Presentation and image - how important?

[Johnny Boy]

Hi,

Must admit I have bought a few new fragrances of late and if for instance just browsing for nothing in particular
I am drawn to bottles that are easy on the eye.
I always find the likes of Cartier, Hermes, Gucci as examples have really nice modern well presented bottles that
are pleasant to look at.
In addition the more classical one's such as Floris and Truefitt & Hill also appeal for a more traditional look.

Not trying in anyway to suggest that the actual fragrance is not the most important factor, as obviously it is.
However, does anyone also like to own something that not only smells good but looks good too?

 

[The Nid Hog]

I think it's nicer to have a cool bottle than to have an ugly, clunky one, but I don't think that I've ever bought anything because it looks nice. Maybe the last time I picked something up and tried it because the bottle was interesting was when Lauren's Safari came out many years ago. My final call on that was that the bottle edged toward the tacky and the frag itself to the familiar. Now, for the most part, I have something in mind when I go shopping, whether it's something new I want to try or something that I'm planning to buy. Even so, it's nice to have an attractive bottle on the shelf--but I love my generic bottle decants just as much.

 

[Niles]

For me the brand matters more than the bottle. But an ugly bottle would probably not make me want to test the fragrance.

 

[mistercitizen]

I think that the bottle is a reflection on one's style, just like anything you would put on display in your home. I think it is true that there are a some fragrances that the actual "juice" is unique and great and can't be matched by another.... but the reality is there are many that are very similar and can be easily substituted by another one with a more pleasing presentation. Le Male for example.... I've never tried it.... I've read many great reviews on it.... people rave about it and it gets all kinds of praise.... but I will never buy a bottle of it because the bottle is not my style. Even if I smelled a sample of it and liked the way it smelled, I wouldn't buy the bottle of it because I don't care for how it is presented. I'd search for something else that I would like just as much. For me, the presentation matters quite a bit, but the fragrance has to be to my liking as well. I'd say ulitmately I place about the same weight in both fragrance quality and presentation when it comes to buying a bottle. In other words, I'm not going to buy a pretty bottle if there's cow urine in it just to have the pretty bottle, but I also won't buy liquid gold wonder juice that is presented in a bottle that looks like a cow's udder and you have to squeeze the to get the fragrance out.

Ben

 

[Johnny Boy]

Yes that's what I was getting at really. That an ugly bottle wouldn't make you necessarily want to sample the fragrance.
Le Male is a good example.

Whereas the likes of Cartier I think are attractive to look at, if you don't like the smell then fair enough.

 

[BillC]

I primarily sample and buy online - so I don't ever see or touch the bottle unless I order a full bottle. I typically buy decants rather than full bottles. Whether decants or full bottles they're stored in a closed armoire so I never see them except when I take one out to apply.

I may not be the typical consumer but the bottles really don't effect my purchasing decisions at all. That said, I do like the nice bottles when I get one. Maybe if I ever finish a bottle I'll display the nice empties - but I'm not sure that will ever happen either ;-)

 

[jpipes3]

I couldn't care less about the bottle.

 

[john parker]

Interesting responses so far inasmuch as a lot of money (read expense to the consumer) is put into fragrance bottle design.

 

[BennyVega]

I could care less about how the bottle looks...unless of course it's pink and feminine looking

 

[keithmax]

I don't care about the bottle either. Just the fragrance. I would be happy if the would focus more on the fragrance and the bottle and offer a lower price if I buy it a plain generic bottle.

 

[blantyre]

I don't go for a bottle per-se but a decent atomizer is a big plus - this is one area where Creed has it just right IMO - they provide precise control rather than a fixed amount squirt. At the other end of the spectrum (but still greatly overpriced) Profumum simply offers bottle with about a 3/8" opening and a screw top. They dump a cheap little rollerball thing into the package as well. A nice bottle is a plus but not a major factor in my buying decision. That said, I think I'd keep a bottle of Trumpers Eucris on my closet table even if I hated the frag. Fortunately I quite like it.

 

[mistercitizen]

...unless of course it's pink and feminine looking

Like a cow's udders?? (sorry.... I'll be serious now)

Ben

 

[StylinLA]

After going full bore frag head, I gave up on most of my bottle design or presentation concerns. Prior to discovering online forums, the presentation meant a lot to me. Bottle design in the world of designer fragrances sold at Macys and Sepora is huge. the less established the company, the more importnat that design becomes. But with so many bottles for me now, how something looks sitting on a dresser has no meaning to me anymore.

Plus through guys here and Basenotes, I have discovered many great niche scents that pay little attention to their presentation. Knize Ten, Parfumerie Generale, Profumum pay little heed to snappy design. The original Andy Tauer bottles and labels could not have been less costly. How I ilike wearing it means more than presentation.

But having said that, I do note that on my high end stuff, I appreciate the box and bottles of CC X for Men and Puredistance M.

 

[Johnny Boy]

Thanks for the replies. I did expect mixed opinion, which is exactly right really and better as it would be boring if we all had the same views.
I just think when you look at something like Aqua Di Parma and Cartier bottles they are appealing and make you want to test the fragrance whereas others much less
so, they also look good in the bathroom!
That said the main thing is that they smell nice!

 

[mistercitizen]

I have a bottle of AdP aftershave lotion that the silver stuff on the cap is peeling off and the label on the bottle has a little bubble in it and won't stick smoothly to the bottle. Now, that bothers me quite a bit because I know that with AdP, part of there allure is the packaging and presentation and I feel like as a consumer, that's partly what I'm paying for when I buy their products. If that was happening to a bottle of Aqua Velva or something along those lines, I wouldn't care so much because after all, what can you expect? It's an inexpensive drug store aftershave. I think understanding the fragrance house and what their approach is to their presentation can help with the expections of the consumer. Some niche houses make it clear that they devote more effort toward the actual fragrance and less on the presentation, while others really try to express fashion and style in their bottles along with a quality fragrance. My expectations of AdP with regard to presentation are higher than another brand because I know that they try to express a classic and sophisticated style.... and they expect the consumer to pay for it. For me, I'm okay paying for a little of that, but the product has to be good. If I don't think that the product is good.... it doesn't matter to me how it's presented because I'm not buying it.

Ben

 

[jakespoppy]

Interesting responses so far inasmuch as a lot of money (read expense to the consumer) is put into fragrance bottle design.

I suspect the "poll" in this thread doesn't represent the vast majority of the men's fragrance market, so the perfume sellers are probably getting their moneys worth by making the bottle attractive.

I think most of us here are much more "into" frags than most of the male population. I'm most likely to be influenced in fragrance purchases by what I read the rest of you think and how you describe a scent here on B&B, as well as other online frag reviews and blogs, than I am by general fragrance marketing, which inlcudes tv and magazine advertising, store displays, and the bottle design. Like some of you have said, I buy more decants and samples than bottles, and sometimes don't have much idea of what the bottle even looks like.

Also, I don't keep my bottles out on display like I used to. One reason is to save space, but mostly just to keep the juice out of the light to protect it.

I do like cool looking bottles, and appreciate a good sprayer, but don't make purchase decisions on that basis.

 

[tehtimmeh]

I do like cool looking bottles, and appreciate a good sprayer, but don't make purchase decisions on that basis.

Now I know why you love Bond No.9 so much Randy.

 

[tehtimmeh]

I don't base my judgement of scent on the bottle or the packaging as I suppose some do, but I can certainly appreciate awesome packaging and I definitely feel it adds value to a purchase.

I really like the Tom Ford private blend and By Kilian's packaging. It really makes me feel like I own something special outside of the juice within the glass walls.

Horrid packaging won't sway me from buying a scent that I like, however. Azzaro Pour Homme is a great example of absolutely terrible packaging IMO, but I still love the juice.