Smell Like the French! Top Fragrance Bestsellers in France in January 2014
From Parisiennes, A Celebration of French Women
The French fragrance market is reputed for resisting newness for newness sake preferring instead to turn to tried-and-tested qualitative products. Some call this having a conservative approach to fragrance-wearing - others might underline how the French know how to remain faithful to a beloved perfume. This bespeaks of a more affective relationship fundamentally to perfume - while the exploratory instinct would be supported more by intellect.
If you wish to smell like the French, it is fairly easy, because they are quite consistent in their preferences over the years. So, let's see what are the top sellers in the fragrance market in France as of January 2014...
There is quite a bit of stability, with a few surprises.
According to the five big chain stores Sephora, Marionnaud, Nocibé, Beauty Success and Douglas here are the perfume bestsellers à la mode française.
Sephora
2 - La Petite Robe Noire EDP by Guerlain
3 - La Vie est Belle EDP by Lancôme
5 - Shalimar by Guerlain - (boosted by sales price)
6 - 1 Million EDT for men by Paco Rabanne
7 - Flowerbomb EDP by Viktor & Rolf
8 - Si by Giorgio Armani
9 - Le Mâle EDT by Jean Paul Gaultier
10 - Boss Bottled EDT by Hugo Boss
Invictus for men and Si for women, a fruity chypre, are two 2013 entries and have already reached the top.
Marionnaud
1 - Boucheron Femme EDP by Boucheron
2 - Flowerbomb EDP by Viktor & Rolf
3 - Alien EDT by Thierry Mugler
4 - Féminité du Bois by Serge Lutens
5 - Eau Sauvage EDT by Dior
6 - Magie Noire EDT by Lancôme
7 - Chloé EDP by Chloé
8 - 1 Million EDT for men by Paco Rabanne
9 - Only the Brave EDT by Diesel
10 - 0 de Lancôme EDT by Lancôme
Marionnaud have a more atypical lineup although a few major titles are well present. The choice here reflects a more mature demographic with throwback choices to the 60s with O, 70s with Magie Noire, 80s with Boucheron, although the latter has been revamped and refreshed thanks to revitalized marketing.
Nocibé
1 - La Petite Robe Noire EDP by Guerlain
2 - La Vie est Belle EDP by Lancôme
4 - Nocibé Gamme Roll-On (simple & very cheap fragrances boosted by -50% sales)
5 - Lady Million EDP by Paco Rabanne
6 - Lolita Lempicka EDP by Lolita Lempicka
7 - Shalimar EDP by Guerlain
8 - Miss Dior EDP by Dior (new generation Miss Dior)
9 - FlowerByKenzo by Kenzo
10 - Trésor Midnight Rose by Lancôme
With the exception of recent flanker Trésor Midnight Rose and the label's own fragrances, the rest of the list is solidly classic and representative of enduring tastes, even when considering the top two which are newcomers but have very well acclimated themselves to the environment. They already feel like they possess the status of new classics.
Douglas France
1 - Angel by Thierry Mugler - they show the edt bottle but then link back to the whole range.
2 - Alien by Thierry Mugler - same comment, concentration unspecified.
3 - J'Adore by Dior
4 - La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain
5 - Lady Million by Paco Rabanne
6 - Nina by Nina Ricci (New generation)
7 - Miss Dior by Dior (New generation)
8 - Amor Amor by Cacharel
9 - La Vie est Belle by Lancôme
10 - FlowerByKenzo by Kenzo
The clientèle frequenting Douglas is essentially feminine and appears to be younger on average as perfumes like Nina, Amor Amor and new Miss Dior target their demographic although anybody can wear them really.
Beauty Success
1 - La Vie est Belle by Lancôme
2 - J'Adore by Dior
4 - La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain
5 - 1 Million EDT for men by Paco Rabanne
6 - Boss Bottled EDT by Hugo Boss
7 - Le Mâle EDT by Jean Paul Gaultier
8 - Lady Million by Paco Rabanne
9 - Si by Armani
10 - FlowerByKenzo by Kenzo
At Beauty Success, whose stores are located in the peripheries of cities rather than intra muros, the clientèle is more mixed. Again a solidly classic list. Here too like at Sephora, the 2013 perfume Si by Armani fronted by Cate Blanchett makes a popular entry in the top ten of bestsellers.
