Bieber May Be Magazine Poison, But He's Perfume Counter Gold. (And In Other Pop Star News, Taylor Swift Now Has a Fragrance)

While Justin Bieber may not be invited to cover magazines anymore due to poor issue sales, he doesn't need to worry about his popularity with his fan base quite yet. The Biebs' fragrance, Someday, destroyed sales records in its first month and is being called the most successful celebrity fragrance launch in history. Take that J. Lo and Beyonce! WWD reports that Someday brought in $3 million in less than three weeks (compare that to the previous best-selling launch, Beyonce's Heat, which made $3million in a month.) A spokesperson for Give Back Brands, which produces the scent, told WWD (gleefully) that retailers can't keep it in stock. (Ed. note: I think it smells pretty good. When I said this to my co-workers they looked at me blankly and said, "You do??") Only time will tell whether or not the Biebs can maintain this momentum.

Author:: Cheryl Wischhover
Updated:: Apr 9, 2014
Original:: Jul 15, 2011

While Justin Bieber may not be invited to cover magazines anymore due to

Speaking of pop stars and fragrance, Taylor Swift is entering the game with her first scent, Wonderstruck. Known for her deeply personal lyrics, the name comes from her song, "Enchanted." It's a gourmand scent, so expect it to be sweet, a nod to her young fan base. Notes include freesia, greet tea, and vanilla. Elizabeth Arden is producing Wonderstruck, which will hit shelves in October. The company told WWD that Swift was "involved" in the development, ultimately choosing the final scent that had also been most popular with testers (phew!).

The Wonderstruck bottle is purple (Swift's favorite color), is adorned with charms (she loves 'em), and had a hidden number 13 within the design (she thinks it's lucky). Let's see how lucky she is once sales numbers are released.

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WWD is chock full of fragrance news today. Let's review. Rihanna's Reb'l Fleur: Rihanna's fragrance launches January 25, and you can expect it to be accompanied by a very loud advertising campaign. She'll be on billboards everywhere, including Times Square in NYC. A 30-second video will be launched online with hopes it will go viral (isn't it funny that this is now a marketing strategy?) The video will also be made into a commercial that will be shown in 1,900 movie theaters. The fragrance name refers to Rihanna's nickname given to her by her grandmother in Barbados. It's a strong scent with fruit notes, hibiscus, violet, coconut water, vanilla, patchouli, amber, and musk. Rihanna said it will be "like high heels with a short, flirty dress." Prices will range from $30-$59. Gucci Guilty For Guys: Gucci Guilty has killed it at perfume counters, in no small part because of its video starring Evan Rachel Wood and an innovative online marketing strategy. Gucci and P&G Luxury are hoping to capitalize again on the younger demographic with Gucci Guilty Pour Homme, which launches this March abroad and April in the US. Expect a similar 3-D commercial (to go along with Gucci's 3D sunglasses?) and slick print campaigns. The scent itself shares DNA with the women's Guilty, and has notes of lavender, citrus, green leaves, pink pepper, cedar, sandalwood, and amber. Prices will range from $27-$73. Cartier de Lune Is Blue: Cartier's new fragrance will launch at Saks counters in late January. It's a white floral musk priced from $75-$98. The most shocking thing? The bottle is blue--gasp! Cartier shied away from its signature red because they believe it made more sense for this fragrance, which is inspired by "the radiance of the moon."

By Cheryl Wischhover
Apr 9, 2014

Tweens are snapping up Justin Bieber's new fragrance, Someday, like kids in a candy shop in record numbers (it was the most successful celebrity fragrance launch in history). It's an apt metaphor, since, to our noses, it smells like a cherry lollipop covered in baby powder. , just launched in the UK last week, exclusively at Harrods. To celebrate, instead of offering a gift with purchase, the famed London department store whipped up a Someday-inspired sundae (a some-dae?), WWD reports. The sundae, called a "Bieber Bocker Glory" (we have no idea what that means) is made from ingredients inspired by the top notes of the scent. It contains wild berry and vanilla ice cream, pear, lavender sprinkles, and "edible glitter." (Edible glitter? We know what we're putting in our coffee this morning!)

By Cheryl Wischhover
Apr 9, 2014

It’s a very juicy day for fragrance today. From Galliano to Mariah Carey, everyone has some scent news to report. Will Galliano’s Perfume Survive?: First up, it seems that Galliano’s fragrance, whose sales took a nosedive after the scandal hit this past winter, is rebounding. While Galliano’s second fragrance, Parlez-Moi d’Amour, launched in Europe last fall, the company has held off on its US launch, which was supposed to happen this spring. In obvious markets like Israel, WWD reports that the scent took a hit. Certain retailers in Germany and the UK were also reluctant to stock it. But now it seems that the industry has a short memory and retailers, who point to the quality of the fragrance and popularity with consumers, are willing to sell it again.

By Cheryl Wischhover
Apr 9, 2014

Despite his ability to attract a crowd of a zillion screeching tweens, to sell perfumed dog tags and nail polish, and to generally wreak havoc wherever he goes, there's something the Biebs can't do: sell magazines. WWD reports this morning that his February 2011 Vanity Fair cover was the worst-selling issue for the glossy in 12 years. Selling just 246,000 copies, which is almost 100,000 copies less than Vanity Fair's average, the issue was a massive flop for the magazine. While this is perhaps not surprising (because what 11-year-old seeks out Vanity Fair?), the superstar's mug can't sell more age-appropriate magazines either.

By Cheryl Wischhover
Apr 9, 2014