One of Fashion’s Top Tastemakers Breaks Into Indie Perfumes

It’s no secret that celebrity fragrances sell. Since the epic success of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds perfume in 1991, which still generates about $47 million annually for Revlon, according to market researcher Euromonitor International, fans have more options than ever to smell like their favorite A- and B-listers. Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and even Antonio Banderas have cashed in on lucrative licensing deals with industry titans Coty Inc. and Puig SL, which together account for 19 percent of the $51 billion global fragrance market.

And yet this mass appeal and affordable accessibility can mean that legions of men and women all whiff of the same pedestrian blend of fruit, flowers, and alcohol, which has led to an upturn in desire for more niche, artisanal scents. The latest entrant: Former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief and style siren Carine Roitfeld, who on Monday debuted her eponymous line, Carine Roitfeld Parfums. The collection of seven genderless fragrances called “7 lovers” is available on Net-a-Porter and her own website. Unlike mass fashion brands such as Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, or Yves Saint Laurent, Roitfeld didn’t team up with LVMH, Estée Lauder Cos., or L’Oréal Groupe, which together have 21.1 percent of market share. She instead opted to foot the bill and retain creative control for a chance at a more unique product. In the last five years, luxury fragrances have outpaced cheaper options in most markets, according to Euromonitor.