Admittedly, I checked the calendar and then the press release posting date to see if April 1st was involved when I first got a whiff of this story. BMW, creators of the Ultimate Driving Machine, masters of automotive engineering, supporters of the arts, and caretakers of a beloved brand, have released a pair of … fragrances. And no, neither is called “new car smell.”
With my lack of style and sophisitication showing, I had to ask “seriously? an automative branded perfume?” To which the internet answered, “This has been a thing for a while, doofus.” Apparently Bently, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, and even Ford already have signature scents on the market. Ferrari’s Scuderia Red entered the olfactory competition back in 1996.
But it is a new endeavor for BMW, so I don’t feel completely ignorant.
BMW recently released details about their two new signature fragrances, which are apparently important enough to title exclusively in capital letters: AMBERNESS and BERMAGOOD.
The release states: “For BMW, joy is a statement – about sheer driving pleasure, and the conscious enjoyment of life. Joy is as much a motivator as it is a promise. Most of all, it is a powerful feeling that creates an optimistic view of what lies ahead. For the first time, this joy can now also be experienced through the sense of smell, with the two new BMW fragrances AMBERNESS and BERGAMOOD.”
Created in cooperation with renowned perfumers Frank Voelkl and Alexandra Monet of Mavive, a company owned by the Vidal family, which has been developing fragrances for over 120 years.
Stefan Karch, Head of BMW Lifestyle & Licensing, explains: “The new BMW fragrances AMBERNESS and BERGAMOOD convey the hallmark BMW joy in a new way. Like the BMW brand, they are immersive, inviting and expressive. As daily companions, they make a special statement that customers can identify with, and that emphasises the emotional aspect of the BMW brand.”
Marco Vidal, CEO of Mavive S.p.A., adds: “Developing AMBERNESS and BERGAMOOD was an exciting challenge. BMW has shaped the automotive world and Mavive stands for pushing boundaries within the fragrance industry. The synergy arising from this collaboration resulted in two new fragrances and a unique sensory experience.”
Why two scents instead of just one? Because you can somewhat customize your wafting aura by using them individually or combining them in different concentrations.
The release describes the scents:
“Fresh and invigorating, sensual and calm, or a combination of both.
The new BMW fragrances deliberately transcend gender boundaries and will smell equally gorgeous on everyone. Both eaux de parfum work as standalone scents or develop very special and highly individual fragrance experiences when combined and/or applied in different concentrations. Mavive goes beyond using the highest-quality ingredients to create an experience of joy and turn it into an everyday companion. It uses EmotiWaves™, developed by dsm-firmenich, a company specializing in fragrances and flavors. This technology is grounded in leading-edge, patented and certified neuroscientific findings. It uses natural ingredients to influence and amplify emotions.
AMBERNESS offers a sensual experience that conveys tranquillity and a feeling of beauty. French clary sage and Guatemalan cardamom provide an earthy accord that is followed by Italian bergamot and Egyptian geranium. Madagascar vanilla, Indonesian patchouli and Haitian vetiver create an enchanting allure.
BERGAMOOD has a fresh and invigorating effect. The top note rings with the scents of Italian bergamot and mandarin, enriched with pink pepper. Lavender and petitgrain leave a lasting impression. Liquidambar and musk round off the fragrance, for a lively and stimulating effect.”
If you find the prospect of adding a new, company-approved sensory aspect to your BMW, then you can do so at the BMW Lifestyle Online Shop and at selected BMW dealerships at some point in May. Pricing should be about 62 euros (about $70 U.S.) for 50 ml or 80 euros (about $90) for 100 ml. That’s about the same as Mercedes-Benz Man: Blue cologne, but surprisingly higher than Bentley For Men Intense, which costs only $48 for 100 ml. If you want to put your nose up high enough to get the Fueguis & Rolls-Royce The Spirit scent, it’ll cost closer to $675.
