This question was suggested by Portia in response to my comment on the Arancia Di Capri by Acqua di Parma: Blu Mediterraneo Series post.
Saturday Question #226:
What Do You Mispronounce In Perfumeland?
Are there any perfume names, brands, perfumers or notes that you know now that you used to mispronounce?
My Answer
As I told Portia, for years I was reading the brand’s name as Acqua di Pharma. Not only I read it like that, I also recorded it in my database. And partially because of that I felt somewhat dismissive towards their perfumes. I didn’t avoid them completely and tried several, but I weren’t too motivated to seek them out.
Since then, I’ve corrected both my perception and database entry, but that initial feeling is still somewhere deep in my mind.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Acqua di Pharma, hahaha! The scent of bitter medicine!? I probably mispronounced Knize Ten for a while, even though I was aware that the Germanic “K” is never silent. And various other Italian names because I can’t always remember when it’s a “k” sound or a “ch” sound with various arrangements of c’s and h’s, although I’m getting better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny coincidence: I’ve always pronounced Knize 10 correctly because it reminded of the word in my native language… and today I learned that it took its name from a person’s last name, which very likely came from the same word that this perfume had always reminded me of (Wikipedia: Kníže (title), equivalent of “duke” or “prince”, used in medieval Slavic countries such as Bohemia).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure I mispronounce lots of them.
I’m aware I have a noticeable Yorkshire accent which can border on dialect when I’m relaxed or excited.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nah, just an accent doesn’t count! (Though, I have to admit, I’m not familiar with your accent – I will look it up.)
LikeLike
There are lots of memes & writing on the Yorkshire accent & dialect. It has kept many Scandinavian words & place names as well as a good sprinkling of Anglo Saxon.
LikeLike
My French is atrocious. Everything.
BUT when I was growing up Mum was given a small bottle of Hermès Caleche. she pronounced it HerMeees Cal-a-SHAY.
We were having a perfume crew sniffy at the house way back in the early 2010s when a French born woman took me aside at the end and kindly corrected me.
So even now, in my head, Mum’s way is how it is said. Before I speak it must be translated and redirected.
It’s such a good memory of my very country born Mum though
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely story!
There were many brands (maybe not perfume-related) in my childhood that the whole country mispronounced. But in 20+ year in the US, I corrected them in my head, so I don’t even remember how I was saying them wrongly – and now I’m just butchering the with my natural accent :)
LikeLike
HA! Undina, I bet you are spot on.
Jin had loads of trouble with some words when I met him. Now he’s more Aussie than me.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Anything in French I am sure I am butchering!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Year, French… I’m sure that even those names that I know how to pronounce theoretically, I still would sound barely understandable for a native French speaker – let alone those I’m not familiar with ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look up how to pronounce French names on Google. You can hear a native speaker say the words. I try to say it correctly but I’m sure my accent would offend any self-respecting French person. I used to think Hermes was “Ermezzz, but Google tells me it’s Ermess, with an s. I still think it sounds good with my Zed ending. :-)
I took a class in Italian pronunciation in college that was fun. We didn’t learn any grammar, just how to pronounce the words and we read poetry, etc. in Italian. I still have to think about the pronunciation of the words with C’s, though. A double C is always a K sound, but the Ce, Ci and Ca sounds I forget sometimes.
I don’t think the perfume makers care how we pronounce the names of their products as long as we buy them! But it is nice to know the correct pronunciation.
LikeLike
I feel better when I know at least approximately how to pronounce the name – even if I pronounce it with a strong accent. I should probably check Google for at least some of my favorites with French names.
But I agree: the industry doesn’t care – as long as sales keep going up.
LikeLike
I am okay on the French names, but would definitely have messed up Knize 10, and probably others!
If put on the spot, I’d have spelt the pronunciation of Hermès as “Air-mess”.
I do notice with those online videos of how to pronounce things that there are subtle variations between them, and you have to listen to a few to know which is the dominant version, and even then I am not always sure. Rather than perfume brands, I do it mostly with hospital doctors with tricky foreign names!
LikeLike