At the Fragrance Foundation’s annual luncheon, the company announced the winners of its Lifetime Achievement Perfumer recognition and the Game Changer Award. 

Honorine Blanc, Master Perfumer, DSM-Firmenich, is named this year’s Lifetime Achievement Perfumer, who will be presented the coveted award at the June ceremony. 

In a special presentation, the luncheon also awarded world-renowned fragrance taxonomist and historian Michael Edwards with the Game Changer Award, recognizing his immeasurable contribution to the fragrance industry.

Honorine Blanc

Blanc is a Master Perfumer who is known for translating emotion into scent through a balance of artistic intuition and technical expertise. 

Born in Beirut and studied in Paris, she built her career in New York, where she creates for the global market. She has helped redefine the American fragrance landscape, working with brands such as Aerin Lauder, and has multiple Top 10 U.S. bestsellers. 

She has created new, unique signatures in niche and mainstream categories that reflect her lasting influence on the industry. 

She is also known for mentoring the next generation of talented perfumers.

Honorine Blanc, Master Perfumer, DSM-Firmenich, said

“I am happy and honored to be named Lifetime Achievement Perfumer by The Fragrance Foundation. This recognition reflects a career devoted to passion, creativity and joy.”

Michael Edwards

Edwards is a fragrance taxonomist, historian, and the founding editor of the Fragrances of the World reference books and database. 

He created the iconic Fragrance Wheel and pioneered the development of online fragrance finders.

In a career spanning over forty years, Michael and his team have classified and matched over 60,000 fragrances—family by family, scent by scent.

He is the author of Perfume Legends (1996, updated 2019) and its companion volume American Legends (2024)

Michael Edwards commented,

“For over forty years, I’ve matched fragrances, family by family, scent by scent, to make it easier for people to discover new fragrances they’ll enjoy. To be recognized by The Fragrance Foundation as a Game Changer for my work is an incredible honor that I treasure.”