Fragrance News
From pen to perfume
Fragrance
Italian writing products manufacturer Montegrappa first opened for business in Bassano del Grappa in 1912. In its first century the Italian brand has managed to establish a broad international presence and reputation. Now Montegrappa has introduced a fragrance line called NeroUno. “NeroUno brings you an inspiring and calming scent that creates a feeling of unlimited freedom, the kind of feeling that you only experience high up on the peaks of Monte Grappa Mountain,” reads the company’s description. NeroUno combines herbs and spices from Monte Grappa mountain with Mediterranean citrus aromas and wood oils, blended by Montegrappa’s master perfumers in Italy. The fragrance is available in 50ml and 100ml Eau de Toilette, and in a 100ml After Shave Spray, as well as through a complementary line of shower and shaving products. “Each item in the NeroUno collection represents the ethos of Montegrappa,” the company says, “the essence of Italy in an objet d’art.”
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The allure of luxury fragrances continues to be a market maker, from the Middle East to Italy… and beyond
The Oudh opportunity
Dubai-based oriental perfumer Ajmal Perfumes is set to benefit from a new awareness of Oudh based fragrances in western markets. Oudh (also known as agarwood) is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in aquilaria and gyrinops trees, which are large evergreens native to Southeast Asia. “With all the international brands trying to enter the Oudh based fragrance category, initially this would be a worry, because it’s something we specialize in and these companies come in with deep pockets," says Abdulla Ajmal, General Manager, Ajmal Perfumes. Instead, he says, he is optimistic because the arrival of multiple players within this category is going to boost the whole industry. “It’s created more awareness. If you look at Tom Ford and the Armani Privé, they have brought Oudh to a larger audience and that has helped brands like Ajmal who have years of experience with the product and sell not only Oudh based fragrances but also products for the home like Oudh in the form of incense to reach further.” Ajmal says. “Newer clientele who never would’ve tried some of our fragrances are more inclined to do it because of the exposure given by the big brands.” Ajmal says that new Ambre Fruite and Ambre Pimente unisex fragrances are also ready to hit the duty free shelves and that the company is making good inroads with airlines around the world. During the Middle Eastern crisis, he says, people didn’t travel to the countries that they normally would. “They came to the UAE instead of going elsewhere, which benefited us tremendously. People from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait flocked to the UAE due to which the malls were packed. Normally July/August is the quietest time in terms of business. This year was different with mainly Arabs from the GCC that were coming in.”
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GULF-AFRICA DUTY FREE & TRAVEL RETAILING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
Luxury lineage Beauty powerhouse Coty Prestige, offers the first fragrance collection of Bottega Veneta, one of the world’s premium designer brands, which will hit Bottega Veneta’s boutiques in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain in November with a rollout scheduled in select specialty and department stores as of December 2011. The same strategy will be applicable in the Middle East's travel retail operations where location will play a key role in highlighting the exclusiveness of this very premium product. The fragrance will also be available in the region’s key airlines with some starting as early as November and others following at the beginning of 2012. Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum juice, a creation of Robertet’s Michel Almairac, is described as a “leathery, floral chypre.” The company says that it “aims to evoke the olfactory language of the Venetian countryside – fresh meadows, mown hay, flowers, earth and wood – with the gentle richness of leather crafted by a master artisan.” Bottega Veneta will be available as an Eau de Parfum, a body cream, a body lotion and a shower gel.