Poppy Dharsono's scent created in France<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Flowery. That was the scent French perfume
\nconnoisseurs imagined would properly reflect Indonesian designer
\nPoppy Dharsono.<\/p>\n
Their creation, Poppy, is a blend of rose, lily of the valley,
\njasmine, violet, sandal wood, amber and oak. Experts in the
\nperfume city of Grasse in southern France combined these
\nfragrances and then put the result in 35 and 130 milliliter
\nbottles. It was then packaged in gold-accentuated black boxes in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The procedure is of course not as simple as that. Perfume
\nexperts in Grasse first had to know Poppy Dharsono -- her
\nprofession, what she produces, how she looks, how she dresses and
\n1001 other things.<\/p>\n
\"They interviewed me, they asked people everything about me.
\nSo, when I arrived in Grasse they had prepared several choices
\nfrom which I had to choose the one I liked,\" designer, photomodel
\nand businesswoman Poppy Dharsono told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Poppy, the perfume, which has been on the market in Indonesia
\nsince 1991, had been \"nosed\" by many experts and perfume lovers
\nbefore Dharsono decided on that particular aroma.<\/p>\n
\"I even brought it to Paris, to ask a friend of mine who was
\nworking for Vogue magazine. She said it was wonderful,\" Dharsono
\nsaid, adding that her feeling for perfume is very good because
\nshe has used perfume since she was 18.<\/p>\n
Her first perfume was Channel 5. Later she wore Givenchy,
\nGuerlain and other top brand-names, which she said made her
\nappreciate only the best.<\/p>\n
\"When I decided to produce my own perfume, I wanted the best
\nquality and in good taste. That is why I couldn't produce it in
\nIndonesia, there was always something missing. Then my consultant
\nsuggested that I go to Grasse,\" Dharsono said.<\/p>\n
It takes technology and skill to produce perfume.<\/p>\n
\"It is like making wine. California has started to produce
\nwine, but the best is still from France. It is also valid for
\nperfume and Grasse has so many perfumeries which can provide all
\nyou want,\" Dharsono said.<\/p>\n
Selling perfume is a part of selling the image she nurtured
\nfrom years of involvement in the Indonesian fashion world.<\/p>\n
\"What I get from fashion is only mediocre although it takes a
\nlot of time to design my dresses. What I can use then is the
\nimage. And it is not easy to get such an image. Fashion designers
\naround the world also earn their living from selling their image.
\nChannel for example,\" explained Dharsono.<\/p>\n
\"I, who has been involved for 20 years in the fashion world
\nand have created a public image, want to make use of it. Besides,
\nthe market for dresses is very limited, but perfume which can be
\nsold at less than US$50 can surely reach more people,\" Dharsono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Her high-profile prevented her from producing perfume of a
\nlesser quality.<\/p>\n
\"Cheap perfume uses synthetic fixative musk and a lot of
\nalcohol. Mine uses authentic musk and flowers. But, because I
\ndon't have to pay a royalty to anyone else and the packaging is
\ndone here, the price of my perfume is lower than imported ones,\"
\nDharsono said, adding that Poppy was created to adapt well to the
\ntropical climate. Its scent blends well with the high humidity
\nand hot weather in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Her perfume, targeted at the middle class, sells at Rp 25,000
\n($11.36) for the 35 milliliter bottle. Imported perfumes of with
\nthe same quantity usually go for no less than Rp 60,000 ($27.27).<\/p>\n
In 1994, Dharsono also launched Mask, a perfume for men.<\/p>\n
\"It is for men with good taste, not for a macho one. It is
\nmore for a man with new taste, modern and likes new fashion
\nbecause the fragrance is spicy, aromatic and fresh,\" said
\nDharsono, who is planning to produce soap and perfume for
\nteenagers.<\/p>\n
Today, four years after she launched Poppy, her perfume is
\nsought out more than her other cosmetic products.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes there is even a shortage of stock although I don't
\nadvertise my perfume. I rely on around 200 door-to-door salesmen
\nall around Java and some department stores. It is no wonder
\npeople have started to ask for it, because it is as good as
\nimported perfumes but cheaper,\" Dharsono asserted. (als)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poppy-dharsonos-scent-created-in-france-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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