...LovingTheAlien:http://www.coty.com/brandsFrançois Coty gave us Chypre, though. If that's not a huge contribution, I honestly don't know what is or what more could...

...you LovingTheAlien :) I have now seen a couple of posts about it on other sites and indeed, some people are suggesting that it is some sort of perfume extrait...

...At least 50.

...YSL has historically enjoyed creating new names for concentrations for marketing purposes. It's the EDP IMO, though some sources claim it's a slightly more concentrated version (I don't see it).

...I have the same spray and I believe it's just a lay-down version of the original - smells the same to me. Strong doesn't begin to describe Paris's assertive nature. That stuff sets the bar for sillage!

...Bellodgia didn't wow me until I put it into an atomizer. This is one that should be sprayed, in my opinion. Now I can't live without it. I have only tried the vintage EDC and EDT, of which I have a substantial amount. I would love to try the vintage parfum but haven't stumbled upon one at the right price yet.I can tell by the amount of sandalwood in this that the reformulation isn't going to be a good one.

...Seatonica:In general terms, the dictomomy of pulp for the masses and "art" for the literate is no new thing. The "democratisation" of perfume and its accompanying slide from art-form to accessory, however, is a relatively recent phenomenon.Thank you for putting this more elegantly than I could.Niche and vintage are already all I'm investing in. I can hardly justify giving my money to a company who doesn't care about me as a consumer. There really are great perfumeries out there doing excellent things - Brosius (not a schtick - try his actual perfumes), Slumberhouse, JAR (almost unaffordable masterpieces), Tauer, Roja Dove (my savior!), Amouage, Histoires de Parfums and Lutens are among the best in the industry. Still, it bothers the shit out of me that you can't go out and buy a decent bottle of Diorissimo or Gentleman or Y anymore. Decent vintage prices are creeping up to (and past) even the most immense niche prices. I have to battle it out with other crazies for months to get a sealed bottle of vintage whatever and even then there's no guarantee it's still good.

...LovingTheAlien:killing the artThe way I see it now is:Designer: ACCESSORYNiche: ART Although there are bad and good fragrances in both markets and sadly (at least...

...Well, the aromachemical companies surely are a big factor. However, the limitations placed upon the industry is not the limitation that these (specific) companies are working around. I don't disagree with the scents, as I've said - I disagree with the way they are produced and marketed. There have always been scents produced that were... less than honest art, but these fragrances are utterly dominating the market now. They are getting to the point where their only competition is themselves. There is a clear and obvious dichotomy in my opinion, and these companies are killing the art. Perfumers are getting paid less, the time they can collect royalties is drastically decreased in a market where nothing lasts longer than a year or two, they have smaller palettes to work with on these cheapies, fragrances are becoming eerily similar to each other, and standards are dropping fast. The whole industry is a big bore.Honestly, though, none of this would matter to me if it wasn't directly causing the discontinuation and horrendous reformulations of fragrances that I like. What L'Oreal did to the YSL line is criminal. It's almost as though they deliberately sabotaged the brand. Opium wasn't even expensive to produce! :shock:

...LovingTheAlien:I was thinking about what really makes a bad fragrance today after getting a lot of flak for a certain comment on another site about celebrity...

...It's not the fact that they make bad fragrances - some of them are nice in a way. It's the amount of perfume and the rate at which they pump them out as well as the extremely aggressive marketing strategies that changed the face of the industry. Perfumes don't last in the market anymore. Hell, Britney Spears fragrances have been through three of these companies now. The whole industry is just out of control.Then there is the issue of bad reformulations. These companies are notorious for taking a brand that was going under and releasing it in a bargain-bin formulation at a lower price. Or, in the case of L'Oreal, higher prices.These companies just have no integrity as far as I'm concerned. Badart is one thing - dishonest art is another entirely.

...I was thinking about what really makes a bad fragrance today after getting a lot of flak for a certain comment on another site about celebrity perfumes. I'm trying to figure out which company has done the most damage to the art and the industry. Which do you think?http://www.loreal.com/_en/_ww/brands-l-oreal.aspxhttp://www.coty.com/brandshttp://www.pg.com/en_US/brands/all_brands.shtmlhttp://learnmore.elizabetharden.com/elizabeth-arden-brands/index.phpThere are quite a few damaged and/or destroyed brands under those umbrellas!

...For a totally different experience, give Aimez-Moi a try. It's a modern masterpiece. There is a certain perfect balance in the scent. It could easily have been too girly and sweet or too powdery and mature, but it ends up being neither of these. The fragrance never feels overly complex - it is very focused and balanced. It is reminiscent of L'Heure Bleue in its odd apothecary style. It also plays some tricks to get around how sweet it is. It is candy-sweet, but the candy is the sort that makes most people cringe; licorice, mint, and violet pastilles. It's just brilliant.

...LovingTheAlien:If you like any of the old ones you'll probably like them all. There's sort of a house signature that you either love or hate. The only exception I...

...If you like any of the old ones you'll probably like them all. There's sort of a house signature that you either love or hate. The only exception I can think of is Fleurs de Rocaille. That one is a Quelques Fleurs analog.

...I bought some huge daffodils today and was admiring their scent. I got a major craving for Caswell-Massey's Number Six and I'm currently soaked in it just before bed. This is a beautiful cologne and it brings me a wonderfully calming spring vibe that's just lovely.EDC du Coq is still my favorite, but this one has to be up there. :)

...LovingTheAlien:Listing the allergens would be difficult considering how many changes many perfumes have gone through in the past 10 years - especially those...

...LovingTheAlien:I always thought notes were simply a marketing tool and should in no way be misconstrued as a guide to ingredients or development. Rarely do I see...

...LovingTheAlien:I always thought notes were simply a marketing tool and should in no way be misconstrued as a guide to ingredients or development. Rarely do I see...

...Mine is Eau de Cologne du Coq by Guerlain. :)