The Fashion Group International (FGI) event, Making Scents: The Art and Business of Prestige Fragrance at the Thompson Hotel on November 25th, left a lasting impression. The night was informative, and enjoyable as specialists were on site to discuss how a perfume is created, followed by a panel discussion to talk about the business aspects such as marketing and how to successfully launch a perfume.
Best of Toronto had the pleasure of being personally guided through the Thierry Mugler Les Exceptions five fragrance collection, exclusive to the Hudson’s Bay. Created by Olivier Polge, Jean-Christophe Herault and Thierry Mugler. The expert perfume makers merged a world of inspirational luxury with beauty.
Dispensing the Thierry Mugler fragrances at Hudson’s Bay | File Photo: Nick Lee
The experience included an introduction by way of a wine glass, so the perfume would drift up into the air and you could smell all the notes of the 5 unique scents very clearly.
The five scents that make up the collection are:
Fougere Furieuse (“…I borrowed elements from the male wardrobe, daring them to be outrageous…” – Jean-Christophe Herault)
Oriental Express (“…it brings an oriental fragrance to life, with all the more unexpected character” – Olivier Polge)
Chyprissime (“I updated the structure of chypre by sharpening the edge-making it more colourful by design, to give it a new brightness….great momentum of classical perfumery” – Olivier Polge)
Supra Floral (“…signals a seductive perfume for women and temptation for men” – Olivier Polge)
Over the Musk (“Simplicity sometimes reveals many nuances, Over the Musk explores the bright side of sensuality. From fluffy white cashmere to powdery velvet, the story is about irresistible sex appeal” – Jean- Christophe Herault)
As it turned out, Over the Musk proved to be the popular choice for many guests that night.
After the sampling of fragrances and as the evening moved on, everyone took a seat to listen to the five panelists and to gain insight into the perfume profession from a business perspective. For instance, something the speakers delved into was how difficult it is to maintain a fragrance’s popularity because it’s so personal, and that varies from men to women. Men might not be as inclined to switch up their perfumes for example.
The panel was made up of five industry experts: Heather Josey, the Fragrance Buyer at the Hudson’s Bay, Deborah Fulsang, a writer, editor and contributor for some of Canada’s top fashion and beauty media such as: Globe and Mail, National Post, Flare, Chatelaine, and The Kit . The panel also included Sandy Silva, a Canadian Fashion & Beauty Industry Analyst and David Titheridge, General Manager for LVMH Fragrance Brands Canada Ltd., also an Executive of Look Good Feel Good Foundation. The discussion was moderated by Jim Hicks, the publisher of Cosmetics Magazine who launched the Canadian Fragrance Awards 10 years ago.
FGI planned an intriguing and inspiring event, that lived up to its name ‘Making Scents.’ By providing the entire package, from the launch of the Thierry Mugler Les Exception, to offering various professional angles on the details within the fragrance field, it changed the way I see perfume and have developed a new appreciation for fragrances in their entirety.
File Photo: Nick Lee
For more info about FGI Toronto visit www.fgitoronto.org
