Brands
Trump’s ‘Victory’ scent muscles into celebrity perfume mania
MUMBAI: Celebrity perfumes are big business. And now, Donald Trump wants a whiff of victory too. As the current US president and a real estate mogul, he has just added cologne to his ever-growing merchandise empire. His latest launch, ‘Victory 45–47’, is a perfume duo pitched as an olfactory power play, bottled with the promise of “Winning, Strength, and Success.” The perfumes are packaged in stylish boxes — black with gold for men and red with gold for women. The bottles are shaped like miniature statues of Trump.
Smells like confidence? Certainly. Subtle? Not in the slightest. But that’s the point.
Trump’s entry into the celebrity fragrance fray marks a bold twist in a trend that’s already one of the most lucrative crossovers in pop culture. Perfume, once the province of Paris and prestige perfumers, is now the ultimate flex for the famous bottled personality, a scent-led story, a sensory souvenir of stardom.
Celebrity scents are no longer novelty side-hustles; they’re billion-dollar businesses. And for stars with rabid fan bases, launching a perfume line offers more than just revenue as it offers a way to linger long after the applause fades.
Before Trump spritzed “success,” there was Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck, Paris Hilton’s Heiress, Jennifer Lopez’s Glow, and Britney Spears’ Fantasy series — sugary, sparkling olfactory time machines for a generation that grew up with them. The Kardashian sisters transformed their brand of reality-glam into perfume bottles shaped like crystals. Each scent sold a persona, a feeling, a filter.
In India, Shah Rukh Khan dipped into the fragrance scene with an offering as suave as his on-screen presence, while Amitabh Bachchan’s foray echoed his gravitas and enduring appeal. For fans, these perfumes weren’t just products — they were accessible. Affordable. Aspirational. And wearable.
The process isn’t as simple as lending a name and collecting royalties. Crafting a celebrity fragrance involves late-night mood boards, deep dives into personal stories, and the careful balancing of notes that reflect personality without alienating mass-market palates.
Top perfumers often sit with celebrities to understand their vision — or at least their vibe. What results is a cocktail of emotion and olfactory chemistry: floral highs, musky lows, and a middle note of “this smells like me.” The packaging? Almost as crucial as the juice. It’s storytelling in glass — and shelf appeal is everything.
Celebrity scents today are more than aromatic accessories. They’re extensions of personal style, markers of mood, and declarations of fan loyalty. Wearing a celebrity fragrance is not just about smelling good — it’s about aligning with a lifestyle, be it Swift’s soft girl elegance or Trump’s chest-thumping alpha masculinity.
As social media and AI reshape how fragrances are marketed, the future of celeb scents is set to get even more personalised — think interactive campaigns, name-dropped reels, and algorithm-powered fragrance matches. Fans won’t just buy the perfume; they’ll star in its story.
Trump’s Victory 45–47 might raise eyebrows, but it also raises an important point: in a world of fleeting fame, fragrance lingers. For celebrities, perfume offers permanence — a way to stay relevant, even when the spotlight dims.
So whether you reach for Paris Hilton’s sparkle, Swift’s sweetness, or Trump’s testosterone, remember: behind every bottle is a brand, a story, and a scent of ambition.
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
