The Weekly Digest: March 10 - 16th

Let's chat consumer culture.

Welcome to the Weekly Digest—a bite-sized breakdown of everything that shaped consumer culture over the past seven days. From viral product launches to shifting shopping habits, we’re diving into the trends, controversies, and conversations that defined the week.

Let’s Digest!

1. The Scent Bubble Burst

NEW! NEW! NEW! Every time I open an app, I’m bombarded with yet another fragrance launch. This week alone, Kayali has dropped a new scent, Phlur has released two, and the list keeps growing. In just the first few months of 2025, over 1,100 new perfumes have hit the market. But why?

The answer lies in the Attention Economy—where brands aren’t just selling perfume; they’re selling content. Consumers aren’t only purchasing bottles; they’re consuming reviews, first impressions, and hype. People already know what Chanel No. 5 smells like, but they don’t know the latest releases—so they search, watch, and engage. To stay relevant on social media, brands must keep feeding the cycle of newness.

But at what point does new become too much? The market is approaching over-saturation, and consumers are drowning in choice. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the scent bubble bursts.

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2. The Black Market of NYC Restaurant Reservations Could Be Coming to an End

In New York City, few things grant social currency quite like securing an impossible restaurant reservation. Pop culture has long immortalized the struggle—whether it’s Sex and the City or American Psycho, where Patrick Bateman’s sanity hinges on whether he can score a table at the ultra-exclusive Dorsia. But fiction mirrors reality, and so the black market for restaurant reservations was born.

To combat this underground economy, the Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act was enacted just weeks ago. At first, it seemed like an odd target for legislation—after all, landing a reservation at top-tier restaurants already feels like a high-stakes game. Set your alarm. Arrange backup devices. Refresh the webpage frantically. Reservation not available—try again. The process mirrors the adrenaline rush (and frustration) of limited-edition sneaker drops. So if technology offers a shortcut, what’s the harm? If people are willing to skip the stress and pay a premium, why crack down?

Digging deeper, the reasons become clearer. Restaurants have reported an increase in no-shows, making it harder to maintain stable operations. The hospitality industry thrives on relationships, but third-party resellers disrupt this connection, turning once-loyal customers into anonymous transactions. Worse, unauthorized platforms profit by acting as middlemen without the restaurants’ consent.

This could be part of a bigger issue we’ll be exploring more on Consumer Digest: How Convenience Kills Community. The rise of bots and reservation scalping may make dining easier, but at what cost? When your first interaction with a restaurant is under a fake name, can true hospitality exist? Maybe it’s time to rethink how much we’re willing to trade for convenience.

3. Apostrophe Skincare is No Longer

About a week ago, Apostrophe Skincare announced via Instagram that it would be shutting down for good. The brand first gained traction during the COVID-19 lockdown, capitalizing on the rise of telehealth by making dermatology treatments more accessible. Its success was fueled by the internet’s obsession with prescription skincare—think Tretinoin and Spironolactone—which drove demand for online dermatology services. In 2020 Approximately 995,322 patients were prescribe Tretinion, the highest number in years.

In 2021, Hims & Hers acquired Apostrophe, a move that now appears to have been less about expansion and more about eliminating competition in the telehealth space. By absorbing Apostrophe’s data and customer base, Hims & Hers effectively strengthened its own foothold in the market—a textbook business strategy.

While the closure marks the end of an era for Apostrophe users, it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of telehealth-based as in person medical care becomes more favorable.

4. A Luxury Face by Louis Vuitton

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend a Louis Vuitton fashion show. As I watched the spectacle unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why doesn’t Louis Vuitton have a beauty line? And just like that, the luxury gods answered—Louis Vuitton announced the launch of its Beauty Line, led by none other than the legendary Pat McGrath.