Reading Week: BBC Perfume Documentary P1

So we got told before reading week that for our next module we will be focussing on perfume, not gonna lie, a fashion course studying perfume? Was a bit confused as to why we're doing that but I guess it will make sense when we start it.

I can see obviously how perfume links to fashion because perfume is often made by fashion brands and the way brands have to market perfume is different to how they market clothing; so maybe that's why we are going to be learning about it. Perfume also doesn't go out of season, it is released and if it does well is sold for years after, so is completely different to clothing.

I watched the episodes on YouTube which were originally from BBC4, there were 3 episodes to watch, all an hour long.

As I don't know much about perfume and have never really had an interest in the world of perfume it was a learning curve for me and I found the series quite interesting. I made notes on each episode that I watched so that I could refer back to my notes in lectures and seminars.

I think that I'll find watching this documentary really helpful because it will give me some pre-knowledge on the module we are going to be studying, hopefully. Along with the other reading week tasks.

Episode 1- 'Something Old Something New'

This gave us the basics of perfume and the basics of the perfume world. Personally, to me, it was the most interesting episode as it taught me things I never knew before and got me thinking about the way I consume perfume and what part I play for different brands.

A point I'm going to expand on for this episode that really got me thinking was the effect that perfume has on the wearer and the people that smell perfume on another person.

A quote from the episode from Jean- Paul Guerlain, former master perfumer and last family master perfumer for Guerlain, "when the most beautiful girl in the world goes to see her lover; if possible, she gets off her dress, take off her make- up. What's left? The charm of her voice and her perfume."

This got me thinking, smell really does change how you view a person. Whether that be a stranger or someone you know. Perfume can make you fall in love with a stranger. I know before I've been at work and there was a good looking man in his twenties; but I didn't really pay any attention to him, then when he walked past me I smelt his perfume and he was so much more attractive.

It's true, smelling good takes someone who is a 7/10 to an 11/10. And can take an 11/10 to a 4/10 :(

We all know the memes about boys wearing Dior Sauvage. Like, 'when he's wearing Sauvage and grey trackies😍👿🙊'. I know I can smell Sauvage out when it's around, and Creed. Both unreal.

So, going back to Jean- Paul's comment about how the charm of a woman and her perfume remains on her body after everything else has been took off, really does make perfume as intimate as we subconsciously associate it.

I think this it is a subconsciously thing sexy and intimate thing because perfume is applied to the bare skin and what is also associated with bare skin? Yeah, you've got it. When you smell someone smelling peng are you lowkey thinking about being naked with them lol?

Also, we all also have our own personal scents, this mixes with the perfume that you wear and creates a unique smell. When someone smells that perfume in the street or in a shop again, they will be reminded of you. Whether they smelt you when your clothes were off or on they will always think of you. So moral of the story is, make sure you smell good ALL THE TIME.