The Fragrance Foundation, headquartered in New York, tapped key industry experts to form a specialized committee dedicated to developing the recognition, understanding and appreciation of “Indie” fragrance brands and their creators.

The “Indie” Fragrance Committee supports the excellence, talent and artistry of “Indie” perfumes; celebrates their individuality and craftsmanship; gives a voice to the indie brands; and addresses any issues and concerns that are important to the group as a whole, according to The Fragrance Foundation. An “Indie” brand is defined as a brand that has been on the market for at least two years and is distributed in one to 25 doors.

“While niche fragrances have always been recognized at the annual FiFi Awards, we are keen to find a way to encourage more niche/independent submissions, reaching out to the smaller, successful, entrepreneurial brands not supported by a large company,” explains Rochelle Bloom, president of The Fragrance Foundation.

To form the committee, Bloom and Foundation Vice President Mary Ellen Lapsansky reached out to a group of fragrance experts and enlisted their collective knowledge and experience of the niche/independent fragrance culture. The committee will be an on-going source of advice, and will provide their insight and experience with regard to procedures for submissions, judging criteria, overall support, organization of The Indie FiFi Award ceremony at the January 2012 Elements Showcase and the future potential of the “Indie” category.

The “Indie” committee members include Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes; Arnaud Adrian of Robertet; Frederick Bouchardy of Joya Studio; Karl Bradl of Aedes de Venustas; Virginia Bonofiglio of Fashion Institute of Technology; Denise Capozzalo of Barneys; Victoria Frolova of Bois de Jasmin; Carrie Meredith of Eyeliner on a Cat; Ralf Schwieger of Mane; and Rochelle Bloom and Mary Ellen Lapsansky of The Fragrance Foundation.