Halle Berry: Scent of a Woman

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Halle Berry is joining the ranks of Britney Spears, Usher, Paris Hilton and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

And just about every other celebrity notable.

The Academy Award winning beauty has signed a deal to develop her very own fragrance line.

Expected next year, the initial roll-out for the yet-to-be-named products will launch in department stores such as J.C. Penney and will go mass market thereafter reports WWD.

"Halle is an iconic actress and symbolizes beauty to many generations," Coty's senior vice president of global marketing Steve Mormoris said about the pregnant 'Monster's Ball' star, who also endorses Revlon cosmetics.

"She adds another dimension to the celebrity fragrance market. Halle has always been a little more mysterious, not quite as open with her personal life as some other stars. Her fragrances will allow her to present another facet of her personality to her fans."

Celebrity deals reportedly include $3 million to $5 million in advance, with a royalty of about 5 percent paid out to the subject, industry sources noted. Mormoris declined to discuss the terms of Berry's deal with that daily fashion newspaper.

Coty's celebrity portfolio includes the scent brands of Jennifer Lopez, David and Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kimora Lee Simmons, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Kate Moss and Tim McGraw.

"It's clear to us at Coty that the celebrity segment is alive and well," Mormoris said. "It's constantly being reinvented and refreshed. These fragrances are entertainment, but in a different way."

Meanwhile, Berry's last film 'Things We Lost in the Fire' arrives on DVD next week. The emotionally enthralling film tells the tale of two people brought together by fate to see each other through some of the toughest times of their lives. It stars fellow Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro and 'The X-Files' star and David Duchovny.