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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Perfume Bottles

Can we talk about perfume bottles for a moment? 

While I'm fully aware that it's not polite to judge a book by its cover, it's impossible to say that packaging doesn't play a role in my perfume-buying practices. Yes, it's ultimately about the scent. But I can't have a hideous bottle marring my vintage mirror-and-gold vanity tray, especially since (as you may have noticed) aesthetics are a big thing for me. 


In such a competitive market, perfume packaging, along with that of other cosmetics, is of utmost importance. We've all been there: at the perfume counter, smelling samples, being helped by a pushy saleswoman (or man). After a half-dozen sniffs, they all start to smell the same. And then you sniff the coffee beans to clear your sniffer, and sniff some more, and it's all sort of just a miserable process. 


Not to suggest that we all throw our hands up and go with the prettiest bottle. Because we don't, or not entirely. For those of us whose olfactory senses are not well-attuned to the minute differences in similar perfumes, a lovely bottle sure is an easy way out. Shall we examine the good, the bad and the ugly?



Chanel No. 5 by ChanelIt was the fifth sample scent Mlle. Coco Chanel smelled on sampling for the house's first fragrance. In my opinion, it's more for the grandmotherly set, but you can't deny the classic icon that the bottle has become. And if perfume bottles could talk, not many of them could say they've been silk-screened by Andy Warhol.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs: I'm undeniably under the impression (or spell?) that Marc Jacobs can do little wrong. Starting with his namesake high-end line, to his more affordable, yet still pricey, Marc by Marc Jacobs line, to his fragrance-bottle designs. He's good. He's just too good. 


Girlfriend by Justin Bieber: I don't even like, follow, or obsess over Justin Bieber, but if I had to guess the future name of his fragrance, it would be Girlfriend. This bottle's get-up reminds me of a fashionable yet fragile bowling pin that's trying too hard.

Couture Couture by Juicy Couture: The name in itself is a mouthful. The pink-lined zipper, the crest-like topper, it's all an information overload. While an over-the-top pink princess is definitely the epitome of a "Juicy girl," this bottle might be a little too much, even for the juiciest.


Fantasy Twist by Britney Spears: To start, I will admit that my inner 90s girl loves Britney. I'm not going to lie or be ashamed about listening to the album "Oops I Did It Again" within the last month. I know that once you're a mainstream celebrity, or if you've appeared on the cover of People enough times, having a personal fragrance is essentially a rite of passage. This is bad though. Like a tacky-glamorous-Pokemon-ball bad.  A message to Brit: ditch your product designer!

Pink Friday by Nicki MinajIt was a good thought. It really was. And it's so Nicki, as in it's pink, looks like a robot and is startlingly attention-grabbing. I stared at it for a good couple minutes in the store, and came to the conclusion that if a small child all but glanced at it, there's a good chance they would run away crying.

Image sources: Chanel No. 5, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Girlfriend by Justin Bieber, Couture Couture by Juicy Couture, Pink Friday by Nicki Minaj, Fantasy Twist by Britney Spears

20 comments:

  1. That Nicki Minaj one is disturbing... haha

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  2. LOL...I love that you addressed this. I always see the commercials and question - who the heck designs these hideous bottles!! the nicki one is by far the worst I've seen yet (I think Lady Gaga has an ugly one out too).

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  3. This post is hilarious! And I think I'm most terrified by the robot Minaj.
    Lexi @ Glitter, Inc.

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    1. It's actually terrifying! Thanks for you sweet comment.

      Cheers, Elizabeth

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  4. Couldn't agree more. I wonder how some perfume bottles end up on the shelves. Isn't there someone at some stage of the product development process who says 'this bottle is not attractive' ??.

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    1. I totally agree. I guess beauty is relative!

      Cheers, Elizabeth

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  5. aww this is hilarious and so true, some of those bottles are terrible!

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    1. Thanks for you sweet comment and for stopping by!

      Cheers, Elizabeth

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  6. new follower and i loved this post. never thought about all the ugly perfume bottles since i guess i tend to automatically steer clear of them! chance by chanel is one of my faves and the bottle for it is very classic too. excited to read more on your blog!
    -- jackiejade.blogspot.com

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    1. I'm so glad you're following along! Chance by Chanel smells, and looks, beautiful. It's on my list of fragrances to get!

      Cheers, Elizabeth

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  7. I agree with all of it. Classics are classics but celebs always seem to try too hard with their presentation.

    www.teenyhippie.com

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  8. I love this post! The bottle really does make the perfume in some cases. I myself would personally never invest in a perfume that had an ugly/obnoxious bottle (aka the Nicki Minaj perfume)

    katiesbliss.com

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  10. Egads! Those are some hideous bottles. Perhaps that's why the Biebs doesn't have too much luck in the relationship department - he doesn't know what the ladies like! ;)

    Thanks for stopping by my site. Nice to "meet" you!

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  11. I totally agree with your scent!
    http://www.fashionablememories.com

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  12. Why am I not surprised the Bieb's didn't have an amazing perfume ;)

    XO
    Pearls & Paws

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  13. I agree with you, Daisy and Channel number 5 are the bests!

    BA MOST WANTED

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  14. some of the bottles these days are SO ridiculous! I like the classics, too.

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  15. Totally agree! I hate the bottle of my favorite perfume (Omnia Crystalline by Bvlgari), I would never have tried it if the salesperson hadn't insisted. I usually won't try anything on that doesn't have a super classic bottle. Total sucker for packaging (goes for makeup too...)

    Great post! Just found your site, can't wait to read more :)

    ~Jennifer

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  16. This is hilarious! Some of those bottle were awful! I admit I see the bottle first so it will definitely have an impact on what I reach for. Thank goodness my fave perfume has a nice classic simple bottle! (Parfumerie Generale, Eau de Circe)
    xo
    girlintheyellowdress.com

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Thanks for taking the time to comment!