Whatever you call the rose…or How perfumes get their names. Part II.
Eastern motives are one more bright idea of naming the perfumes. Perfume and East are strongly associated with each other. When we speak about perfumes, we start imagining the spices of east and the magic charm of eastern bazaars.
Some perfumes get the names, that are associated with nature. Harmonical nature is the eternal source of pleasant names. The Yves Roche company, the head of which is so passionate about nature protection, launched a perfume called Nature and a series of related skin care means.
Our mood and our feelings are an endless spring of inspiration for perfume creators, seeking for a proper name. The theme of feelings is first and foremost the theme of love, where a woman usually dominates. Being aimed at a woman, perfumes strive to underline her attractiveness, charm, unpredictability, cheerfulness and tenderness by their names.
Naming the scents after gems and precious metals has also become really popular. For example, Paco Rabanne launched two scents named Calandre and Metal, that have gained immediate success.
Another idea is to name the scents after geographical names – usually the exotic names and places prevail. However, in this sphere Paris stays on top – being the symbol of high fashion and perfect style, Paris is also a brilliant name for a scent.
Whatever the rose smells…or How to name a perfume? Part I.
What name must a perfume have? What task does the name have and at what is it aimed? Why is the name so important?
Of course, the name has to be catchy, bright, remarkable and to bring some associations. It is not easy to find a word, that would not only satisfy all these criteria, but would also reflect the image, the perfumer wants to create, and would carry a part of the perfume magic.
The easiest variant is to use the name of the perfumer or producer, or any of the trade mark owners, like Cardin, Armani, Gucci, Givenchy, Azzarro. Sometimes only the initials will go: K.L. by Karl Lagerfeld, Y by Yves Saint-Lauren. In this case the addition of a number to the perfume’s name will carry an element of mystery: Chanel № 19, Azzaro 9. For example, Kenzo company includes the name of the company in the majority of perfume names: Kenzo pour homme, EauparKenzo and so on. Sometimes the company, that produces fragrances, names them in honour of the founder or owner of the company: see Nina by Nina Ricci.
The most brilliant example of a surname’s use in the brand of Dior – this name is short, but catchy, and it sounds pleasantly. What is more, it is really useful for various modifications, like Diorema, Diorella, Diorissimo. Salvador Dali company seems to be also inspired by this idea – it explains the creation of Dalissime and Dalimix fragrances.
The magic of numbers is also of great importance. Chanel № 5 still remains one of the most popular perfumes in the world – probably because of the lucky number 5. They say, m-lle Chanel has organized the whole life of hers around this number, which in numerology means developed intuition and an ability to take risks.
Can you see a scent? Today it is possible!
We live in the world of opulence, and sometimes it is difficult to believe, that something new and unusual can be created – something, that cannot be found on the shelves of numerous supermarkets or luxurious boutiques. But still today is not the time to lose your belief in human creativity. We present you with one more idea to be surprised of: a scent named «Wode» and produced by Boudicca. A scent, which heart notes can not only be smelled, but also seen.
If you vaporize or apply a bit of this perfume on you, the part of body or clothes it gets on becomes intensively blue. In a couple of minutes this bright colour vanishes, leaving only a gentle, pleasant smell. The top notes of «Wode» are represented by juniper, cardamom, nutmeg, sage and coriander, which are very spicy and piquant. Fresh citruses and airy grass notes give light and gentle shades to the scent.
The name of the eau de toilette originates from the word «Woad», that means the essence of a dark-blue plant, that was used by the ancient Brits to paint tribal marks and patterns. No surprise, that today the scent is available only in Great Britain. But let us hope for its soon coming to the international markets!
Perfumed history: historical mysteries of scents
The mystery of composing perfumes has come from the ancient times. Historians say, that Queen Cleopatra once went to sea on a ship with perfumed sails – to meet the envoy of Marcus Antonius. Napoleon, this brave and courageous soldier, spent a flacon or two of perfumes a day!
Perfumes were known even in ancient Egypt and Judea. The Bible includes many records about perfumes and also some recipes of them. The whole Mediterranean civilization from the times of Carthage and up to Punic Wars was built on “perfume trade”. The Romans considered perfumes to be aphrodisiacs – the substances that ignite the love flame in a person. Perfumes were also popular in the Islamic East – for example, Koran glorifies them. And this was East to bring spices, perfumes and perfumers’ knowledge to Europe – the Moors spread perfumes in the conquered lands of Spain. Crusades only strengthened the love of Europeans towards perfumes, but in the middle ages the church suppression of “body beauty” practically made the perfume fashion vanish.
However, this fashion resurrected with the times of Renaissance, when scents were considered temptation means. For example, the book “Courteous Ladies” by Brantom describes a courtieress, that used to wear under her dress a sponge with musk and amber, “for not to smell like a sheep”! In France glove-makers were in charge of making perfumes, and only in 1614 they were officially allowed to be named perfumers. XVII is the century of perfume boom in Europe: even the queens themselves composed their perfumes. Moliere used to mock on this situation in some of his comedies, and Louis XIV was so much annoyed by this helter-skelter around perfumes, that he even intended to ban them!
Jean-Mari Farina, the famous creator of “Cologne water”, was the private perfumer of Napoleon. Being sent to exile to the isle of St. Helen, Napoleon could not get his favourite perfumes, so the local perfumes had to restore the recipe. Not log ago they were made with the help of modern technologies according to the notes, left by the latter perfumer. This perfume is now on sale in France, but unfortunately, “Napoleon’s” scent resembles simple floral cologne.