Life & Style | People
Scent of success
It is true that I am most often surrounded by perfumes. But that's only part of my job as vice-president of Calvin Klein (CK) Fragrances!
- By Ritu Raizada, Lifestyle Features Coordinator
- Published: 23:56 October 30, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Choosing a perfume is something really personal and plays on the individual's perception and memories, says Lori Singher.
Get to know Lori singher, vice-president of Calvin Klein Fragrances
People think I bathe in perfumes.
It is true that I am most often surrounded by perfumes. But that's only part of my job as vice-president of Calvin Klein (CK) Fragrances!
I am a female boss.
So what? I don't think about gender every time I go to work. To me, being a boss is primarily a matter of empowering my team, giving us the ability to reach our high expectations. You can be a man or a woman but at the end of the day it's your ideas and business skills that will make the difference.
I joined Calvin Klein Fragrances in 1996 as global marketing director on the Eternity brand and soon took on CK One and CK Be. In 2004, I was promoted to vice-president of global marketing where I headed the launches of CK One Summer in 2004 and the Eternity Summer fragrances in 2005, thereby creating Calvin Klein's ownership of the summer fragrance category. All three continually rank in the top five in the summer fragrance category, with CK One Summer remaining in the top spot for summer fragrances globally.
I always knew what I wanted to do in life.
I have always had a passion for beauty. I remember how as a teenager, I would sneak into my mother's room and smell her perfume and play with her make-up. It seemed to be the epitome of elegance and sophistication. I am content because I have worked in the beauty industry for nearly two decades and spent over 11 years in global marketing for CK Fragrances.
I graduated from the University of Michigan with a marketing and communications degree and began my career at Revlon where I worked on Charlie of the Ritz make-up and skincare divisions. Prior to joining here, I worked for Benetton Cosmetics as global marketing director, overseeing the colour cosmetics and fragrance marketing departments.
I had also spent time at Tsumura as marketing director for the fine fragrances division, managing the VitaBath and Pierre Cardin brands.
A perfume is a way of expressing one's sensuality and attractiveness. In some ways I don't think you choose a perfume. I think it is more a case of a perfume choosing you. It is an intimate process where a fragrance will connect with you, react on your skin and on your memories. This is how you will decide whether or not to wear it. Of course, the basic principle is to smell good, but it also says something about you.
Fragrance application is an art.
The best way to ensure that a fragrance lasts on you is to layer it in the right manner. For example, for the first layer, begin with a bath or shower gel to cleanse and lay the foundation for your fragrance. Follow this step with a scented body lotion to hydrate the skin in luxury and then spray your fragrance on your skin. Layering evenly disperses the scent and avoids heavy concentration on pulse points where most people spray perfume.
I believe a perfume is something
very personal. It plays with the person's emotions, perceptions and memories. It's important to keep in mind that perfume smells different on each person as it is determined by each person's unique body chemistry.
The best time to test a new fragrance is when you're not wearing any perfume or scented body lotion. Give the perfume some time after applying it. Each scent will vary on different skins, so you have to let it blend to your own body fragrance. Be sure to always try it on your skin though, not on a blotter card or sprayed in the air as it will smell very different on your skin than it does anywhere else.
There are times when I'm not a corporate bigwig. When I'm home I am relaxed. I live in New York with my husband Mike and our two beautiful sons Dylan and Danny. With my kids, I'm just mom. They are the most precious things
in my life. I work a lot so when I'm home, I focus on them. I'm very proud of my family. I'm also very thankful that I am able to have such a successful career as well.
My family truly inspires me, but it can be difficult to find that balance and feel like you are giving both sides of your life the attention that they deserve. I guess if I had not chosen to work in marketing, I would still be doing something creative. It's important for me to be surrounded by creativity.
I never give someone advice that is cast in stone. Unless they are bent on wanting my opinion, of course. Choosing a perfume is something really personal and an appreciation of the fragrance varies from one person to another.
If a person did ask my opinion, I would probably suggest a different fragrance for them, one that seems to me like it would suit them better. But again, it's a wholly subjective issue.
I like Dubai because of its cultural diversity. There is such a wealth of impressive architecture and thriving businesses.
I love the picturesque souks. People are very warm here and make me feel at home. But, I have a hard time adjusting to the heat.
I can't choose a favourite.
Asking me to choose a favourite perfume from among a host of Calvin Klein fragrances is like asking me to choose my favourite child. I love CK One for a sunny day out at the park with my children. If I am going out for a night on the town with my husband, I'll wear Euphoria. It all depends on the day and my mood.
– As told to Ritu Raizada, Lifestyle Features Coordinator, Friday
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