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B for Beauty Jun 12, 2009 @ 9:17am

Smell Like Reese

by Abby Gardner

reese_witherspoon.jpg.jpeg Reese Witherspoon has joined the ranks of the celebrity perfumer, thank to her relationship with Avon. She’s been an ambassador for the brand for the past two years and will now launch her first fragrance in November, In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon.

We often question how involved these famous people get in the production of the scent that bear their names, but we’re guessing Reese isn’t lying when she talks about her part in the process to WWD.

Her inspirations come from steamy nights in the south, her momma, and lots of white flowers. And even daughter Ava got a say, “I asked her which one smelled the most like me.”

So while some of these collaborations rub our cynical selves the wrong way, this one just doesn’t. It kinda seems like a natural fit and a genuine partnership.

And we’re guessing Jake must have liked it too. Which is pretty much enough reason for us to give it a spritz.

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posted by guest

Jun 12, 2009 10:50AM

This one sounds pretty genuine. The only other celebrity fragrances I truly believe were created alongside the celebrity are the ones done by Sarah Jessica Parker. She speaks quite believably about notes and scents and layers and such.

posted by guest

Jun 12, 2009 11:26AM

First impression is something overly sweet, like Miss Dior, that reminds you of processed hard candies. But then again I've seen Reese interviewed a few times, and she's got a quirky dark sarcasm to her. So perhaps it will have a musk dry down, which would be way more impressive than a cliche floral.

posted by darcykins

Jun 12, 2009 11:35AM

i like reese, but i still don't support this. its bad enough needing celebrity endorsement, but celebrity inspired or created fragrances are too much for me.

maybe i'm wrong but i was always under the impression that being a prefumier was a fairly well trained profession, taking time and requiring a good nose.
that's not to say the mere mortals we call celebrities can't have an opinion on how they would like to smell but (flashback)when i was little i used to pretend to make my own perfume by mashing up flowers in water and oil in a bucket and it always smelled a bit like poo and i really feel it still would if i tried to create a perfume. i think it requires a great know how of scent mixing, some things just don't mix well on a chemical level.

p.s has anyone seen the movie 'perfume' about the serial killer who makes perfume? is it good?

posted by nycshoegal

Jun 12, 2009 11:53AM

darcykins, Perfume the movie was not so good. The book, however is aaamaaaaazing. seriously. Go get yourself a copy. Patrick Suskind is the author. The film kind of butchered it, as it is usually the case.

As per Witherspoon, i am sure no one let her go in there and actually mix the ingredients of "her" perfume herself.
A celeb picks which notes she'd like in it and then a professional creates different versions of her idea. After which Reese gets to pick "the one". Voila. Which is why anyone can "create" a perfume.
that being said, no thanks, Reese.

posted by Peter

Jun 12, 2009 11:56AM

Back in the day, perfumes weren't sold under designer names, but by perfumiers like Guerlain. In a sense, a designer and a celebrity lending their names to a fragrance is basically the same. Both may have had a role in developing the scent, but they're all still made by scientists. For instance, Coty, one of the biggest perfume houses, makes both Marc Jacobs and Chloé, but also makes Shania Twain and Celine Dion.

posted by darcykins

Jun 12, 2009 12:09PM

i will definitely pick up a copy, serial killing and perfume seem like a good combination for a book.

i guess what i'm feeling is i don't trust celebrities. celebrities need stylists. i can't trust their taste. what if she says i like the smell of strawberries licorice and daisies? are those actually the essences they will use or is someone going to stop her and suggest maybe lavender and sage instead?
i'm being totally too literal and nit-picky, i don't even care. i won't buy it. i'm just wasting time before i can leave work.

i love you reese, where ever you are. please pick some more challenging roles.

posted by Abby Gardner

Jun 12, 2009 12:11PM

Just seconding the thumbs up for Perfume (the book). It is awesome! The movie, not so much.

posted by Peter

Jun 12, 2009 12:16PM

Maybe she'll go entirely literal and it will smell like peanut butter and chocolate.

posted by darcykins

Jun 12, 2009 12:20PM

mmm, i love reese peanut butter cups.
oddly i prefer peanut butter m&m's over reese's pieces though. hmm?

posted by guest

Jun 12, 2009 12:35PM

I totally disagree on this one. "Reese Witherspoon" and "genuine" are not synonymous in my book. I enjoy her movies, but something about that woman rubs me the wrong way. Her life is too calculated...too perfect. A woman doesn't work her way up to be the highest paid actress in the world by being sweet and authentic...

posted by guest

Jun 12, 2009 1:14PM

darcykins: i totally agree with you on the peanut butter m&ms over reese's pieces thing.

guest 10: she's definitely not the highest paid actress in the world. and she worked her way to where she is now by being talented.

posted by justcallmemarge

Jun 12, 2009 2:07PM

I agree with no.10 and darcykins on this topic.

Well, the topic of Reese, not the pb m&m's vs reese's pieces debate. I prefer reese's pieces.

I enjoy Witherspoon's work and do consider her a talented actress. Vanity Fair is just a marvelous film and on my top ten list. Walk the Line was a great depiction of Johnny Cash and June Carter's lives, in my opinion. And of course Cruel Intentions is a classic.

However, I do think the celebrity perfume trend is out of control. I don't really want Reese Witherspoon or Britney Spears' personal perfume or to respond to the question, "What is that you're wearing?" with "Oh it's Reese Witherspoon In Bloom, the new No.5!"

posted by guest

Jun 12, 2009 2:25PM

Guest 11: Reese Witherspoon most certainly is the highest paid actress. She and Angelina Jolie tied last year for first, both making $15-20 million a film. Check Forbes. And are you honestly naive enough to think that a woman of her power gets to where she is solely on talent?

The world is full of talented actors, but it's the conniving and calculating women who become really and truly famous. Every move this woman makes is for attention (and not just her, but all of them. Angelina Jolie, Madonna, etc). Her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal? Publicity. Is there anyone left in this world who truly believes that man is straight?

posted by nycshoegal

Jun 12, 2009 3:40PM

#13 Cruel Intentions is garbage, not classic. The "classic" if you will is Dangerous Liaisons. Which Reese had nothing to do with, of course. The only decent role of hers I can think of was in Walk The Line.

posted by Hannah A

Jun 13, 2009 4:17PM

I'm so sick of celebrity fragrances. Enough already, god.

posted by guest

Jun 14, 2009 2:20PM

#14: I have to agree that Cruel Intentions is a classic. It may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but I have always felt that "Holy C Trinity" embodies all that was the 90s: Cruel Intentions, Clueless, and Clerks.

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 2:25AM

i agree, this is one of the few celebrity collaborations that actually rings true. maybe thats just because shes done such a good job branding herself, but whatever- kudos.