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From: Whittier Daily News Since the '70s, KISS has steadily evolved from being a niche band to becoming a household name. Instantly recognizable, the group's vivdly painted faces and flamboyant duds have become a marketing tool for a plethora of items. Now KISS is getting even more personal with fragrance lines for men and women. "The idea of KISS fragrances initially was not just limited to fragrances, it was for everything head to toe," said GENE SIMMONS, bass player, singer and perhaps the most recognizable member of KISS. The collection includes "underarm deodorant, shampoo, fragrances, body oils for him and for her," he said. "It's a full line and we have special Merry KISS-mas boxes where you can stick one or more of everything in there and get it all and giveaway gift baskets and blah, blah, blah." The scent and products were designed by Gemini Cosmetics Inc., a company based in Sparks, Nev. and founded in 2004 by Neil Katz and Robert Rumsby, both formerly of Liz Claiborne Cosmetics. Gemini has previously created products for Tommy Bahama and is the domestic sales agent for Revlon's Prestige Fragrances. Simmons worked with the company, giving his opinion on the collection, including packaging and the scent. The company invited lots of people to sample it all. "What I did was listen to women," Simmons explained. "Women would come over, and there's lots of them, thank you. You ask them what they like. We must have had 15 different fragrances on the table and they all veered to one or two of them and we finally decided on one. "The only thing I did was basically say I like it, I don't like it, which ultimately is what it's all about because no matter how much (research and development) you go through, at the end of the day it's got to be of the people, for the people, by the people. You better have them like it or you're out of business." KISS Her eau de parfum comes in bright white packaging with black graphics. Tall acid-etched translucent bottles hold the fragrance and boast a black logo. The scent's top notes include apple-tini, wet fig leaves and crushed red peppercorns. The core is wild red poppy, exotic black orchid, sueded frangipani petals and deep purple calla lilly. Bottom notes include glowing amber crystals, musky bare skin, shiny patent leather and vintage mahogany. KISS Him cologne comes in a shiny black patent leather-look box with KISS graphics and logos. The fragrance starts with bergamot, white pepper, anise and black cumin, then gets woody with lavender, cypress, dark rum and fir balsam. It finishes with sandalwood, moss and honeyed amber. When we talked to Simmons, he said he hasn't tried the cologne yet. (Perhaps he will have sampled it by the time he arrives in Riverside this afternoon.) However, he had used the Lovin' face soother and the All Nite deodorant stick. He doesn't wear any other fragrances. "You're talking to men, we're Neanderthals," Simmons said. "All we know is when the scent works with a woman, we get aroused and once we get aroused — that's what women are here for. "That's why you wear makeup and perfume, it's for men," Simmons said. "Don't let any other woman kid you otherwise." The products are obviously capturing some noses, as more than a billion items have already been shipped around the country. The line was also featured on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, which gave it a good review. "The other biggest thumbs up is I have a 14-year-old daughter named Sophie (Tweed-Simmons), on GENE SIMMONS Family Jewels' TV show," he said. "The fact that she, and I swear to you, uses KISS fragrances every day when she goes to school, to the shark-infested waters of 14- and 15-year-old boys, tells me this is the real thing." If you don't care for the scent lines, you can still get your KISS fix in a number of other places, Simmons reminded us. "This is turning into a KISS world actually because we already have the KISS Coffeehouse, the first in a new franchise, that's already opened in Myrtle Beach, that's a massive hit," Simmons said. "We intend on doing 100 coffeehouses in the next two years." The six-hour DVD, KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977 (VH1 Classic), will be released Tuesday. At 8 PM Thursday, footage from the effort will be screened at selected movie theaters, including Alhambra Renaissance 14, Burbank 16 and La Habra Stadium 16. KISS guitarist and singer PAUL STANLEY (he's the one who paints a dark star on his face) is on the road promoting his solo effort, Live to Win (New Door Records), which was released Tuesday. Simmons is still doing the "GENE SIMMONS Family Jewels" TV show on A&E, and he's also involved in "My Dad the Rock Star" cartoon on Nickelodeon and his company, Simmons Abramson Marketing, which is involved with the Indy Racing League and the Indy 500. He is on the road as well, making in-store appearances to promote the KISS fragrance line. (Yes, he'll autograph the product you buy at his appearance.) Simmons takes his travels and his hectic life in stride. "Home is where I am," Simmons said. "Everybody else defines home by one spot. I'm in Philly, I'm at home. Wherever I sleep is home. I don't depend on a geographical location. Where you're born and raised is an accident, where I am is my decision. "Isn't it true before you go to the store you make notes, a list? I treat life the way you treat supermarkets. I don't window shop, I make lists and go down and check them off. "I'm a happy guy," he said. "I get to wake up every day and be GENE SIMMONS. I can't think of another job (that's better) except God and I think that's taken." |
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