Of the ten best-selling fragrances in France, eight are from fashion brands. The link between perfumery, cosmetics and fashion is growing closer every year. The major luxury brands have understood this and are inventing products that represent the essence of their collections.
Perfume as the mirror of a luxury brand
Perfumery and cosmetics have played a central role in the luxury and fashion industries for decades. Perfume is the main showcase for a major fashion brand. It represents its style, its colors, its contours, its aspirations... Over time, the great fashion and luxury houses have understood that perfumery and cosmetics play an essential role for their brand. They are the gateway to their collections. Today, fashion, perfumery and cosmetics are closely linked within the same brand. Indeed, the design of the new Yves Saint Laurent lipstick, or the notes in the latest Dior fragrance, are in harmony with the clothing collections released at the same time.
The right balance between tradition and innovation
Perfumes, cosmetics, fashion, leather goods... it's all a question of symbiosis for the great luxury houses.
In the 1950s, Christian Dior was one of the first couturiers to understand the vital link between perfume and fashion. For him, perfume was the finishing touch to a dress. Today, this link is more visible than ever in the brand's advertising campaigns. A case in point is the advertising film for Miss Dior perfume, in which Natalie Portman reveals the key outfits from the brand's latest collections.
However, unlike a clothing collection, one of the main characteristics of perfume is its longevity. In fact, luxury houses are constantly seeking the right balance between innovation and preserving the brand's heritage. For example, Chanel's N°5 fragrance has been known for its French elegance and refinement for years. On the other hand, without neglecting the renewal of this fragrance's communication, perfumes from the same brand with new notes have seen the light of day in recent years.
They reflect the image of a more modern, dynamic woman. The same applies to cosmetics. Some brands, even through their packaging, turn them into veritable fashion accessories. Red lipstick, for example, is considered a timeless accessory, just like a woman's suit.
Perfumery and cosmetics: a sector that recruits
The perfumery and cosmetics industries are in constant need of new talent, whether in innovation, marketing, design, sales or other areas.
Once you start to get your feet wet in the world of luxury and fashion, you'll realize that there are many different professions. For example, working in the world of fashion and luxury doesn't necessarily mean working only in clothing design or production.
You could very well go to fashion school, and then branch out into the perfume and cosmetics sectors. For example, after completing a Bachelor in Fashion and Digital MarketingIf you're looking for a career in the fashion industry, you could work in marketing and communications in the beauty department of a major luxury brand. Positions of a more commercial nature, such as sales manager or brand demonstrator, are also highly sought after by fashion brands.
Of course, if you're more creative and have a good nose, you can work as a perfume designer. But beware, it's very difficult to become a Nez, so you'll need to be patient and self-sacrificing!
