Celluloid Scents

When I began to write this editorial, I was going to mention, by way of introducing Beauty Packaging’s feature on label trends and regulations, the new film, “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.” Watching the movie, I was struck by the perfumer Baldini’s lab, and how his flacons of lime oil and vials of musk were all so indifferently labeled and haphazardly organized. Thank goodness for modern labeling techniques, I thought to myself. Must work that into my editorial…
    
Imagine my reaction when I recently read that Thierry Mugler Parfums launched, in conjunction with the film’s European release, “Perfume,” a limited edition fragrance collection based on the fictional story of a serial killer of women. One of the 15 scents is even named “Virgin No. 1,” after a murder victim.
    
It’s not that I disapprove, exactly. As a fan of Patrick Süskind’s 1985 novel and its film interpretation, I can’t help but be impressed with the concept of the collection, the inspiration behind it and the luxurious presentation of the scents in their vintage glass bottles and beautiful red velvet coffret (a perfectly harmless word under ordinary circumstances, coffret now takes on a sinister undertone).
    
I just find it, well, somewhat creepy. Similar to how I felt when “Silence of the Lambs” won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1991 (and imagine the fragrance that would have inspired!). Both films feature a compelling anti-hero (read: psychopath) who likes to collect (read: murder and mutilate) young women to achieve a misguidedly noble end.
    
But whom am I kidding? If it weren’t for the $700 price tag, I’d order “Perfume” for my film memorabilia collection.

As always, we hope you enjoy this issue.

Ava Caridad

    
Also in this issue, read about Alterna, Beauty Packaging’s Company of the Year: Excellence in Packaging, as chosen by our readers. Leah Genuario looks at packaging for television shopping and Christine Esposito gives us a glimpse of the latest in fragrance packaging.
    
As always, we hope you enjoy this issue.