Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers: Going The Way of Novelty (2008) {New Fragrances} {Celebrity Perfumes}

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Mac Fafi meets and cross-breeds with Isabela Capeto while tapping into Coty's early tradition of novelty fragrances. Add a pinch of Avon flair too. Then also note the pluri-ethnic feel, with the advert featuring a blond model with blue eyes with a discreet Geisha look and Harajuku fashion-sense, as references to Japanese culture. But there is more.

Singer Gwen Stefani is partnering up once more with Coty to launch this time a line of 5 new fragrances called Harajuku Lovers inspired both by her personal interest in Japanese pop culture and street fashion, as well as her perceptions of her 4 back-up singers in real life. The five new perfumes are christened Love, Lil' Angel, Music, Baby after the stage-names of her back-up "Harajuku Girls", and G for Gwen Stefani herself although she has purposefully decided not to appear on the adverts for the collection.

The real names of the Harajuku girls are Maya Chino, Jennifer Kita, Rino Nakasone, and Mayuko Kitayama. You can find more fun paraphernalia about them on the Harajuku Lovers site...

This endeavor is a noteworthy twist on the celebrity fragrance too. It taps into a more democratic and pluralistic feel bringing in the fold essential yet in-the-background partners of the celebrity to which fans can identify even more. It is symbolically referring to the vast group of anonymous fans whose presence gets more effectively expressed this way, further alluded to with the pop-culture style of the collection. It would not be exactly the same nuance if we were seeing a fragrance set of the Rolling Stones or Beatles being sold.

From Women's Wear Daily:

"....the actual fragrance selection wasn't that hard," said Stefani. "I was just so inspired that it came together really fast. It was a little bit easier than when I was creating the L.A.M.B. fragrance. This time it wasn't just about me, so there was a little more freedom. And when you get to do five different things, you get to go in five different directions. You get a lot more space to choose."

"Love, a sensuous floral concocted by Yves Cassar and Pascal Gaurin of International Flavors & Fragrances, has top notes of sparkling bergamot, pink pomelo, peach and bamboo leaf mist; a heart of watery peony, living hydroponic lace rose, jasmine sambac, nectarine blossom, creamy paperwhites and Egyptian jasmine, and a drydown of petally ylang, creamy vanilla orchid, sensual musk and blond wood.

Lil' Angel, a fruity floral by Givaudan's Christophe Raynaud, has top notes of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and pineapple; a heart of pear blossom, candied violet and sugared rose, and a drydown of lollipop accord, hinoki wood and crystal amber.

Music, a delicate floral by Honorine Blanc of Firmenich, has top notes of clementine and sparkling pear; a heart of jasmine sambac, sweet pea and honeysuckle, and a drydown of vanilla, skin musk and sleek woods.

Baby, a powdery musk by Firmenich's Harry Fremont, has top notes of freesia, bergamot and white rose; a heart of orange flower, tiare flower and jasmine petals, and a drydown of white musk, soft woods, heliotrope, vanilla and violet.

G, a modern gourmand by Steve DeMarcado of Fragrance Resources, has top notes of crisp mandarin, fresh coconut and apple skin; a heart of jasmine sambac, soft freesia and magnolia vapor, and a drydown of coconut cream, white sandalwood and cottonwoods.

The scents will each be available in two sizes: $45 for 30 ml. and $25 for 10 ml. A coffret, which includes solid perfume versions of all five, will be on counter later this fall as a permanent addition to the collection, and will retail for $60."