In a recent Stylist article, it was quoted that Lyn Harris of Miller Harris charges £8,000 for a bespoke fragrance creation. Of course, clients are paying for Lyn Harris's skill and knowledge of perfumes as much as the actual creation process. However, it's still a heck of a lot of money and here's why I don't think it's worth the investment.
There are thousands of fragrances currently in production. With all that choice, surely it's more or less impossible not to find at least one fragrance that you like. I've already found many that I don't just like, but I love.
Who wants to wear one fragrance for the rest of their life? In the same way that clothes change with fashion, the seasons, age and moods, there's no single fragrance that can define your personality forever.
A large part of the fun is choosing a fragrance. If somebody handed me my 'signature scent' (I'm aware of the irony) it would take all the fun out of finding out what's in all those perfume bottles that fill the shelves in chemists and department stores.
Packaging is half the fun. I love Michael Kors for its boxy yet glamorous bottle. But on other days I want to feel the smooth curves of Escale a Portofino, with its metallic lid. If I had one bottle to use every day I would miss some of the sensuous feeling of using a different bottle as the mood takes me.
Tastes Change. For years I never thought I'd wear anything other than bootleg jeans. Now I can't imagine going back to them. In the same way, I couldn't conceive of liking amber until a few short days ago when I tried West Side by Bond No. 9. Now amber is suddenly something I can envisage wearing a lot more.
I need choice. For a lazy morning when I'm in need of some energy, then the zesty Fleur du Matin could be a great choice. For an evening out with my husband I might want something a bit more sophisticated. Chinatown could fit the bill. For an average day at home with the children Michael Kors just makes me feel happy and puts a smile on my face. And when I want to feel plain pretty, then nothing beats La Chasse aux Papillons. If I'd invested in my unique scent, then it would become the golden handcuffs. In my mind, it would eliminate the choice and I'd feel that I have to wear that one fragrance for every eventuality.
I'm faddy. It's true. In fact my friends told me so recently. I'm always trying a different diet, a different exercise routine, a different religion. Today's favourite fragrance might be tomorrow's least favourite fragrance. I couldn't take that chance with eight thousand pounds.
I need choice. For a lazy morning when I'm in need of some energy, then the zesty Fleur du Matin could be a great choice. For an evening out with my husband I might want something a bit more sophisticated. Chinatown could fit the bill. For an average day at home with the children Michael Kors just makes me feel happy and puts a smile on my face. And when I want to feel plain pretty, then nothing beats La Chasse aux Papillons. If I'd invested in my unique scent, then it would become the golden handcuffs. In my mind, it would eliminate the choice and I'd feel that I have to wear that one fragrance for every eventuality.
I'm faddy. It's true. In fact my friends told me so recently. I'm always trying a different diet, a different exercise routine, a different religion. Today's favourite fragrance might be tomorrow's least favourite fragrance. I couldn't take that chance with eight thousand pounds.
I love perfumes and I particularly like Miller Harris fragrances. But when I read that Lyn Harris has apparently said,
"I can make a beautiful fragrance for somebody, but it has to have all the idiosyncrasies and characteristics of that person, their perfections and imperfections"
..then I just think, Oh purrr-lease!. If I'm paying eight grand, forget my imperfections. I just want perfect!
What would I do about my blog? I couldn't justify my endless perfume hunt if I had my 'bespoke' fragrance sitting on a shelf a home. I love my blog too much.
Well, that's nine reasons. One more? I can't afford it.
Seriously, if money was unlimited, then I would love to talk to somebody like Lynn Harris and get a truly personal fragrance. But, back to the real world, and there's a lot of fun to be had in trying out different and lovely smelling stuff all the time. And quite frankly, I think my life is richer and better for the endless perfume hunt that I'm on.
9 Lovely comments:
I love Miller Harris' scents!! And if I did have a ton of money, I would definitely ask her to make something for me, but I understand and agree w/all of what you said!
Just kill me now if I have to live with the same scent each and every day -- day in day out, from sun to sun, forever. Having to deliver one scent for one person to spend a lifetime with would be too much pressure for the perfume gods. By being my authentic and evolutionary human self I’ve relieved them of the monumental task. I flit around from scent to scent until I find something I love. Then over time my love for it changes. I’ve never completely abandoned a loved scent but I most certainly have acquired others that I love as much and even more. I’m a perfume polygamist. There’s enough room in my heart to love many simultaneously.
P.S. I've been watching HBO's Big Love.
I love how you assume you'd stop wearing all the rest of your fragrances. I'd love to have a bespoke fragrance made (if I had endless money to waste) but I wouldn't stop wearing the rest of my collection and indeed I'd probably want a whole wardrobe of different bespoke fragrances from different noses too!
Hi Princess Glee - I agree with your 'flit around' philosophy. Big Love sounds good by the way.
Hi Great She Elephant - I agree - the more perfumes the better as far as I'm concerned. Whether they are bespoke or store-bought.
Hi Bloody Frida - when you/I win the lottery we can give Lyn Harris a call.
It's a deal!!!
I think I have a streak of serial scent monogamy in me-- when I find something I love, I just crave it, and nothing else will do. But then, now that I think about it, I do like to sample (and sample, and sample) -- just a bit on the side. It doesn't "mean" anything- really!! (I should stop now...)
Another perfume polygamist here! Or do I mean polyamorist? Poly-something for sure.
A compromise between off the shelf scents and a bespoke number is the deal from The Perfume Studio that I had for my birthday: £49 and you get to create your own "permutation" of up to 18 blends that have been prepared earlier, Valerie Singleton-style. I made a polite green floral, my friend an aldeyhdic floral woody number. At that price, you can have something that feels "your own" and still enjoy everything else out there with a clear conscience.
Hi LCN! I'm laughing. Does Mr LCN - the lovely Bazzer - read your comments elsewhere? Think you might have let the proverbial cat out of the bag.
Hi FlitterSniffer, The Perfume Studio option sounds interesting. But for me it's a bit too 'Mongolian Barbecue'. Do you know what I mean? You choose the food and the sauces and cook it yourself at the hot plate. If I go out to eat I want the chef to make the decisions. Likewise, don't think I've got a good enough nose to be left in charge of my own fragrance.
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