I never hear much about how Jennifer Aniston’s many perfumes are selling. Aniston’s 40s have been dominated by her side-projects, her endorsement deals and business projects, like her collaboration with Living Proof (haircare), her ad deal with Aveeno (skincare), and her continuing work with SmartWater (she’s a shareholder). From what I’ve seen, those are her successful collaborations. But unlike J.Lo and Britney Spears, you never really hear much about Aniston’s perfume side business. J.Lo and Britney move millions of units whenever they introduce a new perfume – both women have the Midas Touch when it comes to scents. But Aniston is on her fifth perfume and I have no idea if she’s moving units, or if she’s just basically doing this for fun. Who knows?
Anyway, Aniston has been promoting her fifth fragrance, Chapter One. She’s now working in collaboration with Kohl’s, a deal which probably looks a lot like Jennifer Lopez’s Kohl’s deal. Aniston is doing a lifestyle brand, and “Chapter One” is not just the name of the perfume, but also of the brand. And there’s a “home mist” of the same name too. Long story short, Aniston is promoting all of this, and she gave an interview to People Mag. And now she’s offended taxi drivers.
Since 2011, Jennifer Aniston has balanced her acting career with another passion project: creating perfume. With five scents already under her belt, this month she introduces a new lifestyle brand at Kohl’s, Chapter One, which includes a new fragrance by the same name, as well as her very first body and home mist. And with the new venture comes a departure from her previous process: This time, Aniston didn’t enlist husband Justin Theroux for any sniff tests.
“He’s not involved in this whatsoever. This is not his department,” explains Aniston, whose new scent combines a bouquet of floral notes. “It’s a feminine mix of florals, citrus and woodsy notes that is captivating and chic but still approachable,” says Aniston, who also says that the bottle’s “teardrop-shape was inspired by my younger years seeing my mother’s perfume bottles on her vanity.”
With the expansion of the star’s fragrance empire, we wondered if she would ever use her expertise to create a men’s scent, but Aniston assures us she’s got zero interest in cologne.
“I’m not big on it,” she shares. “I’ve probably got PTSD from cab rides in New York City that ended in pure suffocation.” Aniston’s had similarly bad scent experiences in other enclosed spaces, like elevators. “No one wants to go into an elevator and then walk out smelling like someone else! That’s something I have a pet peeve about: Someone giving you a hug and they’re loaded with some really horrible scent and you’re just like, ‘Oh now I smell like that person for the rest of the day!’ I hate that,” the actress told us recently.
A perfectly innocent remark from someone who is probably a little bit scent-sensitive, that New York cabbies sometimes wear too much bad cologne, or passengers leave behind unwelcome cologne scents. Well, please enjoy this bitchy article from Page Six:
Jennifer Aniston needs to put on the brakes. When People magazine asked the “Friends” star if she will add cologne to her line of fragrances, Aniston sniffed, “I’m not big on it. I’ve probably got [post-traumatic stress disorder] from cab rides in New York City that ended in pure suffocation.” If you ask us, confirmed Angeleno Aniston — who last lived in New York in 2011 for exactly the length of time it took her to figure out that husband Justin Theroux’s West Village walk-up didn’t have valet — should take her snooty views about our cabbies back to Bel Air with her.
And while we’re quite sure that Aniston’s yoga mat doesn’t stink, given the choice between the scent of a yellow cab or her steaming superiority, we know which we’d choose. (When, by the way, was the last time she rode in one of these supposed taxis? We only ever recall seeing her around town blocking traffic in a chauffeured Escalade).
On Friday, New York’s taxi drivers responded to the Hollywood star, with Allan Fromberg of the Taxi and Limousine Commission telling Page Six, “Hundreds of thousands of people get in and out of NYC’s yellow cabs each day. Some leave behind umbrellas and cellphones, and some leave a bit too much cologne.” Fromberg added, “My advice to Ms. Aniston would be for her to create a yellow taxi-themed cologne that is as subtle and sophisticated as she is, and call it ‘Common Scents’!”
Was any of this really necessary? Of course not. Aniston has the right to say that in her opinion, New York cabs are where bad cologne goes to die, and the cabbies have the right to call her out. What bugs me is that it’s ridiculously easy for men to smell good, in general: just bathe regularly and invest in a low-key and moderately priced aftershave or cologne. Most men smell amazing when they’re freshly showered and shaved.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
I’d say the smell is the least of the problems with NY taxi drivers. Seriously, I travel a lot and I’ve never encountered drivers more rude and unprofessional that the ones in New York City. I assume it’s because of the high stress of driving in such a chaotic city, but I’ve had guys insult me for leaving them only a 5 dollar tip in a 30 dollar ride.
thank u – cry me a river – and what a ridiculously bitchy Page6 waste of time – my God.
Yes! So many rude American cab drivers. I’m sure there are sweethearts too…but wow, I’ve had bossy a-hole cab drivers here. The kind that won’t say thank you even when you leave them a 50% tip. WTH?
And then there’s the city of London…the cab drivers actually go through schooling. They only talk if you want to talk…and then they are delightful tour guides who are genuinely shocked & say thank you when you tip them! Yes, it’s expensive, but Londontown cab drivers are the best. I just love them!
I LOVED the cabbies I got in London! Some of the friendliest I’ve ever had. When I told the cabbie who picked me up after the theatre that it was my last night in London on my first trip to England, he turned off the meter about half way, and just drove slowly, pointing out sites as we drove back to my hotel. I gave him a very generous tip, and profuse thanks. He was a doll.
Really?! Try New Delhi…
Hmmm. Only thing I smell is a fish. First off, ‘Page Six,’ is notoriously in the pockets of CAA, and The Huvane Bros- one of which is Aniston’s long time bestie and power PR flack Stephen Huvane. They’re usually very Aniston friendly, so this is odd. So I’m surprised they are seemingly going after her for something so inane.
What’s even more bizarre and dumb? You’re hawking a Kohl’s bargain basement stink water complaining about stink water. The fact that Lauren Conrad and some Disney kid’s cheap perfume has outsold hers for years is just further humiliation.
As for her b*tching about men’s cologne – didn’t her PR flack and her agency CAA (now his) get her husband a gig hawking men’s cologne in an ad?
Aniston has lost most of her appeal, Huvane may not be concentrating as much of his time on her as he did during the pity party years. Huvane has a stable of clients, he seems to have moved on from babysitting Aniston and her “woe is me” persona.
As for her colognes, they usually end up in the Wal-Mart bargain aisle.
I am super sensitive to scents and walking into an elevator full of cologne or perfume is one of my pet peeves!
Also, that Page Six thing is just plain stupid.
I’ve become sensitive to scents and especially perfumes and colognes, I get an instant headache when I’m around people who use too much. I don’t understand why people drown themselves in it, a little dab or spritz goes a long way. I work in urgent care and we aren’t allowed to wear any perfume or overly scented lotions, a lot of people are sensitive!
I’m incredibly allergic. I’ve literally thrown up in elevators because of someone’s overpowering scent, cologne, perfume, body wash, Axe, etc. There is always someone in e.v.e.r.y. crowd wearing too much. One of the very worst smells ever for me was a perfume by Avon called Sweet Honesty. That crap put me in hospital 1/2 dozen times unable to breathe or bear the pain of the migraine. Allergies are no joke yet people just wave it off like you’re trying to make a big deal out of nothing. For example, your light scent? It’s not light to people like me. It creates low level (or worse) nausea that lasts the day. Stinging lips, swelling tongue, major headache, lack of appetite, looking pale and trying to sell advertising for a living.
For the record, I don’t think freshly showered and shaved guys smell great either. Unless they use an electric razor the shaving cream always stinks. Always
She has and always will be thirsty.But i agree about too much perfume/cologne it can be headache causing.
I’m with you, too much perfume/cologne is overpowering, and personally, I don’t like smelling like someone else’s cologne all day. Aniston’s cheap colognes seem to permeate the fibers of clothing, and that is something I cannot stand.
She could have worded it better and been a little vague. But no, she does not deserve that Page Six treatment.
That article did make Page 6 sound a little desperate for attention.
@Tiffany: Why should Aniston be exempt from Page Six’s misogynist views, other women have had far worse from Page SIx and not whined about it.
slow news day? Sheesh. Someone has a bone to pick.
Like as if she has ever been in a cab. She is as air-headed and pretentious as Goop. Worse! At least Goop can have a conversation about what is going on in the world. Aniston is just an air-headed bimbo.
Oh and Page Six HAS HER PEGGED! It is EXCELLENT! Best shade ever in at least 2 decades! Page Six should win some journalistic award and I am not kidding. FANTASTIC shade, right down to the common scents. They nailed her and nailed the whole situation.
Sally, you are really excited about this. Haha. Glad your day was made.
I have to say, I personally love Jennifer and am happy to see a story about her after so long. And yes, New York cabbies spend all their time on the phone, are rude, and their cabs stink of cologne. This is why I take Uber or ride my bike.
And Vesta, I feel your pain, but if the mob hadn’t started a monopoly on taxi licenses, maybe people (especially immigrants) could make a decent living off driving a cab and not have to work 12 hour shifts. It’s easy to point the finger at Uber, but we need to look at the system as a whole. Taxi’s are terrible in the States and Canada.
Though our famous yellow taxis (and increasingly our trains and buses too) are not exactly priced for ‘common people,’ they are facing an ongoing crisis due to Uber and the like—large, ruthless companies, abusive to both drivers and passengers, that yearn to co-opt our public space. These companies promote a gig economy—a total lack of investment in laborers facing a healthcare and housing crisis parading as ‘freedom’ … a most classic trick of capitalism (how many Uber drivers live in their cars, I wonder ?). Our yellow cabs represent a complex tapestry of independent immigrant owned businesses (many drivers will never be able to afford a medallion, but the industry’s structure allows for the possibility, which matters). I’m just saying … impossible criticisms of women in the public space aside—it irritates me when a LOOOOng-former New Yorker of extreme wealth displays just how little he/she knows about the current issues we face, just trying to sustain our home, remain in our home. And honestly, her television show and central roles in the 90s-rom-com-Industrial-Complex are a key component in the spon-con dystopia our home is becoming/has become 🙁 This is systemic, not individual, but as long as we are having a cultural moment around understanding ‘complicity’ …
That may or may not be so, but cab service in Seattle had gotten so bad by 2007 that *something* had to change. I love Lyft, and most of the drivers seem happy and feel well paid and fairly treated.
They ‘seem’ happy to you ? You ‘feel’ that they are well paid ? This is the kind of inchoate economy-of-the-imagination where advertising does its dirty work. ‘I feel no friction; so everything must be okay.’
Eh. I visited America last year and the two times I caught a cab I was ripped off. First time the cabbie deliberately went the long way because he knew we were tourists, second time he took a $20 note and drove off without giving change, taking about a 70% tip. Every uber driver by comparison was unfailingly courteous, knowledgeable, friendly and grateful (and pleasantly surprised!) to get a tip. Plus their cars were all so much cleaner.
In Australia where I live it was much the same for a long time. Cab drivers would shut out alternatives like buses for people trying to get home from nightlife – and get their way! And stories of cab drivers blatantly ripping people off were rife. It happened to me so many times.
So yeah, clean up your industry and then you get to have a whine about how unfair it all is.
Oh and she threw in a JOKE about PTSD! Good one, Jen.
Ug. I hate her so much.
Calvin Klein obsession is the most migraine inducing fragrance known to (wo)man.
I would give that honor to Opium. I once had a surgeon walk into the locker room and praise “my” perfume, which was clearly Opium. I could not disavow that smell quick enough.
Travelling on the bus, nothing worse than people overdoing the scent. Go to work with constant headaches. Much Older women normally drench themselves in rose or lavender scents. Ok for a night out or special occasions, but strong perfume everyday? Not for me.
No sympathy for the NY cab industry from me. NYC girl born and bred – give Uber and Lyft all my business. Don’t have good things to say about the yellow cab industry at all. I’ve taken a lifetime of cabs some good mostly BAD. The very last time I took a yellow cab it was to the hospital to visit my dying mother. Cabbie is nasty will not allow me to change my ride, says credit card machine is broken. I give him the only cash I have which covers the cost of the ride and manage to give him a 2 dollar tip in change. He gets mad and throws it at me cursing and telling me to get the f@&k out of his cab. Before you tell me I should have made a complaint it was not a priority – my mom died 2 days later. The sting of that will always stay with me and I haven’t taken a yellow since.
And YES Uber and Lyft drivers are a hell of a lot happier and nicer.
I 100% agree with you. Besides all the usual stories every cab user has ever had I remember one cabbie whom I told to take this one particular route to my destination. He said he couldn’t because there were roadworks. I pointed out cars were still using the lane we needed and they were driving right past us. He refused – and refusing a passenger’s requested route is not allowed – which meant of course he had to take a longer way. When we reached our destination we tried to pay with a $20 note for I think a $15 fare as this was before card payments were available. He said he had no change – at 6pm on a Saturday! My friend and I scrounged and scrounged but we found his exact change, there was no way we were letting that scam artist get extra money for bad driving and blatant money grubbing. I don’t think all cab drivers are bad, not by a long shot but the industry has done precisely nothing to fix these issues and now cries foul because a competitor has come in that can satisfy the consumer better. Well tough. They had their chance.