Perfumes

Press, 29 December 1979, Page 10

Perfumes

Sir, — I thank Natalie Taylor (December 26) for her twinkling smile and in reply I doff my hat, because her heart is in the right, place. However, a study of the perfume industry reveals that France, once the industry’s bastion, has faced serious challenges from the rapidlv expanding industries of U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain, and the giant, U.S. These countries not only supply indigenous markets but also export in a big way. The huge increase in world population has expanded the market numerically and along with this has come a rather more occluded expansion — namely, once a woman used to have only one perfume but nowadays she will have several. Animal fixatives simply could not supply this gargantuan demand, hence the introduction of synthetics 30 years ago. The perfumer, initially an artist, has become a scientist, Natalie Taylor will surely agree that his new role is morally, ethically, and humanely, a better one. — Yours, etc., DAVID BATH. December 26. 1979.