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12/05/07 00:05:05

Thinking about possible connections between fragrances and colors I came to an idea to write a bit more about colors.

This time I have chosen the color red, passionate, full of energy and motion, the color of valor. Red is also the color of fire, blood, life and death, the color of soul, libido and heart. It is regarded as the color of knowledge, prohibition and esoteric insights, the color of honesty and happiness. It symbolizes the south, harmony and openness.

Red, which can be produced by mixing the colors magenta and yellow, is the warmest of all colors. An interesting fact is that many mammals are unable to see red color. Human eye, however, is very sensitive to it and our affection for this color is innate. It may affect human psyche, and according to researches, it raises blood pressure. It represents life, flow and circling, circulation, blood stream (when hidden) and death (when shed and spilt).

Beside the positive sides of the color red, there is a negative context too, through which it is clearly connected to warfare and violence. When out of control, the color red becomes wild and dangerous color, the color of war; the uncontrolled feeling of power which can lead to egoism, hatred, aggression, wild passion and blind love.

In the Celtic languages there were two words for color red – derg and ruad. In ancient Greece color red was associated with the life force, freedom and the victory of Eros. In the terms of secular, it was symbolizing health, youth and love, as well as wealth. In Africa, some tribes paint their bodies with this color in order to strengthen the life force, while Indians used it to gain strength and arouse desire.

In beliefs of many of the European and Asian people the spirit of fire was dressed in red. In the Far East red symbolizes force, acting and tendency to widespread. In Japan the color red is called Aka and is worn exclusively by women. The red colored rice represents the wishes of happiness. In China this color is a symbol of prosperity and joy. Many national flags include color red among other colors.

The color red adorns one of the most precious jewels in the world, ruby, which is believed to be a source of the strongest feelings and a symbol of a passionate and unbreakable connection and relationship. The color red also adorns many flowers, among which rose as the most elegant of flowers, and, again, the symbol of love....

But, to get back to the topic of design, in this case the design of perfume bottles. What this color is achieving? Does it repel customers, or one’s hand is automatically reaching for some of the red bottles on the perfume shop shelves? Some of the fragrances in red bottles are the ‘fire ball’ of the Issey Miyake’s oriental-woody fragrance Le Feu, chypre-fruity Gucci Rush, love-celebrating Cacharel Amor Amor, jewel-like Cartier Delices, seductive Dior Hypnotic Poison, passionate and intensive Escada Magnetism, timeless classic and elegant Samsara, the pride of the Guerlain house, Emporio Armani Night, active and strong Hugo Deep Red, Versace Red Jeans, and many other…

It is important to remember the recently presented red colored Oscar de la Renta-Oscar Red Satin, Carolina Herrera-CH, and Victoria’s Secret-Very Sexy 2007.

Speaking of the red colored fragrances, I am using the opportunity to present two men's fragrances with a very nice red design.

Dunhill Desire is a fragrance for men launched in the ‘popular’ Y2K, at the beginning of the new millennium. With the red colored bottle this brand is aiming to attract the attention of the younger clientele aged between 25-45. It is aimed at self-confident men who like to be in the centre of attention. Desire opens with the notes of apple, neroli, fresh bergamot and luminous lemon. The heart brings in the notes of rose, patchouli and teak, while the base unites the accords of vanilla, musk and labdanum. Dunhill Desire simply wins hearts with its woody-oriental composition captured in attractive and modern ruby-red glass bottle.

Another very interesting and unusual bottle design comes with the Corvette Red, Italian fragrance launched by Vapro International. It is as if created for the car lovers, composed of notes of mouthwatering pear, tangerine, lavender, velvety violet, rosemary, patchouli, amber and sensual musk. The bottle has a form of Corvette miniature the perfection of which is accentuated by the color red.

And further more, in the spirit of holidays, red is the color of Christmas, decorations, lampions, celebrations, wrapping paper, Santa's fur coat. Red is the color proudly displayed at the fragile ladybug's wings. Red is Cupid's favorite color... Without the color red the whole world would be colorless and monotonous, dark and gray...

So, pick something red, wrap a beautiful small packet, and fall in love at Christmas time! Wear red, or add a small red detail, and feel happy... Each day is a new beginning.

Please, share your own thoughts and feelings about colors with us in the club forum. We have opened a new topic Perfumes and Colors there.

Author: Sandrina (sandrina_bambina)
Fragrantica Member