Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Perfume houses Q-R

Ralph Lauren
American fashion designer who started his own label, Polo, in 1967. Originally Polo made men's ties, today, the brand produces everything from clothes to housewares.

Fragrances were introduced in 1978 with Polo and Lauren. Other scents include Chaps (1979), Safari (1990), Romance (1998) and Blue (2003).

The Ralph by Ralph Lauren range, which targets a younger customer than the regular line, was inaugurated in 2000 with Ralph. Subsequent entries include Ralph Cool (2004), Ralph Hot (2006), Ralph Rocks (2006), Ralph Wild (2008).

Recent introductions include Pure Turquoise (2005), Polo Black (2005), Polo Double Black (2006), Polo Explorer (2007), Romance Eau Fraiche 2008 (2008), Notorious (2008), Love, Ralph Lauren (2008).

Ralph Lauren Fragrances is a division of L'Oreal.

Where to buy: department stores and online fragrance discounters.

Rance
Italian fragrance company established by Jeanne Rancé and her son Jean Rancé, descendents of Francois Rancé who was said to have been "Napoleon's favourite perfumer". Fragrances include Le Vainqueur, Josephine, Eau Empire, Eau Royale, Eau Sublime and Rouge. There is also a line of Eaux de Colognes and a line called "Next Age".

Where to buy: in the US, at hamptonct and your-cosmetics.

Red Flower
Established as a scented candle brand in 1999; Red Flower has since expanded into body care and personal fragrance products.

Fragrances include Ambrette, Champa & Guaiac (2008).

Where to buy: in the US, at beautyhabit, drugstore.com, luckyscent.

Regina Harris
Makeup artist with two fragrances, Amber Vanilla and Frankincense - Myrrh - Rose Maroc.

Where to buy: beautyhabit, lacremebeauty, luckyscent.

Reminiscence
French line of jewelry and fragrances. Established in 1970 by Zoe Coste and Nino Amaddeo. Fragrances include Patchouli (1970), Rem (1996).

Recent releases include Elixir Patchouli (2007), Les Notes Gourmandes Do Re & Mi Fa (2008), Etoile de Rem (2008), Sol La & Si Do (2008).

Where to buy: a list of boutiques can be found on the website (see below). In the US, can be purchased at yosmiami.

Renee
Australian niche line established by Renee Griffith.

Recent releases include Musk and Jasmine (2007).

Where to buy: in the US at luckyscent.

Revlon
Revlon was founded in 1932 by Charles Revson, Joseph Revson and Charles Lachman. They started with nail polish, and eventually expanded into other cosmetic & beauty products.

The now iconic Charlie (1973) was Revlon's first big success in fragrance and was followed by a number of Charlie flankers; other well known 1970s fragrances include Jontue, Enjoli, and Ciara. Another big seller for Revlon has been Fire & Ice (1994). Revlon continued releasing fragrances under its own name and others (at various points, it held licenses for Bill Blass, Halston, and Norell among others) but by the late 1990s, Revlon had sold off and/or discontinued its prestige fragrances and was concentrating on mass market.

Revlon planned to re-enter the prestige fragrance market in 2006 with Flair, but the launch was postponed following a major corporate reorganization. In 2007, Flair was released as a mass market scent.

Richard James
Company founded in 1992 by Richard James and Sean Dixon as a bespoke men's tailor on Savile Row. Fragrances were introduced in 2003 with Richard James. Richard James Cologne followed in 2006.

Recent releases include Richard James Cologne Lavender, Cologne Cardamom & Cologne Vetiver (2007).

Where to buy: in the UK at Richard James or escentual.co.uk.

Rich Hippie
Line of natural perfumes established by Nannette Pallrand.
Recent releases include Foxy Lady (2007), Hoochie Coochie (2007), Woodstock (2007), Summer of Love (2007), Brown Sugar (2007), Flower Child (2007), Groovy (2007), Krishna (2007), Shambala (2008).

Robert Piguet
French fashion designer who launched his house in 1933. The house closed in 1951, and Piguet passed away in 1953. The ownership of the fragrance business has since changed hands several times, and is currently owned by Fashion Fragrances & Cosmetics

Fragrances were introduced with Bandit (1944, relaunched 1996). Fracas followed in 1948 (relaunched 1996). In 2006, Baghari, a 1950 fragrance, was also relaunched.

Recent reissues include Visa & Cravache (2007).

Where to buy: at selected department stores (Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel).

Roberto Cavalli
Italian fashion designer who started creating clothing in the late 1960s. Today he is known for his wild designs, including lots of animal prints, and is often called "designer to the stars". Fragrances include Roberto Cavalli for women (2002), Roberto Cavalli Man (2003) and Oro (2004).

Recent releases include Serpentine (2005), Black for men (2006), Just Cavalli Pink & Just Cavalli Blue (2006).

Roberto Verino
Spanish designer who trained in Paris, then took over his family's leather clothing business. He launched his first ready-to-wear collection in 1982.

Fragrances include Verino, Eau de Verino, Verino Pour Homme, VV (for women, 2003), VV Man (2004), Mellow (2006).

Rochas
French fashion house established by Marcel Rochas in 1925. After his death in 1955, the fashion business was discontinued, and his wife Helene ran Parfums Rochas until 1974. She returned as Creative Director for a brief time in the 1980s. In 1990, the ready to wear business was reinstated. After 2003, the fashion line saw a revival under Creative Director Olivier Theyskens, but owners Proctor & Gamble decided to close the fashion business again in 2006.

Femme (1944), by Edmond Roudnitska, was the first Rochas fragrance, and was reportedly created as a present from Marcel Rochas to his wife Helene. It was reworked and relaunched in 1989. Other fragrances include Moustache (1949), Madame Rochas (1960), Eau de Rochas (1970), Macassar (1979), Byzance (1987), Globe (1990), Tocade (1994), Alchimie (1998), Lumiere (2000), Aquaman (2001), Aquawoman (2002), Absolu (2002), Lui (2003), Poupee (2004).

Recent releases include Reflets d'Eau de Rochas (2006), Desir de Rochas (2007), Soleil de Rochas (2008).

Where to buy: department stores and online discounters.

Roger & Gallet
Line founded in 1806 by Jean Marie Farina, a descendent of Johann Farina, inventor of Eau de Cologne. Jean Marie Farina set up shop in Paris with his own Eau de Cologne, and became one of Napoleon's fragrance suppliers. In 1862, Armand Roger and Charles Gallet took over the brand and expanded into new areas, including skin care and the now famous Roger & Gallet soaps (see review for Carnation soap).

Roger & Gallet was purchased by L'Oreal in early 2008.

Recent fragrance introductions include Pavot d'Argent (2005), Blue Lotus (2006), Cedrat Eau Fraiche (2007), Bambou, Rose & Vanille Eau Parfumee Douce (2007).

Roxy
Women's surf apparel brand launched by parent company Quiksilver in 1991. Roxy is best known for their girl's board shorts, but is now a full-fledged lifestyle brand offering everything from snowboards to watches to iPOD accessories.

Fragrances were introduced in the late 1990s, and the scents included Roxy Hula (1998). These earlier fragrances are now discontinued.

Fragrances were re-introduced in 2007 with Roxy, created under arrangements with Inter Parfums.
Recent releases include Roxy Love (2008).