Meghan recently launched her own perfume brand called Archetypes, inspired by her experiences as a royal. However, it seems there was a significant hiccup involving one of her scent ideas that rubbed Guthy-Renker the wrong way, leading them to reject a potential partnership.
Guthy-Renker is a major marketing company known for collaborating with celebrities to market and distribute their product lines, including Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and the Kardashians. So naturally, when Meghan approached them in the early stages of developing her perfume line, she hoped they would handle the marketing and distribution. However, things took a turn when one of Meghan's proposed scents didn't sit well with Guthy-Renker.
The scent in question was reportedly inspired by Princess Diana, featuring top notes of bergamot and freesia—two of Diana's favorite scents. Meghan also envisioned the perfume bottle to mirror the minimalist and elegant design of Diana's iconic perfume bottles from the '80s and '90s. On the surface, paying homage to Diana through a perfume might seem like a tribute, considering Diana's enduring influence as a style icon. However, the issue arose because Meghan proposed selling this Diana-inspired scent without the permission or blessing of Diana's family, particularly the Spencer family.
This lack of approval didn't sit well with Guthy-Renker, as they aim to avoid legal controversies and family disputes. They felt that marketing a perfume so clearly evoking Diana without family consent could lead to legal challenges and public backlash. Moreover, they viewed it as disrespectful to Diana's memory and legacy, which they were not willing to risk.
Reports suggest that Guthy-Renker's decision to reject Meghan's proposal led to tension. Meghan reportedly expressed frustration and lobbied other marketing companies, like Coty, to back her Archetypes line. However, she insisted on including the Diana-inspired scent, which deterred potential partners.
Ultimately, Meghan had to abandon the Diana concept for her perfume line. When Archetypes launched, it focused on safer themes like celestial bodies such as Sagittarius and Libra, steering clear of royal controversies or family disputes. While the Spencer family hasn't publicly commented on the alleged Diana-inspired perfume plans, it's likely they were relieved when the idea was shelved, thanks to Guthy-Renker's refusal to proceed.
This situation underscores Meghan's occasional missteps and her tendency to pursue ideas without fully considering the consequences. While honoring Diana is understandable, trying to profit from her memory without family consent was a non-starter. Hopefully, this experience has taught Meghan the importance of thorough vetting and obtaining approvals, especially when involving high-profile figures.
