Bibbi’s shtick is intense: “an unparalleled olfactory adventure, a journey into the depths of the subconscious.” Founder Stina Bibbi Seger apparently meditates, and these perfumes embody her mind travels.
“The fragrances are not merely scents," as if being merely a scent was something a perfume should be ashamed of. Try saying that about a book, a symphony, or indeed a chocolate éclair without feeling stupid.
Still, the design is undeniably cool: International Klein Blue1 packaging, fat white lettering.
Five of their fragrances:
The Other Room
..is where you want to be when someone lets rip this intense aromachemical rose, a derivative hipster version of the apocalyptic fruit-salad from hell invented by the original La Prairie (1993).
Iris Wallpaper
A cut-rate ripoff of Iris Gris, done by superimposing a boozy pear-iris accord on a dowdy, sweet white-flowers thing the color of old nylon curtains.
Rainbow Rose
An acid, strident floral, the fragrance you’d want to wear when complaining to the manager.
Ghost of Tom
A sour, citrus-incense thing, the love child of Eau de Cologne and a surface cleaner.
Radio Child
In context, a surprisingly soft and slightly retro floral-salicylate accord with the mild, smooth feel of linden tea. A lot more money in the formula could have made it really good.
A shade of ultramarine suspended in an acrylic polymer. It was “discovered” and patented by the performance artist, judoka, composer and painter Yves Klein in 1957.
Ghost of Tom was included in last year’s Liberty Advent Calendar…I found it repellent, onion flavoured Eau de Cologne. Glad it wasn’t just me.
The names of the fragrances alone are ghastly.