Re: Synthetic fragrances

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

>

> I am having people come into the store that want me to " copy " a

> fragrance they can no longer buy. I really don't even want to

> smell the synthetic fragrance in the bottle they have brought me.

> I tell them I have done custom blends of commercial fragrance using

> only naturals before.

>The point is I really don't even want to smell the synthetic edt

> they bring in let alone make a natural from it. My nose goes off

>and gets stuffed up etc.

>

> I do tell them I make So Unique custom parfums with all natural

> ingredients....So my question to the group is how do I tactfully

> deal with this without having to smell their stuff they love...and

> without appearing snobbish.

>

>...

> Thank you.

> JoAnne

Without appearing snobbish - that might be a bit difficult but if you

don't mind possibly a bit of self deprecation then you could say that

it is almost impossible to duplicate a modern, heavily synthetic

laden fragrance using only natural ingredients. Then try to sell them

on one of your natural formulations. If they still want their

duplicate you could refer them to someone who does work with

synthetics, perhaps:

https://www.dshperfumes.com/custom_eo.asp?page=18

[Guest guest]

So my question to the group is how do I tactfully deal with

> this without having to smell their stuff they love...and without

appearing

> snobbish.

>

hi joanne

i also have customers coming into my shop with bottles of perfume that

they want to duplicate, both synthetic and natural. i stay away from

synthetics myself as well, and avoid sniffing them as much as possible.

i first tell them that it is impossible to recreate a commercial

fragrance exactly because the perfume companies do large scale

production and we blend on a small scale, so the perfume " in the vat "

could contain trace amounts of essences whose amounts could not be

replicated in a small bottle. that seems to make sense to everyone, so

it sets their expectation lower. (it works all the time)

you could theoretically leave it at that, discouraging them without

appearing snobbish. then steer them towards your scents.

Since the focus of my shop is " create it yourself " , what i then do

is find the " notes " of their fragrance in the online databases, and

let them experiment with the scent strips and blend it themselves.

you'd be amazed at their happiness when they even come remotely close.

sometimes they come very close (at least they think so). and many,many

times they come up with something they like even better (because they!

created it)

i encourage them to work with the naturals as much as possible, but

provide them the synthetics as well.

also, there are companies that will " reproduce " fragrances, given a 1

oz sample. they do not reproduce the formula, instead copy it

syntheticaly, and it's fairly hit or miss. the cost is $25.00, but if

you approve it and want to purchase, then there is a minumum quantity.

this works o.k with simpler synthetic blends.

i hoped this helped even a little, because i know how carefully you

have to deal with customers and their expectations.

-linda

The Perfumer's Apprentice