Fragrance 101: Flankers Explained
Somewhere in the technical reviews of fragrance descriptions online, you may have noticed the term "flanker". It is a commonly used term in the fragrance world. Flankers are everywhere and part of the design and perfumery philosophy of well-known and established houses. They are part of what makes fragrance houses grow and the interest in them continue to gain new fans year after year. Maybe you already have a couple of flankers in your vanity and didn't even know it. Now it's time to introduce the flanker to you and why you need to try a new one out ASAP.
Flankers are a way of making an older fragrance new, renewed, and different thus adding more versions of it to the marketplace. The original formula is the classic of the group or like how we say it, it's the OG of the group. The classic is taken to another realm by adding certain ingredients or making it into another formulation altogether. The list of ingredients or notes from the classic fragrance may not change much, but the complete effect could be altered by addition or reduction of a particular note or fragrance families. Those subtle changes in formulation could take a scent from a daytime to night time. Or a floral to an aquatic or woody type of fragrance. Exploring a new personality within a fragrance that allows it to develop into new options for various audiences of wearers. In the world of flanker scents, there is something to suit everyone. Sometimes flankers are special editions that will not last forever, or may find a place sitting on the shelves with the classic for years and years to come. Christian Dior has had a very successful run with the Poison franchise for example with the endless variations of that legendary amber floral perfume. Some noted flankers include: Tendre Poison, Hypnotic Poison, Pure Poison, Pure Poison Elixir, and Midnight Poison.
Here are a few favorite flankers we love here at LUXSB including the OG and the options that keep us wondering "what's next?".
Juicy Couture: Viva La Juicy, Viva La Fleur, Viva La Juicy Noir
Juicy Couture may be one of the most well known OG's of flanker scents. The cult classic floral fruity gourmand, Viva La Juicy is the quintessential sugary sweet fragrance that should be in your rotation (if it hasn't already been). Notes of wild berries and mandarin orange pair with gardenia, honeysuckle, and jasmine. This delicious blend is finished off with amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and pralines.
Viva La Juicy La Fleur takes on Viva La Juicy and adds a touch of watery and aquatic freshness. Viva La Juicy La Fleur has added water lily to the top and eliminated the amber and praline to keep it light and illuminate those more delicate floral notes.
Viva La Juicy Noir gives a touch of depth and evening friendly wearablilty to Viva La Juicy by taking the base notes to a new level. The floral gourmand becomes a floral woody by using different amounts of caramel, amber, vanilla, and sandalwood to intesify its richness.
Burberry: My Burberry, My Burberry Blush, and My Burberry Black
My Burberry is a beautiful floral fruity scent with notes of glazed pomegranate, lemon, rose petal, jasmine, and crisp apple for the singular effect of taking a walk on a rainy day in London. Dimensions highlight textures and facets with a distinctly brisk and cool quality. My Burberry shimmers and stuns each and everytime with an elegance that only gets better with time.
My Burberry Blush is a reinterpretation of My Burberrry as a grand bright floral with peony, peach flower, and freesia, damask rose, white moss, and a little musk. Revealed is a different side of My Burberry, one that delights in being a proper British floral .
My Burberry Black is the more sensual interpretation of My Burberry. The original becomes an amber floral with the inclusion of amber and patchouli. Expect a darker and more intense version, a unique layer of added earthiness. It is the spicier flanker, ideal for evening wear.
Discover other flankers in the world of perfumery such as Chanel Chance, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana, Armani Acqua Di Gio, and Coach.
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