Everything That Happened At The Fragrance Foundation Awards
No actual awards were presented, since we’re all social-distancing — but a star-studded list of presenters and winners were a part of the virtual celebration. Most video clips were pre-recorded and edited in — but it was still fun to watch.
Linda Levy, president, TFF, co-hosted the event with Maye Musk, author of the new book, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success.
Jerry Vittoria Kicks Off the Event
“A world of unprecedented innovation is upon us.” –Jerry Vittoria
Jerry Vittoria, chairman, TFF, president of Fine Fragrance Worldwide, Firmenich, began by welcoming everyone to TFF’s first-ever virtual event.
“It has certainly been one of the most challenging years…And in the U.S., we’ve been further challenged by societal upheaval that has impacted us in the most profound way,” said Vittoria. “I’m proud to say that each of our member companies is reacting with ambitious programs to help shape the future of our fragrance community — to be more diverse and accountable.”
Vittoria spoke about the impact of Covid, and said, “Our world of fragrance has been pummeled by the global pandemic. It will likely take the better part of next year to see business return to what it was before.” He was also very optimistic, adding, “A world of unprecedented innovation is upon us.”
He advised fragrance companies and brands to be transparent, use renewable ingredients, encourage a positive dialogue with consumers, and focus on storytelling to convey more about fragrance creation. “Now more than ever, our fragrances must have a positive impact on the quality of consumer’s lives while protecting our planet’s resources,” Vittoria advised. And a note to marketers: “Claims should enhance the positive nature of fragrance, and be validated by science.”
Linda Levy Says Fragrance is More Important Now, Than Ever
“Fragrance has a more positive impact now on society than ever before.” —Linda Levy
Vittoria introduced Linda Levy, who wore a crimson-red dress by Jason Wu. “Fragrance has an even more positive impact now on society than ever before. I truly believe what we are experiencing now is a lifestyle change, for us personally and for our industry,” Levy said.
Levy explains that while we’re all at home more, fragrance is more important. “Fragrance is enhancing our homes, allowing us to enjoy more time on sanitization and self-care as well as create at-home spas,” she said. “The fragrance worn day-to-day are constantly connecting us to memories. So while we are living more of a restricted lifestyle, we can be transported to destinations or enjoy the memories of the people or times we look forward to in the future.”
TFF Plans To Be More Inclusive & Diverse
Levy touched upon the need for the fragrance industry to be more all-inclusive and diverse and said TFF is expanding its reach to all “LGBTQIA+, and all backgrounds.”
“The TFF will enroll new members at a minimal annual membership…for these new diversity, equity and inclusion members — as well as all new indie members. We will welcome them and support them in the fragrance community like never before,” said Levy.
Adding that times are challenging for the industry, Levy said, “…together we will emerge from 2020 more resilient and better than before.”
TFF’s members sponsor the awards — Firmenich, Givaudan, Hearst Magazines, Interparfums Luxury Brands, Sephora, Shiseido, and Takasago are at the platinum level; Coty, Diptique, Estee Lauder Companies, IFF, L’Oreal Luxe, Luxe Brands, LVMH, Mane, Nest New York, Nordstrom, Puig, Robertet, Ulta, and Victoria’s Secret Beauty are at the gold level.
Watch the entire TFF Awards presentation here on TFF’s website.
Here’s all the winners listed below — and who accepted each award.
All the 2020 Fragrance Foundation Award Winners & Presenters
Maye Musk, host, kept the presentation moving along — and many of the presenters were dressed for a gala. The first award was the Fragrance Editorial of the Year category.
Cher Announces Best Media Campaign Winners
Next up was the Best Media Campaign of the Year award. Cher announced Coty and Puig as winners for these video campaign ads. (See them here.LINK)
Spoiler Alert: Cher also won an award for her fragrance – more about it is below.
Wes Gordon Announces Best Packaging Winners
Wes Gordon, creative director, Carolina Herrera New York, announced the Best Packaging winners.
Gordon said, “Just like you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge a fragrance by its bottle. Or can you? Packaging conveys volumes about both the fragrance of the juice within, and the personality of the wearer.”
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Packaging of the Year – Women’s winner is Eau De Juice Pure Sugar by Luxe Brands in partnership with Cosmopolitan -
Packaging of the Year – Men’s winner is K by Dolce & Gabbana by Shiseido -
Packaging – Universal winner is Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden, The Eyes of the Tiger by Coty and Alessandro Michele.
See the winners, more about each — and who accepted these awards here in the story: (LINK)
Francisco Costa Announces Fragrance of the Year Men’s Winners
Next, Musk introduced introduced presenter Francisco Costa.
Costa is the former creative director of Calvin Klein, and now a newcomer in the fragrance world as the founder of Costa Brazil. (Spoiler: Costa Brazil wins the Innovative Fragrance of the Year Award, scroll down below.)
Before announcing the Fragrance of the Year Men’s winners, Costa answers the question, ‘What is fragrance’? “Fragrance is something that brings memories, it’s something that connects one to another and something that ignites sensuality…”
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The Fragrance of the Year Men’s Luxury winner is Dior Sauvage Parfum by Parfums Christian Dior and LVMH. The juice is by perfumer Francios Demachy.
Terry Darland president, North America, Parfums Christian Dior, accepted the award, and thanked all the teams involved for “imagining and bringing the fragrance to life.” The Dior marketing team in Paris was led by Claude Martinez, who recently stepped down after 19 years as CEO of Parfums Christian Dior. Darland said, “Claude—I was happy to lead the Dior team over the last 16 years and will forever be proud of everything we accomplished here together.”
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The Fragrance of the Year Men’s Prestige winner is John Varvatos JVxNJ Silver Edition by Revlon. The juice is by Symrise and Carlos Vinals and Nathalie Benareau.
Ron Ralleston, general manager of the global fragrance portfolio at Revlon accepted the award.
Jason Wu Announces Universal Fragrance of the Year Winners
Introducing the next category, Jason Wu, fashion designer and lifestyle creative, said, “I continue to use scent as a major inspiration in fashion.” He added, “Fragrance is a universal joy – it can be transformative, enchanting, and glamorous.”
The new Universal category celebrates unisex and gender-neutral fragrances. “These standouts see no boundaries,” Wu said.
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The Fragrance of the Year Universal Luxury winner is Byredo Sundazed by Byredo. The juice is by Robertet and Jerome Epinette.
Julien Gommichon, president of Diptyque and Byredo Americas, accepted the award.
Gommichon thanked his team, Robertet, and Epinette for “a fragrance that superbly blends nostalgia and escapism to channel the warmth of an endless summer.” He added, “From its inception.Byredo has been committed to creating unisex fragrances for all.”
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The Fragrance of the Year Universal Prestige winner is Gucci Memoire D’Une Odeur Eau de Parfum by Coty. The juice is by Firmenich and perfumer Alberto Morillas.
Jordan Saxemard, sr. marketing director, Gucci Beauty accepted the award. He said, “This avant garde scent has the ability to transport us to a unique moment in time — allowing us to bring our precious memories back from the past so that they may live in our present.”
Saxemard adds, “The unique juice transcends both gender and time, establishing a brand new olfactory category, Mineral Aromatic.”
Nacho Figueras Announces the Candle & Home Winners
Next, two stunning horses became the first-ever presenters at an awards show. They “helped” to present the next two awards, in the Candle & Home category.
Nacho Figueras, a polo player and founder of the Ignacio Figueras fragrance collection, announced the category while on his horse with his wife, photographer Delfina Blaquier standing alongside. Then, Blaquier got on her horse to help announce the winners.
The Ignacio Figueras fragrance collection was a finalist in several categories. (And the packaging was designed by Jon Dinapoli-see the Q&A interview about his many celeb fragrance designs.)
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Candle & Home Collection of the Year Winner is Diptyque 34 Home Collection by Diptyque. The scent is by Givaudan and Olivier Pescheux. -
Candle & Home Holiday winner is Diptyque Lucky Charms Holiday Collection by Diptyque, Givaudan, and Olivier Pescheux.
Gommichon accepted both awards. He said, “The 34 collection captures the olfactory atmosphere at the original Diptyque boutique at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris.”
The Lucky Charms collection was designed by German-based artist Olaf Hajek. The collection “wishes luck, protection, and harmony in three scented candles,” said Gommichon.
Lionel Richie Announces Fragrance of the Year Women’s Winner
Lionel Richie recently launched his own fragrance, Hello — and it was a finalist. (And another one of Jon Dinapoli’s designs.) Talking passionately about fragrance, Richie said:
“Fragrance—it’s memories. It’s a vibe. It’s a time in your life — past, present, and of course where you’re going in the future. It’s how you feel about yourself. It’s who you are. It’s family, it’s friends, it’s love. It’s like a great song. You wanna hear it over and over again. You want to feel it. Smell it. Over an over again.”
Before announcing the winner, Richie added that the finalists all “deliver a touch of luxurious magic with every spritz.”
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Fragrance of the Year Women’s Luxury winner is YSL Libre Eau de Parfum, by L’Oeal. The juice is by IFF and perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim.
Gino Luci, head of marketing, YSL, accepted the award. “Free. That’s one word that defines Mr. Yves Saint Laurent. Always on the edge, always experimenting, and breaking boundaries.” Luci said.
“And this fragrance Libre, which means free, celebrates the empowerment of today’s strong women,” he added. Luci thanked his teams and retail partners, and said, “Thank you to Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim for perfectly capturing the spirit of freedom within the juice.”
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Fragrance of the Year Women’s Prestige winner is Lancome Idole by L’Oreal. The juice is by Givaudan and perfumers Adriana Medina, Shyamala Maisondieu, and Nadege Le Garlantezec.
Verane de Marffy, sr. vice president of marketing, Lancome USA, accepted the award. She thanked the perfumers, the Lancome team, and Zendaya, the face of the brand — and architect and industrial designer Chafik Gasmi.
Gasmi designed the packaging–and the bottle is one of the thinnest in the world. “At just 15 millimeters thick, it is a fitting tribute to the industry’s technological advances and innovations,” Marffy said.
Rebecca Moses Anounces Hall of Fame, Perfumer, & Innovation Winners
Rebecca Moses, artist and designer, presented the next three categories — and said, “Fragrance is my mood-enhancer, my happy pill, my non-exercised-induced endorphines. Yes it is my must-must-have.”
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Fragrance of the Year Hall of Fame winner is Editions de Parfum Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur by The Estée Lauder Companies. The juice is by Symrise and perfumer Maurice Roucel. Frederic Malle accepted the award. -
Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year winner is IFF’s Celine Barel for Zoologist Squid. Celine Barel accepted the award. -
Innovative Fragrance of the Year winner is Costa Brazil Resina de Breu by Costa Brazil. It is made with natural resin from the Amazon rainforest.
Francisco Costa, founder of Costa Brazil (who was also a presenter earlier), accepted the award, and spoke about his “Amazon Forever” campaign.
Phluid Project’s Rib Smith & Mila Jam with the Breakout Star And Bath & Body Winners
Rob Smith, CEO & Founder, The Phluid Project, presented the next categories along with Mila Jam, pop recording artist and LGBTQ activist. (Jon Dinapoli also designed this bottle – see him describe it in the Q&A linked above).
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Fragrance of the Year, Breakout Star winner is Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum by Puig — in the heel-shaped bottle. The juice is by Givaudan and perfumer Louise Turner.
Laurie Labesque, general manager, Puig USA accepted the award.
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Bath & Body Line of the Year winner is Byredo, Rose of No Man’s Land by Byredo. The juice is by Robertet and perfumer Jerome Epinette. Gommichon accepted the award.
Chris Collins Announces Fragrance of the Year Popular & Indie Winners
Chris Collins, founder of the niche brand, World of Chris Collins Fragrances, presented the Fragrance of the Year Popular category.
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Fragrance of the Year Popular winner is Kylie Jenner by KKW Fragrance (Nude) — in a lip-shaped bottle. The juice is by Givaudan and perfumers Nicole Mancini and Rodrigo Flores-Roux.
Kim Kardashian West accepted the award.
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Indie Fragrance of the Year winner is Thom Browne 09.27.65 Vetyver Absolute by Thom Browne New York. The juice is by Givaudan and perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux. TFF accepted on the company’s behalf.
Maye Musk Announces Consumer Choice of the Year Winners
Maye Musk, host, took over presenter duties to announce the last category, Consumer Choice of the Year.
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Consumer Choice of the Year Men’s winner is Boss Bottled Infinite by Coty. The juice is by Firmenich and perfumer Annick Mendardo. Coty’s Frederic Arbel accepted the award. -
Consumer Choice of the Year Women’s Prestige winner is Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau So Sweet by Coty. The juice is by Firmenich and perfumer Alberto Morillas.
Erwinn Leberrigaud, global vice president of Marc Jacobs Fragrances accepted the award.
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Consumer Choice of the Year Women’s Popular winner is Cher Eau de Couture by Scent Beauty. The juice is by Firmenich and perfumer Clement Gavarry.
Cher accepted the award, saying “I won! I love this perfume.”