Inconsequence

Stink in France over perfume bottle design
34 minutes ago

PARIS (AFP) - The French perfume maker Guerlain said it was trying to have a court dismiss a lawsuit by an artist who claimed it stole his design for its latest perfume bottle.

The company said in a statement that its bottles containing the fragrance "Insolence" -- promoted using the US actress Hilary Swank as the model -- were entirely the creation of a sculptor it hired, Serge Mansau.

A Paris court last week prohibited Guerlain from selling "Insolence" in the contested bottles after agreeing with a French artist, Jean-Claude Cardiet, that they resembled one of his works.

Guerlain's appeal lodged against that judgement meant it was free to go ahead with using the bottles as planned instead of withdrawing them, the company said.

What does insolence smell like? Apparently Hilary Swank.