Maison Martin Margiela Replica (2012) {New Perfume}
Maison Martin Margiela will launch their third perfume to date after Untitled and Untitled L'Eau called Replica.
The fragrance inaugurates a new concept for the perfume house described in the following terms "Reproduction of familiar scents and moments of varying locations and periods". In typical minimalist fashion the flacon offers a clinical, bare and spare approach to the scent it contains...
Everything seems to be laid bare and open creating the momentary illusion that the perfume is absolutely transparent and objective in its aim.
The label reads:
"Originally:
Flower Market
Provenance and Period:
Paris 2011
Fragrance Description:
Crisp Petal Freshness
Style Description:
Female Fragrance"
It's a way of capturing l'air du temps: by indicating the period of inspiration, one sees the time gap existing between the time of creation and the time of the launch.
Like for painters, the locale becomes emphasized. Perfumery is not that abstract after all. it lives, gets nurtured and is influenced by a specific locale.
Notes include: freesia, Grasse rose petals, sambac jasmine
According to Elle Belgique, Replica will launch from June 2012 at the Maison Martin Margiela boutique in Brussels.
So basically they're replicating what Christopher Brosius has been doing for years ... reproducing familiar scents and specific locales. Not particularly intriguing.
Yes, you're right, there is a connection. I was thinking more that it fits right in the headspace age and that it shows the relationship of perfumery to painting. Painters are very self-aware that the locale can be eye-changing.
I think that this is the precise point about it. It does not aim to be original a priori. If Daniela Andrier is the perfumer, like for the 2 other MMMs, then she's clearly stated in the past that she does not think that perfumery is an art but rather a craft.