Liquid Luxury?

Perfume, L'eau de toilette, We all have a particular scent don't we? My personal favourite and repeat go to bottle is 'La Vie Est Belle' by Lancome. I originally found it in the duty free section at Boston International airport just after it was released and bought it on a whim. However I fell in love with the scent and have worn it tonnes since then. I have been bought Vera Wang's Princess but it didn't have the same fullness and richness that I loved with Lancome.

After watching the BBC docu-series on perfume I have gained a much better understanding of why I attracted to the particular perfumes and scents that I buy. The Fragrance industry is a multi billion dollar industry so it is not one to be taken lightly when it comes to marketing and investment. In 2011 there were 1200 new perfumes released into the market and this number has no doubt risen in recent years due to the expanding markets in the east to Mumbi and Shanghi in particular. This is contributing to the changes in the trends of the new perfumes that are being released each year with a much larger focus on the trends that are developing in regions such as brazil who prefer much lighter fruity smells. The traditional American or European taste is more and more being disregarded in place of the upcoming markets where the most money is to be made.

This is not something that bothers me too much because I have already found the scent that I identify with, moreover a new perspective within this industry has the potential to revolutionise the way in which us westerners use fragrance. Our tastes are more than likely to evolve to accept and even revere those of Mumbi and Brazil the fastest growing market in the world.

Another thing that I found particularly interesting was the connection that the documentary made between smell and memory. Suggesting that the fragrance industry, namely the perfumers are in fact exploiting loss and the human need for nostalgia to get us to buy their products. I have to say I think that this is an excellent point, the cynic in me says that is it praying on human weakness however the optimist in me can not see this as a bad thing; smell is one of our most primitive senses and therefore to be able to transport someone back to a good memory or a good feeling can not possibly be a bad thing. Perfume offers an escape to the wearer but also to all those who smell the scent as it could for a few fleeting moments take them back to a more desirable or exciting point in their lives.

So  is perfume liquid luxury or a hoax to get us to spend more money that we don't have?

 I  have always thought that perfume was expensive however I am now aware of the painstaking process that perfumers have to go through to create each individual smell the amount of labour that goes into each scent justifies the hefty price tag. Not only do I understand the price that perfume is I now respect the price. I think that 'La vie est belle' is pure liquid luxury because I have to spend a substantial amount on it it makes it feel like I am getting a high quality product, I adore the smell of it so it makes me feel good when I am wearing it. It also reminds me of holidays and precious private moments when I smell it on my clothes. It gives me a real sense of peace and comfort.

So as far as I am concerned perfume is Liquid luxury through and through.

Much love K xx