Fragrance: Sweet success
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In 1954, when Marilyn Monroe was asked what she wore in bed, she famously replied, “Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.” And sales of the perfume skyrocketed.
That was a free endorsement, back when there was such a thing. Hollywood and the fragrance industry have been intertwined ever since, with celebrities competing for high-profile endorsement deals, or creating and marketing their own scents, and luxury brands hiring big-name directors and ratcheting up the production values of their advertising campaigns to rival big box office releases.
This fall brings a new array of perfumes starring famous faces in print and film campaigns, most notably Gucci Premiere, which debuts with a short film starring Blake Lively, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (“Drive”) and premiering at the Venice Film Festival.
Here is a rundown of the season’s brightest new releases.
Gucci Premiere
Starring: Blake Lively
The story line: Celebrating the star in every woman.
The juice: Wood, musk, bergamot and orange blossom.
Balenciaga Florabotanica
Starring:
Kristen Stewart
The story line: A fractured fairy tale of mesmerizing flowers.
The juice: A hybrid rose with a resonance of wood and moss.
Lancome
La Vie Est Belle
Starring: Julia Roberts
The story line: A triumph of the independent spirit.
The juice: Iris, patchouli and praline — “an oriental fragrance with a twist of gourmand.”
Vera Wang Lovestruck
Floral Rush
Starring: Leighton Meester
The story line: Love at first sight.
The juice: A floral bouquet with notes of champagne and apricot blossom.
Encounter
for Men by Calvin Klein
Starring: Alexander Skarsgard and Lara Stone
The story line: A film noir with unresolved tension and desire.
The juice: Crisp spice, warm cognac and sensual woods.
Lady Gaga Fame
Starring: Lady Gaga
The story line: A cautionary tale. “Fame is a beautiful prospect with a dark heart,” Gaga says.
The juice: Floral and fruity, with notes of dripping honey, saffron and apricot nectar.
