Abstract
Perfume is a smell naturally made by a plant, an animal or fungus. It can come from the emanation of a natural substance (flower extract) or create or recreate from an aroma, solvent or fixative intended to perfume men, objects, animals and interior air. It is generally made from vegetal products or from synthetic molecules. The usage of perfume is very old, going back to antiquity.
The Perfume industry is the fourth largest sector in the French economy. The latest statistics available stated that it represented 6.9 billion Euros turnover in 2007 nation-wide and 16.3 billion Euros in the global market. Its turnover is divided between export (57 %) and domestic (43 %).
The French perfume industry is the second largest in the world before Germany and before Italy, the United States and RU. In 2008, the sales perfume increased 5.5% compared to 2007. The French Perfume industry controls 13% of the global market, a very strong share of the industry which they control by constantly redefining their image.
On a saturated market, it is essential for the industrials of this sector to differentiate themselves. This is the reason why they constantly redesign their product and at the same time their packaging. Launching of new perfumes is spread throughout the year, with a concentration in the Christmas, and Saint Valentine's Day period, to conserve the novelty effect for consumers.
