P. Diddy to launch Este Lauder perfume

NEW YORK (Este Lauder press release) - Estee Lauder Cos. will create and market a new line of fragrances under the Sean John name under an exclusive, multi-year agreement with music icon and producer Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

The fragrance, to be called Sean John, the name of Combs's clothing label, will be released in time for the New York fashion shows in fall 2005, The New York Times reported Friday.

In a press release Friday, the skin-care, makeup and fragrance products company said the development of the new fragrance line will be overseen by John Demsey, president of the contemporary M-A-C line, who will focus on developing Sean John while retaining his duties at M-A-C.

Combs is a record producer, recording artist and actor, as well as the chief executive and founder of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group. He is currently starring on Broadway in the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's play "Raisin in the Sun".
Sean John, a privately held company, made its fashion debut with a men's sportswear collection for the spring 1999 season. It has annual retail sales in the U.S. of more than $350 million, Estee Lauder said.
The Sean John clothing line is going upscale. This fall, Combs plans to add pinstripe suits and other elegant outfits to his athletics-inspired collections.