Rob Lowe’s scent sense
We caught up with eternally youthful actor and moisturizing mentor Rob Lowe last week at the Beverly Hills launch of his Profile brand’s debut fragrance, 18 Amber Wood, just long enough to give it the sniff test ( it’s a peppy blend of bergamot, sage and sandalwood) and pepper him with a few questions. Here are some excerpts from that conversation. ( More from our chat can be found at latimes. com/ image.)
What direction did you give the fragrance house at the very beginning? Did you give it specifics like, “I want a back note of red cedar or a top note of pink peppercorn”?
Look, the gift of ignorance has always been great to me. I wanted to be an actor in Ohio, and I had no idea what that meant, what the failure rate was. Had I known any of it, I don’t know if I ever would have done it. This was very much the same thing. I know what I want. I have a vision for what I want. But the rest of it I don’t know. And I actually think that’s my competitive advantage. What was your vision for the fragrance?
I spoke to [ the fragrance house] in terms of experiences and stories. I wanted something bold and powerful but with a subtle confidence. For me, it would be the feeling of, “You’ve made the movie. You’ve worked very hard. You’ve made the television show, and now it’s time to be on the red carpet and enjoy the fruits of your hard work.” What I said was, “I want a fragrance that speaks to the redcarpet moments in every guy’s life.” That includes, “My kid’s graduating from school,” “I’m going on the big date,” and “This is the big job interview.” Who is this fragrance aimed at? Is this for the guy who wants to smell like Rob Lowe? The guy who wants to smell the way Rob Lowe feels? Or something else?
It’s for anyone who wants to stand out, be noticed in a timeless, elegant, subtle way. … I have the cologne that [ President John F. Kennedy] wore. You can’t get it anymore, but I found it online. I can’t remember the name of it, but I found it when I was researching JFK. And I was really interested in what JFK wore because I aspired to his aesthetic. So, to the extent that people would aspire to my aesthetic — whatever that would be — this [ fragrance] is absolutely on point. You’ve already got a second fragrance in the works that’s due out before the end of the year. If 18 Amber Wood is about evoking the confidence of the red carpet, where are you headed for your sophomore scent?
It’s more of an everyday [ fragrance] that’s more in the fresh-and- clean family. What are a few of your favorite smells?
Sea spray, celery and [ ionized air]. Of all your film and television alter- egos, whose signature scent do you think would be a guaranteed bestseller?
If we had the f lash and joie de vivre of “The Grinder” mixed with the sort of subtle dignity of [“West Wing” character] Sam Seaborn, we would give Chanel No. 5 a run for its money.
18 Amber Wood eau de parfum ( 3.4 fluid ounces $ 89.50) and hydrating hair and body wash ( 5 fluid ounces $ 29.50), available at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com and profile4men.com.