11 years ago - 19.02.2013

Please Excuse Me While I Rant

I love any number of perfumes, noses and houses, but on the whole, I don't have much respect for the collective perfume industry. In the last few years we've seen draconian restrictions on "allergenic" notes, wholesale bans on fragrance in certain settings and recently, a series of new/newly enforced postal regulations that do not bode well for the future of perfume. Meanwhile, to all appearances the fragrance industry sat on its collective ass and passively allowed lawmakers to whittle away at its artistic tools and financial livelihood. Occasionally a Serge Lutens or a Frédéric Malle will step forward and make a statement about the damage resulting from the IFRA regs, but I've seen nothing in the way of action, proactive or even reactive, from this ineffectual group of people who create the substance that we love.

Here are just a few suggestions that might help the situation:

1. Hire the European equivalent of a K Street lobbyist to campaign on behalf of the industry with the European Union, the apparent source of the allergen legislation;

2. Commission an impact study on the loss of jobs and revenue that will ensue based on the various existing and proposed restrictions to the industry;

3. Underwrite some research on the many positive benefits of perfume usage. Anyone who wears perfume on a regular basis will tell you that it can instill confidence, calm frayed nerves and lift spirits. Some even claim that fragrance works as an aphrodisiac.

If a layperson can come up with a few ideas on the spur of the moment, imagine what the professionals could do if they would simply get organized. Unfortunately, it may already be too late.