In 2015, in collaboration with perfumer Julien Rasquinet, the renowned French niche perfume house Histoires de Parfums announced a new creation, that latterly set the beginning of a collection with five more perfumes in a row until 2020. Encased in a solid Klein blue-colored bottle on the cap and the flacon, the perfume is intriguingly named This Is Not A Blue Bottle. This intriguing strategy of titling evokes memories of Marcel Duchamp's famous anti-art piece, a porcelain urinal titled "The Fountain" that rotated the art world 90 degrees with its provocative statement. However, the perfume's title aligns more closely with René Magritte's surrealist painting, "The Treachery of Images", which features a realistically painted pipe accompanied by the text "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" ("This is not a pipe"), challenging perceptions of art and reality.
Parallel to this anticipated launch, the perfume industry has witnessed several releases that have garnered attention not just for their olfactory qualities but for their provocative titles. "Not a Perfume" by Juliette Has a Gun, "The Sexiest Scent on the Planet. Ever. IMHO" by 4160 Tuesdays, and "What We Do in Paris is Secret" by A Lab on Fire are among the titles that have stirred controversy and debate. Despite the varied reactions to these scents, their underlying message and commercial success are undeniable. Gérald Ghislain, speaking about This Is Not A Blue Bottle, noted the enigmatic nature of scent and its ability to evoke feelings without a clear rationale, stating that the fragrance was conceived as a "pre-concept" that only finds its story upon contact with the wearer's skin.
Beyond the intellectual allure, the core question remains: What does it smell like, and how does its aroma convey the message of This Is Not A Blue Bottle. Initial reactions to BB might suggest it's an ordinary fragrance, the kind one might hastily pass by in a department store. However, this initial impression belies the depth and uniqueness of BB. It's a fragrance that doesn't assert itself with a predefined story or concept; rather, its narrative unfolds on the wearer's skin, transforming into something deeply personal and distinct.
The fragrance opens with a fresh, balmy scent accented by boozy nuances. It features musk, aromatic tones, and a bitter orange opening that transitions into a warmer, heartier middle. Hints of oozy honey and crisp metallic geranium leaf emerge, although the promised bright aldehyde note, typically associated with a floral-like soapy, clean aroma, remains elusive to some. Notably, the perfume boasts above-average longevity and significant sillage on the skin, eliciting surprised reactions and compliments from those who encounter it.
Despite its similarities to contemporary and pleasing sporty fragrances, This Is Not A Blue Bottle stands out for its ability to transcend these initial comparisons, inviting wearers and onlookers alike into a dialogue about perception and expectation. Its vibrant Klein blue hue and insistent title challenge observers to rethink their reliance on sight, suggesting that the true essence of the fragrance—and perhaps of art itself—is to be discovered in its personal experience.
$210.00 USD
This Is Not A Blue Bottle 1/.1 by Histoires de Parfums is a Amber fragrance for Women & Men. This perfume was created from an irresistible Aldehyde, a hypnotic call of fantasized pleasure from Bitter Orange. A mysterious abyss of Patchouli emotion.Release Year: 2015Concentration:… read moreThis Is Not A Blue Bottle 1/.1
