Fragrance Foundation Arabia, a unit of the U.S.-based Fragrance Foundation, has announced the winners of the first annual perfume awards in Dubai.

The FiFi Dubai awards, held at The Address Downtown Dubai, were divided into three main award categories: “Fragrance of the Year,” “Retailer of the Year,” and “My favorite perfume of the Year.” An independent jury panel determined the winners in the first two categories, whereas consumers were encouraged to vote online for the “My favourite perfume of the Year” award – a consumer choice category.

The Arabian fragrance categories included Arabian Prestige Male and Female, which were won by Dahanal Oudh Maysam by Ajmal Perfumes and Nagham by Arabian Oud, respectively. The Arabian Popular Appeal categories were also won by Ajmal Perfumes and Arabian Oud, for the Khawatir male fragrance and the Ghoroub female fragrance.

International brands were also recognized in the competition and winners included Giorgio Armani which picked up the International Prestige Male Award for its One Thousand and One Nights, as well as Yves Saint Laurent which won the International Prestige Female for Belle D’Opium.

“The FiFi Awards have become iconic since the first event was held in New York in 1972, and the awards were soon labelled as the ‘Perfume Oscars’ by opinion leaders around the globe,” says Grit Pannier, president of Fragrance Foundation Arabia. “Today the FiFi awards celebrate fragrances in seven countries around the globe, including the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Russia and now Dubai.

“The FiFi Dubai Awards are very unique because Arabia is the home of perfume and its people have cherished scents and their sensations for thousands of years. This heritage therefore inspired us to introduce the Arabian fragrance categories along with the International awards – a scenario that reflects the Middle East market,” Pannier adds.

More than 100,000 consumers voted online to determine the winner of the “My favorite perfume of the Year” Award, and the winner of the consumer choice award International fragrance was Gucci Guilty by Gucci.

“We are extremely pleased with the industry participation and the outcome of the first FiFi Awards, and would like to congratulate all the winners,” says Shahzad Haider, chairman of Fragrance Foundation Arabia.

“While the FiFi awards turn the spotlight on the historic and yet so vibrant industry in the region, it is also very clear that fragrance production and trade in the Middle East has grown into a multi-billion dollar business with resilience unmatched in any other territory.”

“The Fragrance Foundation Arabia’s role is to support that growth and the FiFi awards is proof of the success of the concept. Never before have all major players of our industry been seen together in one ballroom,” adds Haidar.