FiFi Breakfast Serves Up Healthy Dose of Optimism

Hundreds of fragrance industry guests gather to hear results of Top 5 Fifi finalists voting.

Written by Jamie Matusow, Editor

Lola Marc Jacobs – Coty Prestige

Almost 400 people packed the grand ballroom on the 36th floor of Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Friday morning, April 23rd, in anticipation of the announcements of the top finalists in this year’s FiFi Awards. The fragrances that had been voted among the top 5 (or 6, in cases of a tie; 3 or 4, if entries were limited) were revealed in a number of categories. After a second round of voting (ballots will be mailed this week), final winners will be awarded the coveted FiFi Award trophies at a grand celebration party on June 10 at The Downtown Armory at Lexington Avenue at 26th Street. A star-studded cast from the entertainment, fragrance and fashion industry will highlight the event.

Rochelle Bloom, president of The Fragrance Foundation, welcomed the early morning crowd on Friday, commenting, “The record turnout says good things for the fragrance industry, I think…”

She also encouraged finalists and contenders to use the FiFi designation to their best advantage, advising them to inform retailers and use the logo to boost sales. “Give retailers something to talk about,” she suggested.

Lauren Glassberg, lifestyle reporter and fill-in anchor at WABC TV Eyewitness News moderated the event and announced many of the finalists.

Several awards were presented during the event. FiFis for Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage were presented, and will be further acknowledged at the celebration on June 10th. Elle magazine won three of the four editorial categories as follow, with Allure taking the lead on the women’s scent feature:

Allure – Women’s Scent Feature December 2009
Elle – Men’s Scent Feature November 2009
Elle – Scent Bite October 2009
Elle.com—Blog April 2009

FiFis for Technological Breakthrough were presented for:

Packaging Technology & Delivery Systems: Victorinox Swiss Army – Victorinox Swiss Unlimited-Rubber Bottle
Fragrance Creation & Formulation: Givaudan Fragrances Corp. – Miriad 2.0

Additional announcements: Bath & Body Works was named Retailer of the Year; Designer Michael Kors has been honored with The Hall of Fame award; and Usher has been designated Male Celebrity Fragrance of the Year.

Following is a listing of finalists announced at the FiFi breakfast. Good luck to all!

a scent by issey miyake – Beauté Prestige International

BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – Women’s Prestige
a scent by issey miyake – Beauté Prestige International
essence narciso rodriguez eau de parfum – Beauté Prestige International
L’Eau Ambrée by Prada – Puig USA, Inc.
Life Threads Collection: Silver, Gold, Platinum – La Prairie
Lola Marc Jacobs – Coty Prestige


BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – Men’s Prestige
Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers Eau De Toilette –
Inter Parfums USA
John Varvatos Artisan – Beauté Prestige International
John Varvatos Rock Volume One – Beauté Prestige International
Odin Fragrances Collection: 01,02,03 – Foundry NYC
Victorinox Swiss Unlimited – Victorinox Swiss Army

In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon – Avon Products, Inc.

BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – Women’s Popular Appeal
Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Twilight Woods – Bath & Body Works
Halle by Halle Berry – Coty
In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon – Avon Products, Inc.
Faith Hill Parfums – Coty

BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR – Men’s Popular Appeal
comme une Evidence – Yves Rocher North America Inc.
Ironman – Avon Products, Inc.
Playboy – Coty
Seduction in Black – Antonio Banderas – Puig USA, Inc.
Super Samba Man – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l, Ltd.

Crescent Row Collection – Benefit Cosmetics

FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR
Women’s Luxe
Crescent Row Collection – Benefit Cosmetics
Flora by Gucci – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
Lola Marc Jacobs – Coty Prestige
Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
YSL Parisienne – YSL Beaute/L’Oréal

Men’s Luxe (6 in this category due to a tie)
ckfree Calvin Klein – Coty Prestige
D&G Fragrance Anthology – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
Givenchy PLAY – Parfums Givenchy
Only the Brave – Diesel Fragrances, L’Oréal
Shiseido Zen for Men – Shiseido Cosmetics America
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Givenchy PLAY – Parfums Givenchy

Women’s Popular Appeal (6 in this category due to a tie)
Avril Lavigne Black Star – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
Faith Hill Parfums – Coty
Flirt! Flowerific Perfume Spray – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Halle by Halle Berry – Coty
Mariah Carey Ultra Pink – Elizabeth Arden
Super Samba Woman – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l., Ltd.

Men’s Popular Appeal (only 3 in this category)
Playboy – Coty
Seduction in Black, Antonio Banderas – Puig USA, Inc.
Super Samba Man – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l, Ltd.

Women’s Nouveau Niche
Bond No. 9 Astor Place – Bond No. 9 New York
Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf – L’Oréal USA
essence narciso rodriguez eau de parfum – Beauté Prestige International
Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
L’Eau Ambrée by Prada – Puig USA, Inc.

Men’s Nouveau Niche (only 4 in this category)
Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers Eau De Toilette – Inter Parfums USA
Bond No. 9 Brooklyn – Bond No. 9 New York
Bond No. 9 Perfume – Bond No. 9 New York
Collage by 3.1 Phillip Lim & Natalie Gracia-Cetto, Ende/Anfang by Damir Doma & Yann Vasnier, Solar Donkey Power by Henrik Vibskov & Louise Turner, Smell by Henry Holland & Stephen Nilsen, Nicoll 17 by Richard Nicoll & Rodrigo Flores Roux, Whiskey Caramélisé by Toga & Alexandra Kosinski – Six Scents Parfums Inc.

Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Women’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 4 in this category)
Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Twilight Woods EDT – Bath & Body Works
In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon – Avon Products, Inc.
Love Rocks – Victoria’s Secret
Naturelle – Yves Rocher North America Inc.

Men’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 3 in this category)
comme une Evidence – Yves Rocher North America Inc.
Patrick Dempsey 2 – Avon Products, Inc.
Vertical – Victoria’s Secret



Unique Boutique (6 in this category due to a tie)
Baroque Pearl for Gump’s (women’s) – Through Smoke Creative
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire (women’s) – Guerlain
Halston Man Eau de Toilette (men’s) – Elizabeth Arden
L’Oeuvre Noire Back to Black Aphrodisiac (unisex) – by Kilian
Tom Ford Private Blend White Suede (unisex/women’s) – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Tuberose Trilogy (unisex) – Histoires de Parfums

It was an exciting morning filled with optimism and good cheer. As Donna Kalajian Lagani, senior vice president/publishing director, Cosmopolitan magazine, and media sponsor of the event, remarked: “Everyone’s happier this year. Everything’s smelling rosy again—and the smell of success for fragrances is the best.”

More info: www.fragrance.org