Bangkok--9 Sep--The Swatch Group Trading
OMEGA and fragrance: anything in common?
More than you might think.
Like the watch, the fragrance . . .
conveys the essence of the wearer’s personality.
Just as there is a subtle complicity between the watch and its owner, there is an understated bond between a man and the fragrance he chooses.
is in direct contact with his skin.
His watch is the first accessory he puts on in the morning and the last one he takes off at night (if, indeed, he takes it off). He also puts his fragrance on before he leaves the house in the morning and it will be an intimate expression of his personality throughout the day.
is made in Switzerland.
Although it’s not widely known, the fragrance industry has a strong Swiss accent: Geneva is home to two of the world’s largest players in the fragrance and flavour industry.
has the Aqua Terra name.
OMEGA’s Aqua Terra fragrance for men appropriately shares its name with the Seamaster Aqua Terra Collection of watches. Like the new fragrance, the popular watch line also smoothly and effortlessly blends elements of sport and elegance.
The mystery of scent
Defies description
We all know how evocative smells can be: in an instant, certain aromas transport us to particular times and places. It also tends to be the sense which most defies description. When we are asked what something looks like, we can describe it in visual terms or we can draw a picture. When asked what something sounds like, we can imitate it. Scent is more elusive.
Viscerally powerful
Chandler Burr, the perfume critic for The New York Times, once perfectly described the mystery of the sense of smell: “It's the communication system that is at once most ancient in our species, most viscerally powerful, and least organisable by the rational mind.”
OMEGA’S emotional qualities
When OMEGA made the commitment to create a fragrance which had the same emotional qualities as its exquisite timepieces, it required the unique skills of someone who had mastered the mysteries of scent and who would understand implicitly how to express the brand’s essence in a fragrance.
A legendary nose; a sophisticated fragrance.
OMEGA turned to master perfumer Alberto Morillas, the legendary “nose” behind some of the world’s most successful perfumes for women and men.
The perfumer was faced with a particular challenge: to represent OMEGA accurately, he needed to create a scent which was elegant and sporty in equal parts and which would convey OMEGA’s values: authenticity, substance and innovation. It also needed to project the qualities which characterize OMEGA’s customers: courage, self-confidence and independence.
More than a hundred of the most exclusive raw materials were blended to create OMEGA Aqua Terra and the result is a long-lasting fragrance with energetic, sophisticated, sensuous aspects.
An innovative bottle.
OMEGA Aqua Terra is presented in an innovative bottle whose sides feature lateral windows with metric and English scales which make it possible to see the perfume within. This feature is a gentle wink in the direction of the highly technical watch industry which OMEGA has been a part of for more than 160 years. Hot-stamped on top of the bottle’s distinctive silver cap is an adaptation of OMEGA’s famous seahorse logo found on the casebacks of the Seamaster and Speedmaster watches. The textured cap itself recalls the grips of the precision tools used by the watchmakers at OMEGA.
Each bottle of OMEGA Aqua Terra is delivered in a reusable micro-fibre pouch which can be used to polish a watch face, jewellery or glasses.
Exclusive OMEGA distribution.
OMEGA’s corporate boutiques are located in the world’s prime retail locations. They feature the company’s very best products in a selection not found anywhere else. When the new Aqua Terra fragrance is launched it will be available initially through these exclusive corporate and franchise boutiques.
A conversation with “the nose”: Alberto Morillas on his unusual job, fragrance, and how to shop for the right scent.
Alberto Morillas is one of the world’s most prominent perfumers. The man behind the new OMEGA Aqua Terra fragrance for men answered some questions about his unique occupation and his passion for new scents.
Is an outstanding men’s fragrance good for every man ?
Every man decides for himself what perfume he wants to wear — it is a question of falling in love. When you wear a perfume, it is about comfort, freedom, sensuality and finding the “perfect fit”. Each person needs to find the fragrance that fits the criteria.
Are “noses” born or trained? Could anyone, with the proper education, be a perfumer?
I think it is a combination of both — perfumers are born with the special gift of transmitting emotions and sensations through their creations; however, all perfumers train in some way, either through a personal exploration or more formally; this is vital to be able to master the art of blending raw materials. That can range from the most classic naturals to the most innovative olfactive molecules.
If you take time off between projects, can you start immediately when you return to work or do you have to “re-tune” your nose?
No, you do not need to re-tune your nose!
Smelling is like painting or playing an instrument. It is an art — each time you resume the activity you have fresh ideas to experiment with; in addition, each time you analyze a work of art you perceive it differently. This can depend, for example, on your surroundings or your state of mind.
When you work you are in a very special world. What do you do to re-enter the “real world” when your working day is done? Do you “switch on” and “switch off” your nose?
As a perfumer, work does not end when you leave the office; you are constantly discovering new smells, both good and bad! While driving home, when you are taking a walk, while cooking a new dish or maybe attending an exhibition. All these experiences can be sources of inspiration that develop into the initial idea for a new creation.
Do the scents you create have a “signature”?
I think every person has his own style . . . this is the case with painters and fashion designers — each one has a signature.
I was very influenced by my youth in Andalusia, the sun and the contrasts of this country. Amongst my favourite scents are fruits, flowers and incense. I like to complete my creations with a blend of musks and woods. I find that in a subtle way, these ingredients are the key to enhancing the contrasting elements of my fragrances such as hot/cold effects or light/dark effects.
For people who are shopping for a new scent, is there such a thing as nose exhaustion? What tips would you give to someone for their fragrance shopping?
A relationship with a fragrance needs time to develop; therefore, I would advise people to select a few fragrances and ask for a sample to wear for a few days. Living with a fragrance is the best way to find one that is right for you. Trust your instinct and change fragrance only when you are ready.
Finally, in layman’s terms, how would you describe the new OMEGA Aqua Terra fragrance for men?
It belongs to the woody aromatic family.
On the top, the fragrance opens on a blend of citrus (bergamot-grapefruit-tangerine-petitgrain) and herbs (clary sage). They bring a fresh and natural sensation to this perfume.
After a few minutes, the heart of the creation reveals a spicy freshness and an elegant floralcy thanks to the aromatic herbs, jasmine, red pepper and violet leaves.
Finally, the drydown unveils its mysterious facets: a trail of sensual and luxurious woods, refined oak moss, patchouli, vetiver and musk rounds the perfume out harmoniously.
For further information, please contact:
OMEGA International Press Office - Rue St?mpfli 96 - 2504 Bienne - Switzerland —
Tel. +41 32 343 9211 - Fax +41 32 343 9715 —
[email protected] — www.omegawatches.com
OMEGA is a company of the Swatch Group, the largest manufacturer and distributor of watches and jewellery in the world.