Perfume 'Pepe'... About 150,000 KRW for a 100ml Bottle
Veterinarian Criticizes as "Money Waste That Annoys Pets"
Italian luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana has launched a perfume for dogs priced at about 150,000 won per bottle. However, veterinarians are criticizing it as a 'waste of money.'
On the 4th (local time), the British daily The Times reported that Dolce & Gabbana introduced a dog perfume called 'Pepe,' developed by a famous Parisian perfumer who has created fragrances for Balmain and Paco Rabanne. The price of 'Pepe' is 99 euros (about 147,000 won) per 100ml bottle. Dolce & Gabbana is the first major luxury fashion brand to enter the dog perfume market.
Dolce & Gabbana's pet perfume 'Pepe' [Image source: Capture from Dolce & Gabbana official website, Yonhap News]
Dolce & Gabbana explained that the name of the perfume, 'Pepe,' comes from the name of one of Domenico Dolce's dogs, the founder of Dolce & Gabbana. The company was established in 1985 by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. They stated that the perfume 'Pepe' was inspired by the unwavering love for Pepe, who was Dolce's faithful companion.
The development process of the dog perfume involved renowned perfumers, veterinarians, animal behavior experts, and dog lovers, and it also underwent safety tests and received approval from veterinarians, according to Dolce & Gabbana. 'Pepe' contains the scent of ylang-ylang flowers, which the company explained is derived from the tropical tree Cananga odorata native to Southeast Asia, and is also included in the classic perfume 'Chanel No. 5.'
However, veterinarians do not look favorably upon dog perfumes. They criticize that "dog perfumes merely show that the wealthy are looking for new ways to spend money." One veterinarian dismissed 'Pepe,' a blend of ylang-ylang and sandalwood, saying it would rather annoy dogs and is simply a waste of money. Fabian Rivers, a small animal specialist veterinarian and welfare ambassador for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the UK, said, "Even if perfume is sprayed, dogs will still be able to smell each other, but they may dislike the scent or exhibit distracted behavior." He pointed out that "the launch of high-priced pet products like 'Pepe' is an interesting way to make people spend money on things of little value." He added, "It seems the wealthy are looking for new ways to spend money, which is very disappointing given that many people are facing economic difficulties."
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the global pet industry is estimated to be worth $320 billion (about 440 trillion won) annually and is expected to grow to $500 billion (about 687 trillion won) by around 2030, driven by increased sales of luxury pet clothing and toys. In particular, the phenomenon of 'Pet Humanization,' where pets are treated like family or friends, is accelerating, leading to more people spending lavishly on their pets. As a result, luxury brands are rushing into the pet product market. Representative products include Gucci Pet Collection and Herm?s pet accessories, while Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Prada also sell pet carriers, leashes, harnesses, and clothing.
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