Why are Colognes & Perfumes so Expensive?
Sometimes, while shopping, we see a fragrance that looks amazing, ticks all the right boxes, and might just be the scent we’ve been dreaming about. Then we get sticker shock at how outrageous the price is and slowly back away. It’s true, some colognes and perfumes are extremely expensive. However, there’s a reason why that’s the case. Nobody sat in a room and just threw out numbers until someone cringed. Instead, they evaluated the costs and determined a fair market price for what’s considered a luxury fragrance.
So, why are colognes and perfumes so expensive? That’s what we’ll answer for you right here and now! We’ll look at several factors that influence the cost of colognes and fragrances in the most significant ways possible.
Rare or Difficult To Harvest Ingredients
Ingredients are the first item that can dramatically change how much a perfume costs. Of course, some ingredients are more expensive than others. A lot more nuance goes into a luxury perfume that isn’t always found in budget-friendly options. Furthermore, luxury perfumes want and need to stand out, and to stand out, the rare ingredients help.
It doesn’t take a few flowers to make your bottle of perfume. Unfortunately, it takes hundreds and thousands of them. When these flowers are needed, the type can cost a small fortune, especially when they’re not in season. Your most expensive flowers are jasmine, orris, and Bulgarian rose.
Earthy and smokey scents aren’t much better. Some ingredients are native to only certain parts of the world. For example, oud oil is an oil derived from the wood of Middle Eastern Aquilaria trees. They exist elsewhere, but not as dominantly as they do in the Middle East.
Ingredients from animals like ambergris which is from sperm whales, and musk, which is from male deer, are expensive to obtain. These all add up, and you see that in your perfume's price tag.
Opulent Packaging & Protective Measures
Luxury perfumes all have something in common, they’ve got amazing bottles and packaging. Most perfume bottles don’t look the same. They need to stand out, and to do that, the packaging can get a bit opulent at times. Who doesn’t want to buy a perfume that not only smells amazing but looks impressive thanks to its excellent packaging? It goes from the type of glass to the extras on the bottle, right down to the box it comes in!
Additionally, it’s not just the look of the bottle. It’s what the bottle has that protects the perfume's integrity. This includes items like airtight bottles, which help ensure the perfume doesn’t evaporate or allow the scent to dissipate. However, higher-quality materials mean an increase in production cost, which trickles down to higher consumer prices.
Footing The Marketing Bill
Marketing is never a cheap endeavour for any brand or product. You’ve got to tell the world about your creation and create a desire to have that fragrance. Some fashion brands go all out on ads. They’re not just doing billboards and announcements. They’re buying video ads that feature beautiful people and often celebrities. For example, Dior has worked closely with Johnny Depp for years promoting their fragrance Sauvage. These investments may gain attention, but they also garner hefty marketing bills. When buying one of these perfumes and colognes, we’re not just paying for what's inside the bottle. We’re paying for everything from scent conception to marketing and delivery fees
Production & Distribution
When a company produces something, it’s got to get out of the factory, into warehouses, and out to retailers. This requires distribution. Bear in mind that’s already on top of the cost of production in the first place. From creators to producers and eventually distributors, a lot of hands go into getting perfumes out of the perfumer's heads and onto shelves.
Store Price Vs. Price of Good
Stores need to make a profit. They’re not going to sell the product for what they paid for it initially. Now, most countries have laws against price gouging, and most producers of perfumes ensure their products are sold at fair market prices. While that’s all good and well, it doesn’t change the fact that the product was expensive from the source and now it’s going to be marked up by retailers. The high cost of luxury perfumes isn’t just the producer's cross to bear. It’s also the storefronts and online retailers. For these products to exist, everyone needs to benefit.
Niche Fragrances
Most niche items that are of substance are priced far higher than the average product. So what makes a niche fragrance? Well, it’s several things starting with availability. When demand is high and a product isn’t heavily produced like a flagship product, then the price increases. Funny enough, they create that demand through their marketing. Additionally, small perfume companies that aren’t capable of high production also charge a reasonably high price for their perfumes.
Finally, the last type of niche fragrance we can discuss is limited edition. Limited edition anything ends up being one of those price-increasing techniques. The good news, however, is that niche perfumes and colognes famously are quality products. While the price is higher, you’re not receiving any less quality out of a product. In most cases, it’s superior to mass-produced fragrances at any price point.
Exclusivity
Listen, we’re not going to deny there’s some truth in the idea that companies price certain perfumes and colognes higher than others to create a sense of exclusivity. But, much like the world of fashion, fragrances are also classed. First, there are budget fragrances, usually deodorants, roll-ons, and powders. These don’t really fit a class per se because most consumers invest in deodorants of some kind. Then we’ve got the middle-class which are somewhat fancy fragrances at reasonable prices. Finally, we’ve got our luxury products.
How does a company determine what makes a fragrance exclusive and deserving of a price that relays such a message? Well, usually, it’s brand power. Think about companies like Gucci, Dior, Tom Ford, Chanel, and many others. They’re known as expensive brands for just about anything they sell. Of course, they’ve got middle-class options too, but they specialise in products designed for wealthier clientele.
Conclusion
The price tags might seem outrageous, but the truth is they’re often worth paying. Luxury fragrances should be treated as investments. They’re perfumes you use infrequently, and when you do use them, they make a mark on any social event. Moreover, these perfumes aren’t just ones you use for a few weeks. These perfumes or colognes last months and, in some cases, years. So head on over to Catch Marketplace and spoil yourself!
Popular Questions Asked
Why is cologne more expensive?
Some cologne’s can be very expensive due to the rare ingredients it’s made with. These ingredients may be hard to source and quite costly, thus increasing the cost of the product.
Is expensive cologne better?
The main difference between a more expensive fragrance is that it’s more likely to last longer than a cheaper perfume. So, in high site it’s probably better to invest in a slightly more expensive cologne.
Is it expensive to make cologne?
Depending on what ingredients the cologne is made from, it can be quite costly. Sometimes ingredients are hard to source, which is why they are more costly.
Is it worth wearing cologne?
If you want to smell nice, or make a good impression, then yes, it thinks it’s worth wearing cologne.