celebrity perfumes: 30 posts

Sean John Fragrances is releasing a new fragrance for women called Empress, the female counterpart to men’s fragrance, I Am King. “The woman who wears Empress is a force of nature, powerful, enchanting and uniquely feminine. Her presence captivates and her words inspire, compelling those around her to her cause. Men long to be by her side, women want to know her secrets,” says the press release.

The composition is a crisp, fruity floral with notes of Key Lime accord, mandarin, starfruit, raspberries, passion flower, peony, cardamom, ambrette seeds, vanilla, sandalwood, crystallized caramel and second skin accord. Empress will be released in August 2011 exclusively at Macy’s department stores nationwide. Suggested retail price is $57.00 for 1.7 oz EDP, $74.00 for 3.4 oz EDP and $38.00 for 6.7 oz Body Creme. (via press release)

Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

While the average US perfume buyer is put off by the idea of an animalic note in fragrance, for many fragrance aficionados (your author included), the mention of leather, civet or horse sweat is a selling point. Whenever I read about Miller Harris L’Air de Rien, a fragrance created in 2006 for the actress Jane Birkin, it would invariably be described in terms of dirty underwear and cats’ rear ends. Perhaps I draw a line somewhere after all, because it took me years to finally try L’Air de Rien. So now I can report that the musky amber of L’Air de Rien is reminiscent more of a moss festooned garden shed, rather than an outhouse. In fact, its slightly rough charm perfectly fits my image of Jane Birkin.

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Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Jennifer Aniston, an American actress and the star of the popular “Friends” sitcom, is the latest celebrity to jump into the scented waters. While I give Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum 3 stars, when compared to other celebrity fragrances it probably should get all five. Instead of the expected candy bar and bubble gum compote, we instead get a silky white floral bouquet over a delicious sandalwood and musk base. The result is polished and comfortable, the fragrance equivalent of nicely fitting jeans. Given that a perfect pair of jeans is an important piece in anyone’s wardrobe, having a perfume to convey the same impression is not such a bad thing at all. Not every single perfume needs to be the equivalent of an haute couture gown.

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Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Not all celebrity scents are made equal, but then again, not all celebrities are either. I would be glad to back any Pedro Almodóvar’s actress, but Rossy de Palma, the striking and charismatic Spanish beauty, completely wins me over whether onscreen or with her perfume. Her eponymous Etat Libre d’Orange fragrance is as a perfect fit for her dramatic image as it is for me when I want my perfume to make a statement. For such a dark, smoldering rose as Rossy de Palma, making a statement is an easy task.

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Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

I used to be much more philosophical about celebrity fragrances, thinking that while uninteresting, they are no worse than many others. However, as time goes on, I find myself considering celebrity scents as perfumery junk food, which makes young perfume wearers (to whom these scents are marketed) get used to the idea of a fragrance smelling of cotton candy, sugary fruit and cloying caramel. In fact, as I see more jejune, sugary scents being marketed to women in their 30s and up, I know that it is simply an extension of the same trend in other areas of the market. While I will talk of Rihanna here as my most recent unexciting celebrity fragrance example, the same thing can be said about Beyoncé Heat, Katy Perry Purr and many others. It is just that Reb’l Fleur was launched this month and I happened to get a sample at Macy’s.

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