We all aspire to be unique!
Why create your perfume? DIY is one of today’s major trends in the world of beauty. Unlike our parents and previous generations, we have not been lulled into mass culture. Our generation, which grew up with or was born with the internet, has had access to so much information, so many different worlds and inspirations, that we all aspire to be unique. We no longer strive to fit the norm through status symbols, but rather we want to distinguish ourselves. Once reserved for a wealthy elite, personalization is making a strong comeback.
In addition, awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with the irresponsible use of resources leads us to favour products sourced from trusted suppliers. Hence, we are returning to natural, organic, artisanal, or DIY (do it yourself!) methods. There are sometimes also economic considerations with DIY! This trend has returned in force everywhere in the West after the 2008 crisis, from Paris to London to New York. This period of weaning people from their wallets has led many to rediscover sewing, knitting, cooking, and DIY.
These trends are not just fads, but new consumption patterns that are set to last. This is because these patterns are more environmentally friendly and often more sustainable (in the ecological sense of the word). Indeed, we are less likely to use a personalized object only once and then throw it away. For example, at Sillages Paris, 95% of our customers who order a personalized perfume are satisfied and don’t return their perfume. That’s better than at ASOS, where customers tend to over-order and send clothing back because of problems with size, cut, etc…
Why create your perfume?
So why would we want to consume what we have created ourselves? And why do we want to create our own perfume, a job that for a long time only perfumers could do? There are several reasons for wanting to create your own perfume. Firstly, there is an economic reason: although perfume has been democratized for centuries, it is still a luxury product. Some people don’t feel the need to wear a sophisticated perfume that evolves over time, but are just interested in smelling good. In these cases, our apprentice chemists can simply mix a few drops of natural essences to perfume themselves. But that won’t be enough for the olfactory aesthetes!
At Sillages Paris, our Supernose perfumers give free rein to their imaginations to create true works of art with no limit on budget or creativity. However, we believe that a beautiful perfume should not be out of reach for those who know how to appreciate it. That’s why we prefer to avoid expensive ads with big movie stars or stores in the main shopping streets in the city centre. This allows us to offer our Haute Parfumerie perfumes at regular perfumery prices. Our notoriety is dependent on our customers and a few influencers who love and support us, and who spread the word about us to the people in their circles. As in the DIY movement, it is not a question of saving money on everything, but of knowing how to recognize what is essential.
Control what you put on your skin
Another reason for wanting to create your own perfume is being able to control what you put on your skin. Apps like Yuka, which reveal the presence of endocrine disruptors and other toxic substances in everyday consumer products, have done a lot to raise public awareness. Creating your own cosmetics is a way to ensure that there is no junk in them. But watch out for the new little chemists! You have to be well informed, because not all synthetics are dangerous, and not all natural products are necessarily safe.
At Sillages Paris, our formulas contain some of the most beautiful natural ingredients used in perfumery, all in very high concentrations. Our alcohol is also natural and is made from beetroot. In order to create the most beautiful, creative, and sophisticated fragrances possible, we also use synthetic ingredients that allow us to remain 100% vegan. Because some ingredients cannot be distilled (e.g., fruits and nuts), we also create original notes like milk, leather, gin and tonic, and rum that we can’t extract naturally! And we’ve made a point of not reducing the palette available to our perfumers. Still, our formulas are 100% safe and guaranteed to be free of parabens, phthalates, and other materials that are toxic to the body and the environment.
Mark your difference by creating a unique olfactory identity
Finally, you may want to create your own perfume to mark your difference and ensure that you don’t wear the same fragrance as every other person you meet on the street. Indeed, each one of us is special–we all have different tastes, histories, memories… and perfumes are strongly connected to our intimacy. The smell of an ex can be the most vivid memory we have, and can by itself bring us back to his or her presence quicker than a photo. That’s why it’s disturbing to smell this “signature” on others and a reason why more and more people are now looking to create a unique olfactory signature by making their own perfume.
Unfortunately, a custom-made perfume is still out of reach for most of us. To create a unique perfume in-house with a perfumer, you can expect to pay 20,000 to 40,000 euros per bottle! This creation process can take months of research, adjustments, and trial appointments… just like creating a tailor-made garment.
How do you create your perfume with Sillages Paris?
But creating a custom-made perfume is not the only way to mark your difference and reveal your personality. Quite the contrary! These days, there is a problem of uniformity in perfumery because there are very few truly unique offerings. The goal for beauty brands has long been to reach as many people as possible, with a limited range of products to maximize the chances of success.
By contrast, the idea of customization is to offer a huge number of different options where everyone can find something that suits them. Instead of developing options that are as “mainstream” as possible, streamlined by extensive consumer testing, brands are more interested in experimenting and expressing myriads of diverse personalities.
At Sillages Paris, our perfumes are not linear or banal compositions, made to appeal to as many people as possible. Rather, our goal is for each Sillage to appeal to just one person in the world if necessary, so that everyone can find the Sillage that suits them. Using our algorithm to analyze your responses and tastes to match you with possible options, we aim to personalize the perfume you purchase. Each fragrance should be special, which is why we believe everyone should be guided by their senses and not by marketing rhetoric. The more we allow ourselves to be led by our instincts, the more likely it is that we will create something uniquely our own.
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