The Fragrance Foundation held its annual FiFi Awards (the Oscar’s of the fragrance industry) on Wednesday, May 25 in New York. As always, it was an evening charged with much excitement and anticipation. One of my favorite moments during the ceremony was when actress Halle Berry acknowledged Givaudan perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux in contributing to her winning fragrance, Halle Berry Pure Orchid. She thanked him profusely and then pulled him onstage to enjoy a round of applause. It is not something that celebrities nor brands do that often so it was wonderful to see.
So, as we prepare to enjoy a long Memorial Day weekend, a poll!
What would you nominate as your top favorite fragrances from last year?
I listed mine in the Best of 2010 post, and I was pleased to see that Martin Margiela Untitled scored a win, while Frédéric Malle’s splendid Portrait of a Lady made it into finals.
All The 2011 FiFi® Winners
Fragrance Hall of Fame
To be nominated for The Fragrance Hall of Fame, Award, a fragrance must be on the market 15 years or more, and supported by marketing strategies, which helped the fragrance achieve awareness and success in 2010.
FRAGRANCE HALL OF FAME WOMEN’S
Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey
Beauté Prestige International
FRAGRANCE HALL OF FAME MEN’S
Jean Paul Gaultier ‘Le Male’
Beauté Prestige International
PERFUME EXTRAORDINAIRE
MARTIN MARGIELA UNTITLED (GIVAUDAN)
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – MEN’S LUXE
BLEU DE CHANEL – CHANEL
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – WOMEN’S LUXE
GUCCI GUILTY – P & G PRESTIGE
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY BRAND – MEN’S
BANANA REPUBLIC/REPUBLIC OF MEN ESSENCE EAU DE TOILETTE – INTER PARFUMS USA
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY BRAND – WOMEN’S
BOMBSHELL – VICTORIA’S SECRET
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – BROAD APPEAL – MEN’S
HERVE LEGER HOMME – AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – BROAD APPEAL – WOMEN’S
HALLE BY HALLE BERRY PURE ORCHID – COTY
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER
MY LIFE BY MARY J BLIGE – CAROL’S DAUGHTER
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR SPECIALTY LUXE – MEN’S
TOM FORD AZURE LIME – TOM FORD BEAUTY
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR SPECIALTY LUXE – WOMEN’S
BALENCIAGA PARIS – COTY PRESTIGE
FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR – INDIE BRAND
SIX SCENTS PARFUMS: SERIES THREE (UNISEX) – SIX SCENTS PARFUMS
CONSUMERS’ CHOICE AWARD MEN’S
BATH & BODY WORKS SIGNATURE COLLECTION FOR MEN TWILIGHT WOODS
CONSUMERS’ CHOICE AWARD WOMEN’S
BOMBSHELL – VICTORIA’S SECRET
FRAGRANCE SALES BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
At the discretion of the Board of Directors, a retailer can be recognized for having done something out of the ordinary. This year, it was decided to honor a brand, who at retail, achieved record-breaking sales to set a new benchmark:
Mary J. Blige and Carol’s Daughter.
Halle Berry – The Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year Award
This award, presented by the Foundation’s Board of Directors is to honor a celebrity who has embraced and promoted the world of fragrance over a period of time. It celebrates the ongoing success and support given by the celebrity to the industry and therefore attracting consumers to the category.
Fergie – 2011 FiFi® New Fragrance Celebrity of the Year Award
Selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, this award recognizes a celebrity whose very first fragrance has enjoyed instant success with the consumer and brought recognition to the fragrance category.
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE – WOMEN’S SCENT FEATURE WINNER
ALLURE – POETIC LICENSE, SEPTEMBER 2010
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE- MEN’S SCENT FEATURE WINNERS
A TIE!
ELLE MAGAZINE – PICKING UP HIS SCENT, DECEMBER 2010
MARIE CLAIRE MAGAZINE – MAKING SCENTS FOR MEN, OCTOBER 2010
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE – WOMEN’S SCENT BITE WINNER
ELLE MAGAZINE – MIX MASTERS, SEPTEMBER 2010
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE – BLOG
ELLE.COM – AN EAU OF OUR OWN, OCTOBER 2010
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR – FRAGRANCE CREATION & FORMULATION
ROBERTET FRAGRANCES – “SEED TO SCENT”
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR – PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY & DELIVERY SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES – “REDKEN RADIANT SEA SPRAY”
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR –INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
FIRMENICH – osMOZ iPHONE APP
BATH & BODY LINE OF THE YEAR
COCO MADEMOISELLE BATH ESSENTIALS – CHANEL
INTERIOR SCENT COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
JONATHAN ADLER “HAPPY CHIC” – THE MAESA GROUP FOR JONATHAN ADLER
BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – WOMEN’S LUXE
GUCCI GUILTY – P & G PRESTIGE
BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – MEN’S LUXE
MARC JACOBS BANG – COTY PRESTIGE
BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – WOMEN’S BROAD APPEAL
BOMBSHELL – VICTORIA’S SECRET
BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – MEN’S BROAD APPEAL
HERVE LEGER HOMME – AVON PRODUCTS
BEST MEDIA CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR – WOMEN’S
GUCCI GUILTY – P & G PRESTIGE
BEST MEDIA CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR – MEN’S
BLEU DE CHANEL – CHANEL
For the first time, two top scorers of The Fragrance Foundation’s Online Certification Exam for Sales Specialists were recognized from the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 sessions:
Fall 2010 Top Scorer: Amanda Markey, C.F.S.S. Nordstrom, Ross Park, Pennsylvania.
Spring 2011 Top Scorer: Nicole Maki, C.F.S.S. Nordstrom, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Source: The Fragrance Foundation
34 Comments
Suzanna: That Balenciaga was very well done, and, in a year where no releases truly grabbed me, its modern violet interpretation stands out.
Also, in general I approve of any Chanel bath and body products, so I am glad to see them receive recognition. There is nothing like a suite of these products to accompany No. 5, or Coco, or Coco Mademoiselle. I wish they were available for my other favorites, especially Bois des Iles. May 27, 2011 at 7:55am
karin: My picks – Nuit de Tubereuse, Kilian Love and Tears, Trefle Pur, and I do love Balenciaga. Happy to see it won! May 27, 2011 at 8:43am
karin: Traversee du Bosphore is amazing, too!!! May 27, 2011 at 8:44am
Uella: I expected something more unconventional from Maison Martin Margiela, I love their clothing line so much but the fragrance was a disappointment to me. The Balenciaga didn’t impress me either, it’s pretty but pretty boring, not memorable by any means.
Guess who just tried the new Lutens? Vitriol d’Oeillet is modern carnation (unisex but more on the feminine side), more wearable than I expected but very alluring, De Profundis is a feminine floral, also highly wearable for a Lutens, both are very beautiful. May 27, 2011 at 9:22am
Samarkand: I rather prefer Nuit de Tubéreuse too, which I adore, or Like This from ELO both being much more interesting than Untitled. Or L’Heure Fougueuse.
Like Uella, I am very impressed by the next Lutens especially Vitriol d’Oeillet a “hot blooded” scent, a kind of angry Carmen… On the opposite, De profundis is a special floral which seems to belong to Lutens new way since Clair de Musc. I did not liked very much his last ones, except Boxeuses, but I’ll get Vitriol d’Oeillet and De profundis as soon as possible. May 27, 2011 at 12:02pm
dleep: My favorites from this year are Nuit de Tubereuse and La Belle Helene (which nobody ever mentions). May 27, 2011 at 12:09pm
Stephen: As my favorite fragrances of 2010, i would have to go with Balenciaga Paris and Marc Jacobs Bang as mainstream choices… Niche wise, I would have to go with Nuit de Tubereuse and Portrait of a Lady.. On another note.. i quite enjoy Halle Berry’s fragrances, and I’m happy to see her named as celebrity of the year! May 27, 2011 at 1:18pm
Carter: L’Heure Fougueuse all the way. May 27, 2011 at 1:48pm
Carter: Followed by Shalimar Ode a la Vanille, Nuit de Tubereuse and Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom. May 27, 2011 at 1:54pm
Suzy Q: Nuit de Tubereuse is in my top 5 favorites of all time, not just for 2010. It’s addicting.
Also for 2010 these stood out for me:
Grand Neroli
Traversee du Bosphore
L’Heure Fougueuse May 27, 2011 at 2:11pm
Victoria: Balenciaga was definitely well done and interesting, and I also picked it among my top 2010 favorites in the prestige category. Yet, it is not that exciting in wear, because it is fairly linear and does not have much evolution on the skin.
Coco Mademoiselle body milk has been one of my favorite products for a couple of years. I have not been wearing it as of late, but I remember liking it much better than the perfume itself. May 27, 2011 at 10:51am
sharyl: Nuit de Tubereuse was love at first sniff for me and it has only grown more sacred to me over time. When I finished my sample I immediately had to have a full bottle because as others mentioned, it is completely addictive and I could not be without it. And as a small side benefit, the bottle is absolutely gorgeous, as is the box. Beautiful in every aspect. May 27, 2011 at 2:52pm
Victoria: Love and Tears is my current obsession. I have been wearing it a lot! May 27, 2011 at 10:52am
Victoria: It is another one I love. It is also such a pleasure to wear–it feels like warm silk on the skin. May 27, 2011 at 10:52am
Victoria: I really found a good fit between Untitled and the house, mostly because of the interesting way in which Untitled handled the woody-incense accord. I really find this fragrance memorable, and I appreciate its pared down aesthetic.
Now, your comments on Lutens cheer me up! Thank you for sharing, Uella. Vitriol d’Oeillet is the one I am most interested in. May 27, 2011 at 10:55am
Aimee L’Ondee: I know this is really important stuff to the industry, so I don’t mean this as a put-down to anyone, but I find it really difficult to dredge up any interest. All of the perfumes winning these categories are just so uninteresting to me in every way. May 27, 2011 at 11:35am
Victoria: Sure, it is only interesting in so far as to see what the industry considers worthy. That’s all. As consumers, we can easily ignore it. Which is why I ran BdJ top favorites recently. Perfumistas have a very different take on what they consider special and interesting! May 27, 2011 at 11:42am
violetnoir: I agree with the other posters who have noted Nuit de Tubereuse. Why was that overlooked?
Also the other two L’Artisan releases from last year, Coeur de Vetiver Sacre and Traversee du Bosphore, and Cartier IV, Fougueuse.
I loved them all!
Hugs, rsj May 27, 2011 at 3:43pm
behemot: I liked Love Chloe and Womanity (prestige). Absolutely agree with Victoria about Balenciaga. My number one was Guerlain “Ode a la vanille”.
As of the “niche”stuff, I liked LA Havana Vanille and SL Jeux de Peau, but later realized none of them was 2010! I am a bit confused. May 27, 2011 at 3:44pm
Victoria: “Angry Carmen” fragrance sounds fantastic! I only need to hear this to put Vitriol d’Oeillet on my wishlist. May 27, 2011 at 1:56pm
Victoria: Nuit de Tubereuse has certainly been mentioned a lot. La Belle Helene is also less widely distributed, so maybe not that many people have tried it. May 27, 2011 at 1:57pm
Victoria: I liked how generous and warm Halle Berry was in her comments. So few celebrities recognize the work that perfumers put into their fragrances. May 27, 2011 at 1:58pm
Victoria: Mmmm, L’Heure Fougueuse is splendid! May 27, 2011 at 1:58pm
Victoria: I need to try Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom. I keep hearing such good things about it.
Like you, I also enjoyed Ode a la Vanille. A nicely done Shalimar interpretation. May 27, 2011 at 1:59pm
Victoria: I also found it addictive. There is something mesmerizing about that earthy, mineral note set against the lush, soft petals. May 27, 2011 at 2:23pm
Suzy Q: Sharyl, I totally agree. I went from sample to decant and to big bottle in short order. I love it best in the summer when it reveals all its notes. And yes, the beautiful box and bottle just complete the experience. May 27, 2011 at 7:01pm
Fernando: Nuit de Tubereuse for my wife, and Arsene Lupin Dandy for me. No contest! May 27, 2011 at 7:48pm
sweetlife: “Sure, it is only interesting in so far as to see what the industry considers worthy. That’s all. As consumers, we can easily ignore it.”
I know, I know, V. And yet, it strikes me that sums up one of the industry’s problems in a nutshell. Sigh. Well we will continue working from within and without as best we know how, eh?
Not surprised AT ALL that the certification winners come from Nordstrom’s. More proof that you really can foster a different culture of sales/marketing.
I think my favorite thing about the FiFi’s this year was getting to see your dress! 🙂 May 28, 2011 at 9:28am
Victoria: I'm invariably impressed by the professionalism of Nordstrom's SAs. I once took a look at what they study to be certified, and it is great. The study covers all aspects, from history to ingredients. I bet, it would be interesting to the perfume lovers too.
Thank you! 🙂 I bought that dress on a whim, but I was very happy with it. Remember how I said that I never wear white? Well, I changed my mind this summer! May 28, 2011 at 9:51am
Victoria: I don’t think that Nuit de Tubereuse was submitted by its maker, so it was not even in the running. But I agree, it is fantastic. May 28, 2011 at 1:41pm
Victoria: So am I! I originally wanted to include Jeux de Peau until I realized that it came out this year. May 28, 2011 at 1:42pm
Victoria: So glad to see that you ended up liking Arsene Lupin Dandy after all. I find it an excellent fragrance, and I wear it myself, even though I originally bought it for my husband. May 28, 2011 at 1:43pm
notcathy: I love BOMBSHELL, but most of my perfume is from Victoria secret..:):) May 29, 2011 at 3:34am
Victoria: VS now has a big line of fragrances and body care! June 1, 2011 at 3:54pm