Dita Von Teese is Shopping for a Fragrance Deal {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}
This post could be titled "The angst of birthing a celebrity fragrance" According to WWD, burlesque icon Dita Von Teese, who is now living between Paris and LA, has been shopping around for a fragrance deal. A triggering event has reportedly been her relationship with her new beau, Louis-Marie de Castelbajac, the son of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, whose mother happens to be wearing the same signature scent as hers, the relatively less well-known classic Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant, a direct ancestor to Chanel No.5...
Turning to her friend Kilian Hennessy of the By Kilian line of fragrances, she asked for his advice. In order to not activate any Oedipian feelings, the fragrance designer told her, it would be best either to store away her beloved perfume or switch boyfriends. The latest news is that she opted for the first option.
While occasionaly wearing Quelques Fleurs subrepticiously in her boyfriend's absence, it's pushed the burlesque artist to look harder for a company to create her own, unique sig scent.
“I’d been wearing it [Quelques Fleurs] since I was 14. So when I found that out, I immediately called my friend Kilian Hennessey, who is a perfumer, and said ‘What do I do? It’s my signature scent.’ He said to me, ‘Either get rid of the man, or get rid of the fragrance. You have no other options.’ [...] So I’ve been wearing other things, but what I really want to do is make my own fragrance. I don’t want to smell like anyone else.”
Coty who are currently developing a Lady Gaga perfume told her that she was not famous enough for them. Von Teese is reportedly now eyeing niche perfume houses.
“I have to talk to the smaller companies, because the bigger ones, like Coty, are like ‘Well, not everyone knows your name, like the Kardashians or Victoria Beckham.’ ”
Of course, Etat Libre d'Orange which creates quirky celebrity scents comes to mind. They did Rossy de Palma, Tilda Swinton. Never afraid to push the envelope where naughty innuendos are concerned, it would seem like a natural fit to turn to 69, rue des Archives. If Serge Lutens turns to celebrity perfume-making one day - perish the thought some will say - Von Teese would at least be a good representative of Lutens' aesthetic predilection for women with pale, wan complexions. After all, he did create a fragrance inspired by singer Mylène Farmer's red dress, Rousse.
Photo credits: Williamson; I. Gavin
