It has been SEVEN years since I last wore my fragrance.  After 9/11, it was tough on me to get myself to wear such a beautiful fragrance.  I used to douse myself in my scent.  This past Monday, I received a metal jug from the fragrance house (Givaudan) with a sticker on it, simply saying "Zaharoff".  I didn' t know how to feel - I was excited, nervous.

The "thermos(?)" was half-full and was meant for me to approve the batch before....ready?  FILLING.  Yes, within the next four weeks, they are finally filling my men's signature fragrance.  It is the same exact fragrance, just new packaging.

I had two atomizers for myself and I had to fill them up.  Of course, in my excitement, I managed to spill some on me.  It was as if I had a taste of the elixir.  Since then I haven't been able to stop spraying myself.  It was the strangest feeling - it's as if things are coming full circle.  As if I have to finish something I started. 

DESIGN PROCESS


                                                   

In designing the packaging, I wanted to keep with the integrity of the brand.  This time, I went with a Byzantine theme.  The bottle, which I call "Papa" reminds me of an old Byzantine bottle with a black cap - the type an Orthodox monk would wear hence, "Papa".  Awesome, isn't it?  I have the measurements because I wanted the box manufacturer to get an idea of dimensions.

I would like to introduce you to my process and what the finished product is going to look like.  Initially I wanted to have an old coin, like the drawing above (and I've actually taken a picture of the finished product, below, from my i-phone). 

Below is the "Zaharoff" coin, made in England.  Rather than use it on a fragrance bottle, I decided to actually use the mold for signature buttons on blazers. 

                                    

This is how is was originally going to look like (left), but it looked too busy, and I wanted something simple.  After all, it is the fragrance that deserves all the attention.  I will post the picture of the updated bottle when it gets shot.