Happy almost 2012! New Year’s Day is one of my favorite holidays (if not my very favorite). I’ll be posting perfumed resolutions for the new year tomorrow, but today is dedicated to looking back at 2011. I’m excited to be participating in a group blogging event of the best of 2011, with DSH Notebook, EauMG, Perfume Shrine, Scent Hive, Smelly Blog, and The Non-Blonde. I hope you can check out all of the lists; I know I can’t wait to read them!
For my personal list, I restricted myself to perfumes that were released this year. Since I didn’t try every perfume, of course this list is also limited to those perfumes that I did try. And, I also had a hard time determining the exact launch date of some perfumes, particularly independent perfumes, so some of those that I might have included are not on the list. Last but not least, what fun is a best of list if it’s not highly opinionated and subjective? None, I say. So please take the list in good fun and with the requisite grains of salt.
Best Perfume of 2011
Mon Parfum Cheri Par Camille by Annick Goutal. (My review here) Why? Because it’s innovative but also something I love to wear. Other personal favorites included: Angel Eau de Toilette, Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude, and Bottega Veneta.
Worst Perfume of 2011
L’esprit de Oscar by Oscar de la Renta. Why? Because on me it smells absolutely vile. Mildewing, sour water from a vase of dying flowers left next to a cat litter box in a morgue. In its defense, I managed to wear it once and find it “pleasant” and it gets lots of love from other people. So it could just be me.
Best Perfumed Body Product
Fig Tree Shea Butter by Sonoma Scent Studios. Why? This shea butter has single-handedly changed my mind about perfumed body products. The texture is luxurious, it moisturizes my very dry skin for hours, and it smells phenomenal. (My review of the perfume here)
Most Underrated Perfume of 2011
Thierry Mugler Taste of Fragrance flankers. Why? Although these got a fair amount of attention from bloggers, they seemed pretty under the radar otherwise, and I thought they were all worth trying. Innovative, fun, and true flankers. Sadly, SAs I met were often not aware that these were different juice than the originals; they thought they were just limited edition bottles. Perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned for Mugler regarding its frequent use of limited edition bottles (i.e., it’s kinda confusing, yo).
Most Overrated Perfume of 2011
Elie Saab Le Parfum and Prada Candy (tie). Why? With Le Parfum, it’s just that … it … Wait, what!? Oh, sorry, I was falling asleep thinking about it. And Prada Candy, that one-note wonder, bores me to lace benzoin tears.*
Idea Whose Time has Come
Eau Pear Tingle by Opus Oils. Why? Because anosmics can enjoy it along with the rest of us. And because I love the packaging.
Best Perfume Marketing of 2011
Miriam, Tableau de Parfums collaboration between Andy Tauer and Brian Pera. Why? The launch and marketing were authentic, substantive, and well organized. Aesthetics and packaging are stellar. I quite like Miriam the perfume, although I suspect it may not be for everyone. But with time, and possibly the release of the entire film series and collection of Tableau de Parfums, I would not be surprised if there was even more more acclaim for this collaboration.
An honorable mention goes to two more traditional advertisements, for Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude and Louis Vuitton (yes, I’m jumping the gun, as Vuitton hasn’t launched its perfume yet, but not surprising that this ‘journey’ ad hooked me, embodying the best of Louis Vuitton’s heritage and minimizing the worst).
Worst Perfume Marketing of 2011
Dita von Teese perfume. Why? Well, the press release created confusion about whether the perfume is called ‘Dita von Teese’ or ‘Femme Totale’, and it went downhill from there. A bunch of buzz, write-ups in stateside media, and then no clear launch date for the U.S. Then conflicting information about online sales, inconsistent use of social media (almost worse than not using it at all), and the sudden dearth of talk that not surprisingly follows when consumer expectations are created and not met.
An honorable mention goes to the Old Spice campaign, once genius but now failing to move beyond gimmick into substantive advertisement.
Best Perfume Writing (Mainstream)
The Los Angeles Times. Why? The LA Times regularly covers fragrance, and they usually get good writers to do it. It’s that easy, and it’s that hard.
Epic Fail of the Year
Dior, for renaming Miss Dior as ‘Miss Dior Original’, for tagging Miss Dior Cherie as ‘Miss Dior’, and for changing the Miss Dior Cherie juice without doing a single thing to the packaging or bottle to make it distinguishable. This was one seriously messed up game of musical chairs. As a fan of both Miss Dior and Miss Dior Cherie (the pre-reformulation version), I think I would be on the more tolerant end of the consumer spectrum on this issue, but it left a bad taste even in my mouth. It’s just so unnecessary. Transparency is our friend, folks.
What to Watch 2012
My usual suspects are Guerlain (set to release new flankers in 2012), Ormonde Jayne, Parfumerie Generale and Huitieme Art, and Andy Tauer. I have fingers crossed for new offerings from all of them. I’m also excited to explore more within a few lines I first tried and was delighted with this year: 1000 Flowers, Neela Vermeire (who really needs a website! who kindly emailed me with a link to her beautifully designed website) Sonoma Scent Studio, Opus Oils, Aftelier, and Plume Perfumes.
What about you? What bests and worsts did 2011 bring, in your opinion?
*Lace benzoin tears are, inexplicably, an ingredient in Gwen Stephani’s Harajuku Lovers Jingle G fragrance.
Image created by Roxana of Illuminated Perfume. Many thanks to Tricia of Scent Hive for organizing this event and inviting me to participate!
I love that you added a marketing category and I’m full agreement with your choices. It’s amazing how the Dita VT project went from an excited buzz to “whatever”. At least there were enough good smelly things to occupy us.
Happy New Year!
P.S. Someone ought to gather all the angry posts about Dior and send them to their headquarters.
Thank you, Gaia! It’s a good idea about the Dior posts. I really don’t think we as consumers are asking for anything outrageous, after all.
I am so honored that Plume was included here among such talented company! Thank you for all you do to promote the beauty of perfumery — from the big, well-established talents to the small, indie perfumers. I love the new look of the blog, by the way!! Have a wonderful New Year!
Warmest Regards,
Tara
Thank you for commenting Tara, and for creating the wonderful perfumes you do. All the best for the new year (I can’t wait to see what it brings!).
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I thought Candy was boring too! Tried it on a blotter a couple of times and wasn’t even moved to wear it on skin. So many of the Prada perfumes just feel like instant drydown to me. Maybe there’s some material in them I’m anosmic to.
Interesting! I wonder if selective anosmia is my problem with this as well. It would explain why I don’t “get” what others smell.
Terrific list Natalie! Love that we both fell for SSS Fig Tree and were bored by Prada Candy. Nice to have one’s opinions validated on a respected blog
And thank you for the reminder that I still need to try Mon Parfum Cheri Par Camille! I am so curious about that one.
Lots of happiness to you in the new year!
XOXO
Trish
Thanks, Trish! I, too, like the validation.
Wishing you a wonderful 2012 as well! <3
I had fun reading your list – have just twigged to the joint blogging projects on this subject – I thought there were a lot of Best Of round ups appearing today! : – )
In view of your bad reaction to Esprit D’Oscar, I am not surprised you wanted to put thousands of miles between you and your vial, and I am delighted to give it a home!
And who would have thought “lace benzoin tears” were an actual ingredient. Thanks for sharing that titbit, and sorry you weren’t that struck on Candy.
Thanks, Vanessa! I’m glad you are enjoying Oscar. He clearly did not want to be a member of our household, and made himself unwelcome as a consequence. I’m sure at your place, he is happier and smells delightful.
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Gorgeous list!
I’m still pining for Mon Parfum Cherie that did not work out for me…
I love your marketing categories too!
Thank you, Birgit! Perhaps with time something will change with MPC, but at least for now you have many other gorgeous discoveries from the year to enjoy. (And maybe soon a new full bottle of Angelique Noire
).
I enjoyed reading your list, Natalie! I didn’t love Prada Candy either – lace benzoin tears made me laugh and it is even funnier that it is an actual ingredient (though I have heard ‘tears’ being used to describe raw materials that are available as ‘pearl-like drops’. ). I really need to try Fig Tree (and Miriam) – have heard too many good things about them.
Thanks so much, Lavanya! I need to pop over and read your list, too! I missed it yesterday, and I’m excited to see what you included.
I really liked your list.
Although I must say I like Prada Candy, it hits my gourmandy spot, although am I the only one who thinks it smells a lot like L de Lolita Lempicka?
Albeit not as fine as L.
I don’t find Prada Candy and Lolita Lempicka similar, but I enjoy them both very much! So perhaps they hit the same spot.
Thanks, Ines! You know, I do not know L de Lolita Lempicka … I’m not sure if now I should seek it out or not.
Great summation, you reminded me of the Dita thingie and the lace benzoin tears.
To the latter I think I can provide an answer: it’s a misspelling of Gum Lacc.Benzoin which appears for the actual well-known benzoin in some literature (notably by the Royal Society of London). Because there’s a dot after the c, and it’s in Italic, people mistook it for e and reproduced it throughout the Net.
Then there’s also “bois dentelle” (Lagetta of Jussieu), which is within the Thymelaeaceae family (in which we find aquillaria too). So there just might be a comma missing [i.e. lace (tree), benzoin tears]. That would also make sense.
I don’t know if the Harajuku is using either, though, never smelled it. :/
The Dior case is a travesty, I shudder at the thought that generations to come will associate the classic, classy and classified (obviously one for aliteration) archetype with the pinky swirl…
Happy 2012!
Thank you, Elena! (Ah, mystery solved) I admit I thought it was more made-up PR prose — interesting that it originated from a misspelling. And a little terrifying.
Oh, how I fear making such mistakes myself.
Happy 2012 to you, too, and thank you for visiting!
Nice list Natalie, with some interesting categories. Liked reading your take on the best and worst marketing. The whole Dior debacle is so depressing.
Sadly agree about Prada Candy which was a one note wonder for me too and Elie Saab – sorry Vanessa! Have to try the Goutal and see how it works for me. So you must have liked it more than Bottega Veneta, then. I’m even more interested now.
Have a great time celebrating tonight!
Thank you, Tara! You know, it’s funny: I have really gone back and forth on Bottega Veneta. I loved it for weeks, wore it tons, and then went through a phase where I was less excited about it. Now, I’m warming back up to it. MPC, on the other hand, has been consistent. It didn’t wow me right away like BV, but my appreciation grew. In terms of it being my choice for the “best”, I also feel like it has something stronger to say than the Bottega Veneta, and I like that strength. I can’t *wait* to hear what you think!
Wonderful list! The one thing about the Le Gout de Parfum line, and the reason that I haven’t bought the Womanity 2.0 yet, is that there is only one size, and that size is somewhat expensive. If they had come in smaller bottles, I think that they could have been a lot more popular, because they are all excellent.
Thank you, Ari! You raise a good point about the Le Gout de Parfum line. Some of the bottles are quite large and others (like Angel) surprisingly small. Very odd.
Your description of L’esprit de Oscar is hilarious! Wonder what kind of kitty litter they use at the morgue . . .
You know it’s funny, that stale flower water smell can either work wonders for a scent, or drive it under the ground. Guess the latter outcome applies to LdO.
Agree with Candy. It smells good and it could be worse, but eh. Nothing tremendous.
Thanks! I’m guessing the morgue goes for some highly scented kitty litter.
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A list sounding really promising to me!! I don’t know most of the perfumes listed, neither the stuff included in ‘What to Watch 2012′ so I wish I had more and more fragrance experiences and acquisition of new knowledge during this year!!
That is a great resolution!
I liked that even though it was a joint event each participant went with her/his own categories. And the way you presented your list gets the best response from me: I really enjoy how methodically you explained your choices. I do not disagree with anything you wrote (even MPCPC – even though it doesn’t work for me). I haven’t tried the perfume from your “worste” nomination and probably I’ll save some time and skin RE for other candidates.
I’m hopelessly behind my own schedule for the year perfumes round-up so I hope you’ll forgive me not answering your question here now – you’ll read it as soon as I’m done (and after that I’ll go and read everybody else’s “best of” posts).
Thank you, Undina! I read the first part of your list last night (going back to comment after this), and I found it really interesting; I did not realize how much wear Une Rose Vermeille had gotten. And, I love your chart with the perfume bottles on it. Anyway, but I will comment over there where all of this properly belongs.
Since URV was on my short-list for the holiday shopping I wanted to make sure I really liked it before comitting to a FB (and the sample you shared with me allowed me to do that after my original one was gone – so thank you again). I still like it and a FB is still on my wishlist but other choices won for one reason or the other.
I just realized I don’t think I read which of the scents you were considering you ended up getting for the holidays. I also did not get an Andy Tauer for Christmas. Sigh. But soon!
We agree on several! I find Prada Candy boring and far too foodie. Elie Saab is shrieky laundry detergent and I feel the same about the Oscar de la Renta (horrid). Sometimes its nice when others share your DISlikes!
Happy New Year to you
I agree.
I actually felt quite validated by your description of Elie Saab. Happy new year to you as well!
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well worked and researched post, I must say. Complete review of all the perfumes and fragrances of 2011 and also you have shared related blogs for further details. You have very clearly and methodologically explain all good and bad of perfumes.well thanks for great post and keep sharing
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