-)
But it is true that too many perfumes can kill the perfume…Unfortunately!!!!
Posted by: aryse | January 11, 2007 at 04:34
Oh, this from the line that brought us Y, Rive Gauche, Champagne, M7, Paris, Opium? Deep sigh.
I'm wondering which celebrity scents will survive and I have visions of landfills reeking of Curious.
Posted by: Elle | January 11, 2007 at 08:20
Ach, ladies? I am confident that one celeb fragrance that will be remembered when the dust settles is not a lady, but a gentleman: Cumming. Hm, perhaps gentleman is not quite the word in its case ;P Admittedly, Cumming will be remembered for its goofy insouciance, too, but that wouldn't happen either were the frag inside not so lovely.
Posted by: Katie | January 11, 2007 at 16:42
Boy..the cherry blossom note plus fruity notes again.
I don't understand what happens to YSL...
Kaori
Posted by: k-amber | January 11, 2007 at 21:15
*YAAAWWWWN* Picks bottle from shelf, looks at it, tosses over shoulder and watches it roll into landfill packed with Rive Gauche, Paris and all those goofy Lagerfeld bottles.Another fruity floral. For the Japanese market in America. How original.
Posted by: QuinnCreative | January 11, 2007 at 21:32
Aryse, isn't that true! There have been far far too many releases. Soon, the ranks will start to thin out.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 12, 2007 at 12:50
Elle, I could not believe it, but then again Baby Doll is in the same vein and it is not that bad. Well, we shall see if I ever get my hands on Y.S.L.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 12, 2007 at 12:51
Katie, now, that is a different perfume!
I am sure that Lovely by SJP will survive.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 12, 2007 at 12:51
Kaori, neither do I! This sounds so cliched that it is unbearable.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 12, 2007 at 12:52
QuinnCreative, that's funny. I actually do not mind Rive Gauche bottle, but it is definitely 1970s in flavour. Paris bottle looks a bit too squat.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 12, 2007 at 12:53
Young, Sexy, Lovely. Young (Youth Dew Amber Nude), Sexy (Victoria's Secret Very Sexy for Her)and Lovely (Sarah Jessica Parker). Uninspired marketing at its most insipid. John Ledes is right. Just look at WWD Friday and see how a celebrity fragrance company is trying to reposition its stance on the drop in celebrity fragrance sales over the holidays. You can't reverse the DNA. Expect more pap like this in the future. That and a poor marketing idea positioned as "the latest trend."
Posted by: Fleur.de.Lys | January 13, 2007 at 11:16
Fleur.de.Lys, I cannot agree with you more on all of the points you make! This sounds like something thrown together without much thought.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 15, 2007 at 11:54
Another pretty bottle with no hope inside. Sad. Maybe bottle collecting should be a side hobby. Then the juice wouldn't matter.
Posted by: Victoria's Own | January 15, 2007 at 18:25
V, how true! It is a cute bottle, without a doubt.
Posted by: BoisdeJasmin | January 16, 2007 at 12:06
I'm really sorry guys but i disagree. I really love Young Sexy Lovely. I guess its just another floral fruity scent but i can't seem to get enough of it. I think its completely different to scents like baby doll which i find overpowering and sort of reminds me of rose pot pourri (sorry). Its subtle and feminine. Its the sort of scent that really becomes you not just another accessory. I can understand how this scent might be getting a bit overdone but i think i still has its own individual scent.
Posted by: Food 4 the Soul | May 02, 2007 at 09:58