Up close and personal with Dita Von Teese for her eponymous fragrance launch at Liberty of London

Looking stunning, and the epitome of that bygone glamour which she has become known to represent, she is indeed a bona fide style icon; Dita Von Teese arrived at Liberty London yesterday for the launch of her new perfume. Clad in a beautifully elegant floor-length, emerald-green gown, with a plunging neckline showing off her world-famous décolletage, the burlesque superstar was accompanied by her own entourage of dashing butlers.

The fragrance, called simply ‘Dita Von Teese’, aims to evoke elegance, sensuality and glamour: “I wanted it to be a perfume that smelled exactly how I imagined it. A scent needs to reflect all the different facets of my personality. It had to be elegant, glamorous, sophisticated, sexy, dark and mysterious.” In other words, perfectly embodying Dita herself, the scent is a reflection of her own image. It is a timeless scent which “opens with a head note composed of fresh peonies, fizzy bergamot, and slightly spicy Bourbon pepper. The heart of the perfume beguiles the senses with a full and, at the same time, pure bouquet of Bulgarian rose, Tahitian Tiara petals and fresh jasmine. And, in the base note, the mystical and warm scents of patchouli, musk, and smoky Gaiac wood and sandalwood captivate all who smell it”.

The black glass bottle is beautiful in its simplicity of shape, offset by the elaborate design detailing of a black silk cord and cheeky tassel (we are talking about an internationally famous burlesque artist here) that is embellished with a blood-red pearl. The design is described as an homage to the 1930s and “reflecting Dita’s glamour and allure along with her love for all things vintage… the flacons represent the type of luxurious accessories found in the boudoir of an irresistibly glamorous woman.” The perfume is accompanied by a deodorant, shower gel and body lotion.

At yesterday’s launch event, a long queue of dark-haired, black- and leopard-print-clad women sporting bright red lipstick snaked outside the front of the legendary department store’s Beauty Hall, along with a revelatory cross-section of society in attendance, marking Miss Von Teese’s broad appeal. They were accompanied, of course, by plenty of her male admirers, and fans were still arriving for the chance to meet Von Teese well towards the end of the two-hour signing – many of whom ended up disappointed as security closed off the cordon at 11:30 due to the sheer number of attendees. Once inside, fans eagerly queued for the chance to purchase a bottle of the fragrance, which they could then have autographed by Von Teese, as well as a chance for a photographic memory with the star. She graciously posed for picture after picture with her fans whilst seated at an old-fashioned writing desk, replete with antique ink wells and red roses, and flanked by her coterie of butlers.

The new fragrance may not make you into Dita Von Teese, but it will certainly leave you feeling distinctly glamorous and sexy when spritzing away. The perfume is available now, exclusively at Liberty London and online here.

Those who missed the launch event yesterday can watch the video of Dita talking about the making of her fragrance here:

Perfume Promotional Pictures – The Making of by DitaNet

Ian Michael Turner