• About
  • Login to comment
    • Bluesky
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Archives

That’s not how you do it

Posted by Robin on 4 November 2009 53 Comments

Mariah Carey shows Ellen DeGeneres how to apply her new perfume, Mariah Carey Forever. If you missed it, she also gave Jay Leno a demonstration.

Update: this video has been removed from YouTube, sorry!

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: celebrity perfumes, mariah carey

Advertisement


53 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Jessica says:
    4 November 2009 at 11:00 am

    Do I loathe her? Do I love her? I think she’s actually growing on me, after almost 20 years. She’s so over-the-top… and I bet she *does* have a great perfume collection.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 11:11 am

      I had never heard her speak until I saw the Jay Leno clip yesterday…these 2 clips together do not exactly give a good impression, but the first thing I thought of is that it makes it even clearer how extensively photoshopped she was in the ad for Forever…which seems silly if she’s just going to go around taking her real face and body on talk shows.

      Log in to Reply
  2. bergere says:
    4 November 2009 at 11:09 am

    Huh. I always forget the “below the garter belt, above the stockings” spot.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 11:12 am

      Yeah, me too. But then I also didn’t know that people wore dresses shorter than their garter belts. And don’t understand if that is on purpose or if her dress just rode up? I am very out of it, LOL…

      Log in to Reply
      • miss kitty v. says:
        4 November 2009 at 11:27 am

        Ok, I’m just going to say it: That’s a look usually reserved for hookers.

        Log in to Reply
      • bergere says:
        4 November 2009 at 12:09 pm

        If her skirt is supposed to be shorter than her garter belt, then that’s her edgy style. If it’s not supposed to be shorter than her garter belt, is it a wardrobe malfunction?

        Log in to Reply
        • ScentScelf says:
          4 November 2009 at 12:51 pm

          She does make a comment about “not taking a [booty] shot” when she stands up, because her stylist went crazy on her, or something like that. Over the top (hookerish)? You bet. Aware of it? Apparently.

          Log in to Reply
        • bookgirl says:
          4 November 2009 at 1:16 pm

          It’s not a wardrobe malfunction. Showing the garter belt is actually considered trendy these days. And yes, it does look rather harlot-esque.

          http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/accessory-report-garters/

          Log in to Reply
          • Joe says:
            4 November 2009 at 1:23 pm

            Great. Now I know what to wear this season!

          • Robin says:
            4 November 2009 at 1:50 pm

            Thanks bookgirl! I had a feeling that might be the case.

          • Sunski says:
            4 November 2009 at 6:22 pm

            And here I’m such an old fart that I find visible bra straps to be tacky, trashy, and just plain in poor taste. Please let it be too cold in my neck of the woods for girls to actually try this look out! (But then again I’ve seen them wearing flip flops into Walmart in the middle of a snow storm).

          • Robin says:
            4 November 2009 at 9:57 pm

            Yeah. The purposely visible bra straps puzzle me too.

          • AlbertCAN says:
            5 November 2009 at 1:21 am

            Oh yeah, I totally blame John Galliano for making this look ubiquitous with his excellent Fall-Winter 2009 Haute Couture collection for Christian Dior back in July. At first I dismissed it as one of his stage tricks when I first saw the show (though I have to admit the Dior iconic Bar suit looked great with the garter belt) but now the 2010 SS ready-to-wear collections are filled with those. Sigh.

  3. Heiress says:
    4 November 2009 at 11:32 am

    That was quite fun! But, boy, I can’t stand her. I’ve never been able to succinctly describe why, either. Ellen, however, is delightful. Always.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 12:14 pm

      Ellen’s facial expressions are hysterical.

      Log in to Reply
  4. SmokeyToes says:
    4 November 2009 at 11:46 am

    Mariah is a diva and her voice is amazing… but the way she applied the scent was so campy/funny I almost snorted coffee out my nose…. I haven’t smelled the scent, no opinion on that score…

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 12:15 pm

      It really is funny…and hard to tell if she means it to be or if she’s serious.

      Log in to Reply
      • bookgirl says:
        4 November 2009 at 1:17 pm

        She is so over-the-top, but I think she’s being rather humorous here. I was rather entertained and I think Ellen was, too. hehe

        Log in to Reply
  5. RusticDove says:
    4 November 2009 at 12:00 pm

    I’m surprised at how cute & silly she is. That really did make me smile.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 12:15 pm

      Yes — she is likable.

      Log in to Reply
  6. Kelly Red says:
    4 November 2009 at 12:16 pm

    I love the look on Ellen’s face as Mariah daps down her neck and then dips into that major cleavage! Then when she tries to repeat the steps on Ellen and runs afoul of Ellen’s button down oxford LOL.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 1:03 pm

      Ellen’s clothing sort of amazed me. I don’t know if she dresses like that on her show all the time, but if so, good for her.

      Log in to Reply
      • miss kitty v. says:
        4 November 2009 at 1:22 pm

        Yeah, pretty much. 🙂

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          4 November 2009 at 1:50 pm

          Well good then. She looks like she couldn’t care less.

          Log in to Reply
    • mals86 says:
      4 November 2009 at 2:07 pm

      Does *anybody* else remember the days when Mariah was new to the music scene (and her cleavage looked normal)??

      Link to the video for her first hit, in 1990:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSd08_ceDj8

      I was in college when that came out, and at the time I thought it was great that a girl with a great voice was making it big, without regard to her centerfold eligibility. So now I’m bitter about the boob job…

      Log in to Reply
      • Robin says:
        4 November 2009 at 6:14 pm

        I don’t…I wasn’t paying attention. But somebody must!

        Log in to Reply
      • SmokeyToes says:
        4 November 2009 at 11:15 pm

        I do! Her video for Vision of Love was amazing, back in the day when MTV actually played videos…….

        Log in to Reply
      • SmokeyToes says:
        4 November 2009 at 11:21 pm

        Off-topic, but I might add, her voice is amazing! I think she has a five-octave range…. just incredible.
        I wish she’d wear her hair naturally curly more often–not a fan of blow-outs.

        Log in to Reply
  7. Sunnyfunny says:
    4 November 2009 at 12:32 pm

    Not a huge Carey fan! I feel like her diva thing is contrived, like This is who I’m trying to be. This and the Leno bit made me think she is totally not being real. Maybe that’s her thing. Like I said, I’m not a big fan, one way or another.
    I do think it’s very cool that she designed the bottle after a vintage, and I, too, bet she has an awesome collection.
    And yes, Ellen is delightful as always!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 1:03 pm

      She doesn’t strike me as diva-like anyway, but I don’t know her persona well at all.

      Log in to Reply
  8. Joe says:
    4 November 2009 at 12:40 pm

    I thought this was kind of a fun clip. I’m not a big fan of hers, but it was cute.

    I guess I also don’t have a problem with the photoshop on the Forever ad… so I’m puzzled.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 1:04 pm

      Puzzled by what?

      Log in to Reply
      • Joe says:
        4 November 2009 at 1:19 pm

        About the assertion that the Photoshopping is so out of control. Smoothing her skin? Her body? Boobs? What? I mean, I guess to me the ad looks like her to me immediately. I’m just not seeing something everyone else is, I guess. We’re talking about this photo, right?:
        http://cm1.theinsider.com/thumbnail/340/453/cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/536/35/mariah-carey-fragrance-forever-ad.jpg

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          4 November 2009 at 1:53 pm

          Yeah, that’s the one! We see it differently: it doesn’t look like a real person to me at all, much less the walking, talking Mariah Carey.

          Log in to Reply
          • Kelly Red says:
            4 November 2009 at 4:59 pm

            Robin Robin Robin, Mariah can not walk AND talk at the same time.

          • Robin says:
            4 November 2009 at 6:14 pm

            Ouch!

        • SmokeyToes says:
          4 November 2009 at 11:31 pm

          It seems a little Jane Russell, minus the hay.

          Log in to Reply
  9. Trish says:
    4 November 2009 at 1:49 pm

    I loved it! Neither here nor there on Mariah but she was fun to watch. I thought she and Ellen had a good vibe going.

    Also the spaying and walking into the fragrance is my fave “technique” too.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 1:53 pm

      Yes, they seemed comfortable with each other.

      Log in to Reply
      • Trish says:
        4 November 2009 at 2:09 pm

        Just noticed my “spaying” typo! How does one go about spaying their fragrance? LOL.

        It seems Ellen genuinely likes Mariah which makes me think she’s a good person. Probably fun to be around.

        Log in to Reply
        • LaMaroc says:
          4 November 2009 at 2:19 pm

          LMAO! Thanks, Trish, I needed a stomach-crunching laugh today.

          Log in to Reply
        • Joe says:
          4 November 2009 at 4:56 pm

          Sometimes I would like to “spay” Kouros… or Muscs Kublai Khan.

          Log in to Reply
          • Trish says:
            5 November 2009 at 11:44 pm

            Glad to be of service LaMaroc!

            And Joe, there are some fragrances that could use a good neutering now that I think about it 😉

  10. alotofscents says:
    4 November 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Well I give her props for making fun of her own diva ways in a new commercial..for a cell company??? maybe. But her hotel room has to be perfect with everything she wants and the bell boy is going crazy trying to get everything perfect- which he does with his fly cell phone. She thanks him and blows him a kiss…then he calls his friend and says he totally made out with Mariah Carey,

    Log in to Reply
    • Rappleyea says:
      4 November 2009 at 6:06 pm

      I love that commercial too!

      Log in to Reply
  11. lsnuing says:
    4 November 2009 at 5:09 pm

    I LOVE Mariah Carey, I have all her albums, would so die of bliss if she did another tour in Australia – but don’t own any of her perfumes. The only one that I came close to buying was Luscious Pink and the butterfly-topped bottle was more than a large factor!

    The bottle for Forever is hideous to me but I love how she dabbed it on in this video, and that means I will try it the next time I see it.

    And yes she is OTT and such a diva but she lives in that world and it’s so fun to watch! 🙂

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 6:15 pm

      Hope you’ll like Forever!

      Log in to Reply
  12. alltheprettythings says:
    4 November 2009 at 8:53 pm

    She’s cute and I give her props for dragging herself out of a serious depression. If Sanrio, silly perfume and diva-inspired tendencies are what it takes… hey, it works. But I do think she should just embrace her body and not worry so much about Photo Shopping herself to death.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      4 November 2009 at 9:58 pm

      You obviously know way more about Mariah Carey than I do.

      Log in to Reply
  13. faintlymacabre says:
    5 November 2009 at 2:24 am

    I loved her dabbing song! I am so going to start singing when I put on perfume….

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 November 2009 at 9:24 am

      LOL…maybe that will become the new thing.

      Log in to Reply
  14. hongkongmom says:
    5 November 2009 at 4:40 am

    was this clip for real?…good for them both..being themselves..and giving us lots of laughs!!! i think the singing and dabbing could work!!! but with all underwear appropriately and firmly in its correct place.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 November 2009 at 9:24 am

      Yes, being themselves…that has its own charm.

      Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

6 January ~ damage poll

31 January ~ winter reading poll

Back to Top

Home
Archives
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Books

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2026 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.