Perfume names: a general note

The name of a perfume is the one that appears on the bottle – regardless of what anyone else says (Osmoz, newspaper articles, etc.). If the label on the bottle reads 'Cologne du Parfumeur', for instance, then that is its name, not 'La Cologne du Parfumeur'.

Languages that insist on using lots of articles all the time, like French, are a pain, I know, but, hey, what can you do about it? Well, following the rules of the language is a start.

Take, for instance, 'The Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido': in French, one would say 'Les Salons...', but 'Les' is just the definite article; it's not part of the name. So, just as a French person wouldn't say, 'Je lis le The Times tous les jours pour améliorer mon anglais', do not say (or write), 'I'm going to the Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido next time I'm in Paris.' In general, do not use two articles even if they are in different languages.

And it is just as wrong (but much less funny to French ears) to say, 'I'm going to Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido.'

The correct form in English is, 'I'm going to the Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido.'

If the definite article is part of the name, like in Les Élixirs Charnels, just use the French article. 'I'm planning to buy a bottle of Les Élixirs Charnels.'

Around the time of the 200th anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille, the Theatre of Brent put on a wonderfully silly show in which two inept members of the Paris populace were determined to attack 'the La Bastille' all by themselves. It was hilarious. Every time you're tempted to use two articles, think of 'the La Bastille' and refrain.