My recontre with the sensuous Skinn…

“Fragrance speaks the loudest on a subliminal level.” 
― Marian Bendeth

The olfactory senses not only complement our gustatory perceptions (you wouldn’t be able to tell apart a potato from an apple, if it weren’t for the smell) but also trigger chemoreceptors of the brain’s limbic system, which in neuroscientific lingo, stimulate the amygdala and hippocampus- structures vital to our behaviour, mood and memory. It would certainly not be an overstatement to assert that the fragrance emanating from your body defines your personality. We Indians please our olfactory senses in numerous ways- flowers, herbs, incense, attars or sandalwood pastes et al. 

I still recall the slippery sensation of the tumaceous Kannuji attar that my mom used to dab charily behind my ears with the squat golden pin-stick. I moved on to deo sprays (dab-ons were never my liking) -Nike Woman being my all-time fav, and colognes-the ostensible milder version of perfumes. Perfumes were reserved for special occasions-be it buying, gifting or using. Today, I proudly showcase Dior, Calvin Klein, Escada and Estee Lauder among other vials in my mirror case-some remnants of  gracious gifts, while others that of my guilty shopaholism! It is not just the whiff that escapes the vial that defines the perfume, it is how the scented oils coalesce with the apocrine sweat glands-that give the human body its unique scent, which can interfere with - or enhance - the scent you wear. Additionally, elemental factors like the intricately sculpted crystal-glass chassis, the translucent shade of the liquid and the grandiose packaging add to the ornamental appeal of your potion. The more intangible elements like the idea of fetching exotic ingredients from pristine untouched natural sources, the apothecial mixing and sanguine testing, and the whole science that goes behind, add to the perfuming legacy. A perfume is much more than a carafe of aromatic contents; it’s a microcosm of senses and sensuality!

I fortuitously chanced upon being part of a perfume launch myself. Titan launched their indigenous Skinn brand of perfumes at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai on Sept 16. Mr. Bhaskar Bhat, MD, Titan spoke of the inherent product concept, positioning strategy, distribution, promotion and customer value proposition of the Skinn range. It was followed by an entrancing performance, by a nimble danseuse, celebrating sensuousness and expression. The who’s-who of the Tata Group and the French perfumery clique delivered their pieces-apprising the enchanted audience of the mysticism and diligence that goes into the craft of making and selling fragrances. What seeped in was not just yet another expansionary venture of a conglomerate into one of the lucrative businesses of the day. It was the pioneering of passion into lifestyle, and moulding of a new legacy. Made in France by celebrated perfumers including Armani and Yves, the Skinn collection of six perfumes bears the hallmark of Titan. Skinn would be the first nationwide perfume brand to be customized to the tastes and likes of the lifestyle savvy Indian consumer.

The Skinn concept caught my eye with their ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ pre-launch campaign-wherein olfactory sensuousness was synonymised with sensual pleasures and sinful indulgences. The Skinn range of perfumes includes three variants for men and women each. My favourite one-the enchanting ‘Celeste’-is a balmy and fruity fragrance, typifying crisp chirpiness. The other la femme variants include ‘Nude’-the subtle rosy flair for the uber-feminine, and the musky, oriental ‘Imera’ for the stilettoed madames. The hommes variants include the woody ‘Steele’ for the knight-in-shining-armour viriles, the spicy, oriental ‘Extreme’ for the charmers, and the lemon-bergamot ‘Raw’ for the dudes.

The fabulous curtain-raiser aside, I also chanced a sneak-peek into the behind-the-curtain show. The Skinn Titan team seems to have done an impeccable job-right from the exhaustive market research into the psyche and lifestyle traits of the target populace, and sourcing the finest ingredients and know-how from the global perfumery cult to dishing out the finest to the discerning Indian consumer. Imagine inaugurating and making available the product in-stores simultaneously, and live-streaming and orchestrating the whole event seamlessly! The herculean efforts that went behind the savoir-faire including the production groove, packaging nitty-gritties, distribution and promotion behemoths can only be expected of a most adroit and diligent team! Kudos!

In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities that ruled during the legendary Golden Age. A ‘titan’ is ‘the one of prodigious size, strength, or achievement’. Titan, in India, personifies the allusion both literally and figuratively. Titan, the largest watchmaker in India, is a shoot of the Tata house-a proverbial gigantic, benign banyan tree-that bestows its shade of trust and quality on its consumers. Now, it’s time to experience its ambrosial fragrance too! Skinn is, after all, in!
http://www.skinn.in/