Christmas Lists: my thoughts

The other day I came across an article on what to include in a perfume shopping Christmas list in the UK edition of Style supplement for The Times. I never want to plunge in rushed decisions and on top of that I have a penchant for introspection and some would say procastrination (those people would be right!). Christmas shopping, even if you do not celebrate the holiday per se, is a consumerism trait of our overindulged society and surely a quantitative measure of the market's dynamic. It's no accident that the majority of launches of mostly anything commercial happen in the autumn hoping to capitalize on the Christmas shoppers, neither the beginning of the holidays shopping sprees being increasingly put further back the calendar into November is any more haphazard. In a world where businesses depend on those holidays shoppers to up their revenue it's to be expected. Perfume in particular is such a commodity for most people: people who like to offer the luxury of a full set of products to themselves using part of the holiday bonus, spouses who have not come up with anything else rush out at the last minute on Christmas Eve to buy some favourite perfume for their wives, family members fill stockings with gifts of perfume for people who only go through a couple of bottles per year anyway, like young nieces or elderly grandmothers. However with the staggering number of 650 launches of new perfumes per year these past few years, this is another scheme to pick our interest and garner more sales.

To revert to the topic, however, after the blurb of my inner rebel, the magazine suggests the following:

Parfums d'Empire Eau Suave (in eau de parfum)
Lanvin Rumeur
Miller Harris L'air de rien (in eau de parfum)
Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque
Floris Night Scented Jasmine
Keiko Mecheri Bois de Santal
Rancé Josephine (in eau de parfum)
D&G The one (in eau de toilette)
Parfums de Rosine Twill Rose

Observations? Predictably there are products which launched this very year or which obtained a wider distribution this year ( such is the case with Fumerie Turque which joins the export line of the Serge Lutens scents for Shiseido for a short period of time to then revert to the exclusivity of the Salons du Palais Royal when that time frame expires). The fragrances' aromas range from the fruity floral to the tobacco woody to floral to subtle oriental, so everyone is catered for. There are also some UK-based perfume companies mentioned, which is to be expected in said publication.

What is most noteworthy nevertheless is the abundance of recommendations that fill perfume niches. Only one perfume in that list is considered mass market department store fare ( The One by Dolce & Gabbana reviewed here ). And I say that knowing that Rumeur is to be found in department stores and Sephora as well, because the brand's cachet is mostly known to perfume loving people thanks to the classic Arpège, rather than the general public. What does this herald? The broadening of niche horizons? An increased awareness of smaller brands by the general public and an appreciation for what is different? And wouldn't that ultimately bring about either cheapening of the niches in view of catering for a wider audience or the loss of their exclusivity allure which would bring perfumed "aristocrats" to the verge of a nervous breakdown? Personally I don't think lots of niche brands have the backbone, nay the cojones, to cater for a trully universal market. Having said that however I would be thrilled if perfume awareness and education was more widely available, and if such lists prompt even one person to forget about preconceptions and go investigate what all these things really smell like, I for one would be overjoyed.

My personal Christmas list is yet undecided. I love to procastrinate, like I said. Your suggestions on what goes on your list though could bring a smile on my face and an "a ha!" moment, so don't be shy.

Pic is Praying Hands by Albert Dürer, one of my favourite artists, courtesy of Amazing Art Images four comments

I never provide a perfume list to anyone - I've normally bought what I want already. Though if anyone was feeling in the mood to splash out on me this year I could be forced into suggesting:

Parfumerie Generale's Coze
Djedi
Bois Oriental
Santal de Mysore
Parfum d'Empire's Cuir Ottoman
Blenheim Bouquet
Derby
Equipage
Bel Ami
Coup de Fouet
Narcisse Noir
Vintage Tabaróme (inspired by Chaya..)

so you see, I've been contradictory too.
Leopoldo - 27 11 06

You do bring on some classic favourites on this one...hmm....very tempting!! (Vintage Tabarome is glorious!) Well, at any rate, I do wish someone gets some idea of what you'd like and gets you some :-)
perfumeshrine - 28 11 06

Has anyone ever tried one of these cologne smelling candles ?
I want to try a few but im curious to see if anyone has any experience with them, thanks !

www.theoriginalmandle.com
Mandle () - 24 08 09

http://www.saleveling.com
http://www.power-leveling-game.com
wow power leveling () - 22 10 09

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