From unconditional affection comes Dolce&Gabbana’s latest creative cue, and it arrives straight from the fashion house’s living room: Fefé is the new “tender and enveloping fragrance designed for a playful beauty routine” dedicated to one’s pets.
That’s right, an essence for dogs, named after Domenico Dolce’s poodle and companion Guilherme Siqueira, inspired by the bond between the designer and the loving four-legged companion.
Developed by renowned perfume maker Emilie Copperman, the fragrance is “an olfactory creation in which the warm scent of Ylang Ylang, the clean and enveloping touch of Musk and the woody and creamy traits of Sandalwood stand out,” reads the company’s website. Fefé, in a green bottle with a red cap on which a golden paw is stamped, is already a must-have, aided by an advertising campaign featuring irresistible four-legged furry characters.
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Alcohol-free, the fragrance has been certified suitable for animal use because it follows the Italian “Safe Pet Cosmetics” protocol, designed to ensure a degree of safety of cosmetic products for animals, equal to that required for humans. 100 percent of pet owners consulted by the company agree that the fragrance is gentle and well-tolerated by their pets, and the product is approved by veterinarians, according to the website page dedicated to “Fefè.”
However, not all doctors seem to agree on the use of fragrances for dogs. News that spraying fragrances on one’s puppy is not a good practice has made the rounds on social media, calling scientific experts into question. Daniel Mills, a professor of veterinary behavioral medicine at the University of Lincoln in England, told the New York Times, “Dogs, who have a fantastic sense of smell, rely heavily on the sense of the nose to navigate the world, which is full of smells from other dogs, humans, food and potential dangers. Applying strong scents, even with subtle sandalwood undertones, can mask these important signals, potentially causing problems and confusion among dogs.”
Dolce & Gabbana, however, is not the only brand to have created perfume for dogs. Even Queen Elizabeth II, known for her love of her four-legged creatures, was influenced to create one in 2022: “Happy Hounds Dog Cologne,” the essence of which was described as the lure of “coastal walks.” It was sold in the gift shop of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
It is a unanimous opinion meanwhile that even diagnosing an ongoing pathology can be problematic if the dogs’ natural odors are covered up. “Aa aspect that, potentially, could cause unnecessary delays in treatment”, said Anna Judson, president of the British Veterinary Association.
Therefore, the world of dog odors should not be changed.
