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Really fascinating how they do it

Posted by Robin on 1 October 2009 27 Comments

I like pretty fresh, clean scents. I don't like a barrage of smell, so I started talking with Givenchy about how do you achieve that fresh, clean scent? And they 'learned me' about citrus and wood flavours that you kind of add in to create that type of aroma. It's actually really fascinating how they do it.

— Justin Timberlake, the face of Givenchy Play, on fragrance construction. Read more at Justin Timberlake uses his fragrance on Jessica Biel.

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: celebrity perfumes, givenchy, justin timberlake

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27 Comments

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  1. pyramus says:
    1 October 2009 at 9:46 am

    Do you suppose he actually said “learned me” with audible quotation marks around it as if he were making a joke, or as a way of not sounding too smart to his theoretically young and stupid audience by speaking the way they would, or is it that he actually doesn’t know the correct English and the article’s writer is pointing that up?

    The second and third possibilities are really depressing.

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    • Sunnyfunny says:
      1 October 2009 at 10:26 am

      Maybe he forgot the word! 😀 Cool that he gained some sort of appreciation for the process, though.

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    • pigoletto says:
      1 October 2009 at 11:38 am

      Since he’s southern, I think it’s probably a jokey way of playing up the stereotype of dumb southern speaking. He usually comes across as more intelligent.

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    • bookgirl says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:31 pm

      I agree, I think Justin is playing up the Southern stereotype. Though my boyfriend has met him and says he’s really not very bright. At least he has a good sense of humor about it!

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      • pigoletto says:
        1 October 2009 at 12:41 pm

        Must be the relatively good manners covering it up. When you see pictures of Britney walking around barefoot in gas stations bathrooms, on the other hand, you fully believe she talks like that (seriously) all the time.

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:41 pm

      I don’t know anything about JT, so no idea if that’s how he usually talks or not.

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    • Zeezee says:
      2 October 2009 at 4:23 am

      It caught my eye too. I know I used to confuse the uses of “teach” and “learn” in English back when I was learning because there is no distinction between the two in Germanic languages. I think it’s too charitable to have the same excuse apply to dear J, though.

      (Also brings to mind that cat macro: “Edumaction – learn me a book!”)

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  2. 2scents says:
    1 October 2009 at 10:38 am

    From the urban dictionary: “That’ll learn them – 1 definition – A way of saying “That’ll teach those people a lesson, my good friend!” as a mild grammar joke.”

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?…That‘ll%20learn%20them

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:40 pm

      Thanks!

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  3. CynthiaW says:
    1 October 2009 at 11:19 am

    It definitely smells like a fragrance that someone who doesn’t wear or like fragrance would make.

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:40 pm

      Don’t think he had anything to do w/ the development at all anyway…the press keeps calling it “his scent” but he’s just the face.

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  4. alltheprettythings says:
    1 October 2009 at 11:40 am

    I think it’s a shame that Givenchy plays it so safe nowadays. At least their cosmetic line is still up to snuff.

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:40 pm

      It’s not my favorite perfume line.

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      • alltheprettythings says:
        1 October 2009 at 12:50 pm

        Not mine either and it’s sad because I have free Givenchy at my disposal.

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  5. vickyjane says:
    1 October 2009 at 12:24 pm

    He seems to be a pretty likable guy, so I’ll forgive him for becoming a celebriscentist – and, when all’s said and done, he DID bring sexy back…

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 12:40 pm

      DID he??

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      • Daisy says:
        1 October 2009 at 1:46 pm

        maybe you were confused by his being the “embodiment of modern elegance”….. ****snickering madly****

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  6. alltheprettythings says:
    1 October 2009 at 12:49 pm

    Well, if you want to split hairs, he actually said he’s BRINGING sexy back. As to whether or not he accomplished that… <> 😀

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  7. zara says:
    1 October 2009 at 1:18 pm

    so I guess, that’s why the new Givenchy smells so bad huh

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 3:05 pm

      I thought the Intense was nice, didn’t care for the “regular”.

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  8. Seventy_Seven says:
    1 October 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Golly, that insightful Timberlake. He done been schooled by the fancy-smelling people.

    Bleck. Celebrity drivel. When can we expect the perfume industry to move away from pretty faces and toward scents that are novel and intriguing?

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 3:05 pm

      Never.

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  9. APassionateJourney says:
    1 October 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I saw the video and he said it in a joking way. That being said, I bought both Givenchy Play and Play Intense. He said they approached him and he didn’t want to do it at first because he doesn’t wear cologne, but he was sorta interested in the process. They finally did Play and he really liked it and asked if they could do one more. They did, and that’s how they got Play Intense. I think he said when they brought him the first Play it wasn’t all the way done and he had them make some changes to it

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    • Robin says:
      1 October 2009 at 3:05 pm

      I seriously doubt they did Play Intense because JT asked them to, but who knows? Good to know he was joking, anyway.

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    • Dolly says:
      6 October 2009 at 2:22 pm

      He didn’t wear cologne, but was interested in the process. It sounds more like the price was right.

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  10. laken says:
    1 October 2009 at 6:41 pm

    Sounds like a nice stink. I’m gonna try this now I learned me about it. (Just kidding Justin!)

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    • Robin says:
      2 October 2009 at 8:59 am

      🙂

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