Camille McDonald, president brand development and merchandising, Bath & Body Works

On Tuesday October 4, at an event at New York City’s St. Regis Hotel, The Fragrance Foundation honored Camille McDonald, inducting her into the group’s prestigious Circle of Champions. McDonald was feted for her accomplished career, particularly in her current role as president of brand development & merchandising at Bath & Body Works. The annual affair—this was the 12th—takes the approach of a “roast,” and McDonald’s co-workers and peers paid tribute through a series of jibes and anecdotes that had the crowd of over 250 fragrance industry professionals laughing out loud. “Roasters” included Don Loftus (president and CEO, P&G Prestige, U.S.); SoYoung Kang (vice president brand development Bath & Body Works); Cosimo Policastro (executive vice president fine fragrances, Givaudan); and Jerry Vittoria (president, fine fragrances, Firmenich). McDonald, who had been ribbed during the evening for her verbosity, was succinct and gracious in accepting the award, commenting on her love for the industry. “Despite frustrations with the industry, shoppers, we [in the fragrance industry] have the best gig there is.” She urged those in attendance to “pay it forward,” to make fragrance desirable, adding: “Fragrance at any price is someone’s luxury.”