You have to come up with the right blend, a formula which hasn’t been bottled before and, most importantly, you have to come up with a story! Perfumes stories always get to me. A good fragrance has to come with a powerful resume and bio to work its magic on me. (as an example: I was in love with the story of Shalimar more than I was with the perfume itself) (the story continues after the jump!)

For an image to contain and speak of the perfume it represents, it has to either bear a reference to its name or share the story in a single image. Hermes has the Jardin series, now Gucci has The Garden perfumes series. I know it’s practically impossible to completely ignore the competition and boldly go where no one has gone before, but really, Gucci? Even the bottles look alarmingly similar! As for Abbey Lee Kershaw – she’s impeccable for Gucci’s Flora ad campaign. The huge faux flowers collar / necklace tells the story better than a thousand words – it’s a floral perfume (duh!), just that. Easy, breezy florals (Gorgeous Gardenia, Glamorous Magnolia, Glorious Mandarin, Gracious Tuberose, Generous Violet). So what do you think about this Garden perfume story? Who’s more convincing at telling it: Hermes or Gucci?

Abbey Lee Kershaw’s Gucci Flora The Garden Perfumes Ad Campaign

First because Kristen Stewart is well known for her skinny jeans, tee shirt and converse uniform, second because she has this huge impact on the young generation everyone is trying to imprint on. Commercially speaking! Without speculating any further, all there is to know for the moment is that Nicolas Ghesquiere has designated Kristen Stewart as the muse and face of Balenciaga’s upcoming perfume for women. I’m really curious what she’s going to wear for the campaign! What do you propose?

Kristen Stewart For Balenciaga Upcoming Perfume Campaign

Rare flowers extracts will be used in the creative process. Who do you think should represent the new LV perfume? And, most importantly, how would you like it to smell like? (some want it to smell like wealth!)

New Louis Vuitton Perfume. What Should It Smell Like?

So L.I.L.Y. is supposed to be a very pure and uncomplicated fragrance with, of course, Lily of the Valley aromas, oak moss and, unusually, truffles. The name of the perfume itself comes from a nickname Sir Paul gave his late wife, Linda: “Linda, I Love You”.

This is the second women perfume from Stella and it’s expected to land in specialty boutiques starting January 2012, alongside a body lotion and a shower gel. All the prices range from $25 to $100. I don’t know about you, but they had me at “pure and uncomplicated”! (the ad campaign is fronted by the beautiful Malgosia Bela)

L.I.L.Y. Perfume By Stella McCartney

The video ad campaign for Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume is out. And although directed (and shot) by Juergen Teller and TJ Wilcox, the visuals aren’t as raw or difficult to digest as I would’ve expected coming from them. It’s actually a charming piece of advertising with lovely young models (Frida Gustavsson, Sophie Srej and Hannah Holman) and an adorable soundtrack (Dream a little dream of me The Mamas & The Papas – you can listen to it here)

Daisy. Marc Jacobs. The Video Ad Campaign

It appears that in their need / want to engage more with the end customer, the luxury brands (at least as far as fashion goes) have launched Facebook exclusive offers. Oscar de la Renta’s perfume was already big with me, so hearing that they had an exclusive with a catwalk ring which contained The Esprit D’Oscar solid perfume makes me feel like I’ve missed out on a great opportunity! Do you think they should do this more often? Offer exclusive sales on Facebook? (Chanel tried to do that avant the launch of the Coco Shine lipstick, Bvlgari had reportedly implemented the Facebook commerce but they suspended it after three months. Are you familiar with other similar activities going around?)

Oscar De La Renta Is Selling Rings On Facebook. Would You Buy?

Kate Moss LilaBelle perfume addresses the younger audience (hint – Lila Grace is the name of Kate Moss’s 9yo daughter?). With top notes of mandarin and freesia, middle notes of jasmine and frangipani on a base of sandalwood and musk, the scent comes across as fresh and sensual (?). It’s not yet confirmed that the print campaign actually looks like this, however, I was thinking about a more playful look since it targets a younger audience? Didn’t you? (in the mean time, check out Kate having fun in the Jamaican sun with her daughter after the jump – she’s turning into a fine young lady, lil’ Lila Grace!)

Kate Moss New Perfome For Younger Audience, LilaBelle

Both perfume, the one for women and the one for men (remember that strange, strange video with Mr Ego – naughey?) are too weird for words. So I’m going to step back, inviting you to watch a minute and change with Scarlett Johansson talking about… well, representing for Dolce and Gabbana’s perfume The One in a video directed by Jean Baptiste Mondino.

Scarlett Johansson’s Dolce & Gabbana The One Perfume Ad Video

Oscar de la Renta’s philosophy (at least where perfumes are concerned) revolves around scented flowers “a flower that doesn’t smell is like a woman with no fragrance”. As such, he prepared a perfume for women with top notes of ginger orchid (which he also grows in his garden), bergamot, hyacinth, middle notes of jasmine sambac, orange flower and rose. The base of Live in Love is sandalwood, cedarwood, musk and amber.

The name of the perfume is inspired by the tattoo of someone who actually works with Oscar de la Renta and the ad campaign, both in print and in video is the handy work of illustrator David Downton (you can watch the video after the jump). I especially loved the words that carry the campaign: Oscar de la Renta Live In Love, The New Fragrance for Women created by a man who adores them. Simple truths enchant me. I will most certainly give it a whiff! Will you?

Live In Love Perfume By Oscar De La Renta Ad Campaign

If you’re not familiar with the name, Melanie Laurent is Tarantino’s latest movie sweetheart from Inglorious Basterds. While she was undoubtedly brilliant in the movie, she puts on a flat performance in the Hypnotic Poison commercial. And I don’t put it all on her shoulders, oh, no! Whoever is responsible for the planning, making and shooting the campaign should’ve thought harder, planned more carefully and worked harder altogether. Agree?

Melanie Laurent’s Christian Dior Hypnotic Poison Perfume Ad Campaign