I used to be quite pessimistic about celebrity fragrances, thinking that, for the most part that they are uninteresting, lack luster, “perfumery junk food”, not to mention an obvious and shameless attempt to fatten gluttonous celebrity pockets. Whilst many fragrances do fall into the aforementioned domain there are a few that have managed to break the monotonous mould. Audrey Hepburn was the first celebrity to be affiliated with a scent back in 1957. Developed by couture giants Givenchy, Hepburn heavily endorsed the fragrance but it was not hers. It wasn’t until 1991 that the first celebrity scent was launched. Elizabeth Taylor’s “White Diamonds” remains one of the top selling fragrances to date and has paved the way for the celebrities featured in this post.
Below are some of the best selling celebrity perfumes (after Ms.Taylor of course…)
- Unforgivable by Sean John – This fragrance for men won the FiFi Award Fragrance of the Year Men`s Luxe 2007. It has top notes of basil, bergamot, birch leaf, green mandarin, tangerine, juniper, grapefruit and lemon. The middle notes are orris, lavender and clary sage, and base notes are tonka bean, amber, sandalwood and rum.
- Glow by Jennifer Lopez – This debut by Jennifer Lopez made record sales and includes notes of jasmine, iris, pink grapefruit, neroli, rose, sandalwood, amber, musk and vanilla.
- Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker – This elegant woody floral is modern and includes bergamot, nectarine, rosewood, lavender, apple martini, daffodil, amber, cedar and white musk.
- Curious by Britney Spears – This popular white floral consists of lotus, pear, magnolia, tuberose, jasmine, pink cyclamen, musk and vanilla. (Source)
Below I have reviewed the latest celebrity challengers to immortalise their fame in scented water, starting with 2010′s most irrelevant celeb – Kim Kardashian…
Kardashian said she wanted “something rich and creamy and sexy, but still youthful” what she got was a white floral, very similar to Marc Jacobs for women. Kardashian’s effort, developed by perfumer Claude Dir (who also composed Beyonce’s Heat) hits crisp mandarin notes, with honeysuckle, orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, vanilla orchid, and sandalwood.
Kim Kardashian’s scent is great if you are a partial to a white floral in your collection however, if you’re willing to spend a little more and do without the celebrity backing you could certainly do better. The bottle design is basic at best and is very Jordan-esque: which is not suprising as the two girls are in the similar line of work (Ouch!)
Beyonce’s Heat is a warm fruity musk with lots of peachy accents. The notes: red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli, blush peach, honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon, crème de musk, sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber, fuse together well for a more adult scent. More spicey than sweet, it is definitely one of the better celebrity fragrances on th emarket as it appeals to the over 21 market as opposed to the fruity baby whore scent of say Britney Spears’ Curious. Soft and easy to wear, the spiced fruit accents are subtle and elegant. Reminiscent of Dior’s Poison, Beyonce’s effort is a lot more understated and is a modest attempt for her initial foray into the perfumery world. The bottle design is hardly innovative and doesnt scream couture or opulence- but it doesnt offend and should sit nicely on the dressing table.
Reb’l Fleur (meaning “Rebel Flower” and a nickname that Rihanna’s PR plants would have us believe was given to her by her dear old Grandmother as a child) was recently launched to capitilise on the very lucrative valentines season. Reb’l Fleur threads the same ground as virtually all other celebrity fragrances marketed towards the teen to mid 20s market. There is a big plum and strawberry note, which manages to be simultaneously milky and sharp. Then there is the ubiquitous generic floral accord. The creamy, coconut notes give it a dense, opaque quality. The sensation of the mossy-woody notes paired with the equally ubiquitous cotton candy is somewhat softened by the lavish helpings of musk and vanilla. There is an element of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle and a hint of Vivienne Westwood Libertine. of the elements are simply too familiar. It reminds me of nothing in particular, yet it smells like everything else out there. (source)
Not only is the name pretty naff, and the scent pretty rank, the commercial is equally as pants…
Which is your favourite celebrity fragrance? Could it ever replace a designer counterpart??
