Lingerie brand Victoria's Secret has been ordered to pull its latest fragrance and body care collection from shelves in Qatar.
The name of the Strawberries & Champagne collection received criticism from authorities in Qatar, who ordered products to be pulled from the Victoria's Secret store in one of Doha's major shopping centres, the Landmark Mall.
The products – VS Fantasies Strawberries & Champagne Fragrance Mist, Ultra-Moisturizing Hand And Body Cream, and Daily Body Wash – were all removed after the Economy and Commerce Ministry deemed them to be against the “customs, traditions and religious values” of country, it said in a Twiter post.
There was no further official comment or explanation about the motive behind the product withdrawal, but speculation has arisen that the decision was made in line with the state’s strict alcohol regulations. In Qatar, the sale of alcohol is limited to certain hotels and bars, and expatriates can only buy alcohol if they have a licence and earn over a certain salary.
Qatar's Ministry of Environment has recently brought a law into the state designed to regulate the import and sale of perfumes containing alcohol, aiming to reduce the levels of ethanol and methanol in the products.
On the Victoria's Secret website, the scent is described as “a tempting, fruity fragrance... a splash of flirtation with wild strawberries and sparkling champagne”. The fragrance is said to be infused with conditioning aloe vera and calming chamomile, and the user is encouraged to “spray on for a sexy touch of scent”. Meanwhile, the hand and body cream is fortified with replenishing avocado and sweet almond oils, plus hydrating honey. Finally, the body wash contains aloe vera and antioxidant vitamin E.
