Having heard it on Lounge-Radio.com I downloaded Valley of the Dolls yesterday evening, by MYLO, on amazon.com, as the apple shop did not have it. Lounge radio is my favorite internet lounge station, and to use their motto: “This is how I lounge”.
While listening to the piece and a few others, I booked my flight to LA with Valentines discount on ebookers.ch, got my rental car there, my hotel for the first night in LA on booking.com, at the place where I am always staying, and the campsite for a few days afterwards; there where I really like to stay in Joshua Tree, booked at recreation.gov. Afterwards I continued painting on the ipad a bit.
Besides the fact that I will have the chance – insha’ Allah!- to hike somewhen in April in Joshua Tree again (hurray!), I simply find the way we can shop these days amazing. That’s why I mentioned what I bought. Put this in context with the first flight I bought when I was twenty years old: The cheapest fare from Zurich to Miami almost 30 years ago was first by train to Brussels, not included, and then with Sabena from Brussels to Miami for a killing rate of 1380 Francs. Thus, a lot has changed. And I am sure that the way we can shop and compare prices has changed the prices, too.
In perfumery (yes, this still IS a perfumery blog) it is not comparable yet but it is going to be. I am convinced. Even for niche, for artisanal niche. Actually, I wonder why it is not yet like on lounge-radio: you hear a (niche studio) song, click a buy it! link and are on i-tunes where you click on a button and it is yours.
This is what I want: I read a blog. Any perfume blog. About a perfume, like air du désert marocain. I click a link, I am on “i-note” where I click a button and the sample is mine, shipped within 24 hours. And when I like the fragrance, I go on “i-note” where I get the full bottle. Yes, there is a difference, it is the bottle neck of all internet shopping: The shipment logistics. And perfume is not the easiest good to shop, and it is highly regulated. These days, the EU for instance makes sure that cosmetic products in the EU are the most regulated cosmetics products in the world. And the postal system is not fully operational everywhere.
Contrary to an e-ticket and an mp3 download, perfumes come in boxes and glass bottles and can break. And the packaging is part of the experience. I have a good example there: You know that I use a pentagonal box, made from tin, to pack my pentagonal fragrances? This box is pretty expensive to make, I have to pay licenses (a looooong story), it uses a lot of space and is very sensitive to dents and to pressure. It is expensive, not easy to pack and it sometimes arrives with dents. Not ideal for “i-note”.
In the end this is not dramatic, as the box is only packaging material. But looking at it all: Time to change this. Yesterday, I finished the time plan for the redesign of my pentagonal packaging: Within a year we will see a new box for the pentagonal flacons. Today we start.
Today’s picture: a picture taken at Joshua Tree, fitting with today’s post, at the art installation that I described in an earlier post on my blog here.
Ah, I think you are talking about the Purifoy installation. I love it there! Joshua Tree is such a special place. Have you tried Miner’s Milk ale at the Joshua Tree pub?
Speaking of travels, I was happy to see your fragrances at Il Muschieri in Venice this weekend!
Ah… Venice. It is such a long time since I was there the last time. Joshua Tree is my favorite spot on earth to tank sun and air and energy. I think it is very special.
I will need to try the miner’^s milk
thanks for the hint, Kristen
Hi Andy,
I very much share your feelings and toughts about how the way of buying things is dramatically changed in the last – say- dozen of years, thanks to Internet.
Anyway, I’d like to underline an aspect, usually not taken into account, which has to do with “the human factor”. When you say “where I click a button and the sample is mine, shipped within 24 hours”, nowaday, in this real world, this usually means poorly paid intensive jobs, stress, environmental consequences, etc. I feel the solution is not reverting to the good ol’ days of the shop next door, but…anyway, let’s put the human factor where it deserves to stay. Modern technology can be the key of a better world to live in, but also the source of a lot of -very old economy – pains and exploitations…What do you think of it?
Hi Lorenzo
I am in the factory right now.. I will think and answer in some detail, as your question deserves a long answer.
Merci
Dear Andy, – I love a way the Internet of purchases, for remote places is a fine way!.
I have two yours pentagonal boxs, and one of them is rumpled – I not afflicted Perfectionist, but sometimes, I with grief look at it…with what yours even at all carefulness of packing, – post services will find a way to damage, – it is probably if it is the titan, or carbon…-:)
Well, pretty everything is changing constantly for the better or the worse. So be it.
Congratulations to your decision to redesign your packaging of the lovely pentagonal bottle. The present box may be unique, but to me it always looked a bit unhandy. Then let’s look forward for things to come.
Thanks Andy!
And as usual many bravo for your work (and the way you document it, which for me is an important part of the appreciation).
L.
Mr. Tauer, I LOVE L’air du desert marocain and had ordered full bottle from LuckyScent. It was a genuine and nice touch to see your greeting there, “Enjoy – A. Tauer”. The blue pentagon bottle is one of my prized trophies. But, the tin box opened, and then does not close properly. Not even with a forced hand. No big deal, I use it open for my collection of paper clips, and tossed the cover.
However, if you change the packaging to square or rectangular, this would make the handling easier, I am sure.
I love reading your blog, and am following with anticipation the launching of Loretta.
Miriam is one of my favorite perfumes, it simply grew on me after a few days of wearing it.
Thank you.
Good morning, Ursula
thank you for getting an air du désert marocain. The tin box is indeed not easy to seal again. It needs some practice. Another factor, why we switch to a different packaging…. within a year or so, the box will be gone.
thus, let us enjoy the metal box as long as it is still there…
Yes, I put the bottom half of the tin box to good use with paper clips nestled in it. Really, after the packaging will have changed, in a year or so, the original box will be a collector’s item. Go figure.