Top Row: Luca Maffei, Firmenich Perfumers Frank Voelkl to my left and Ilias Ermenidis
Bottom Row: Yann Vasnier of Givaudan and Pierre Negrin of Firmenich
This was my first year attending The Fragrance Foundation Awards Ceremony at Alice Tully Hall. I invited Rising Star and Art and Olfaction award winning Italian Perfumer Luca Maffei, as my companion. Luca is as charming as he is talented and was my photographer as I blogged live on the red carpet and during the ceremony.
Alec Baldwin
Emcee Alec Baldwin wowed the audience with his provactive humor and surprised all with the announcement that his wife gave birth to a boy just this morning. He kept the ceremony moving along, cracking jokes about Perfumer of the Year Annie Buzantian creating a perfume that smelled like Donald Trump's hair and announcing that he wears By Kilian (not too proud to ask Kilian Hennessy for a case in front of thousands). His terrible French accent, R rated jokes and Tom Ford impressions kept everyone laughing. Kendall Jenner, Linda Evangelista, Johnny Weir, Sophia Bush, Naomi Campbell, Victor Cruz of the NY Giants and Danielle Brooks of Orange is the New Black were among the presenters.
Special musical guest was Bryan Adams had everyone humming along with "Summer of 69" and "When you Love a Woman" He told the audience that he never performed before a better smelling crowd.
Hall of Fame
John Demsey Group President The Estée Lauder Companies
Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Popular
Modern Banana Republic Man (Inter Parfums USA LLC)
Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Popular
Taylor Swift Incredible Things (Elizabeth Arden)
Fragrance of theYear: Men’s Prestige
Dior Homme Eau for Men (Parfums Christian Dior)
Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Prestige
Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum (L’Oréal)
Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Luxury
Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Luxury
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid (Tom Ford Beauty)
Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year
IFF Perfume Calligraphy Saffron Clement Gavarry
Fragrance Hall of Fame
J’adore (Parfums Christian Dior)
Packaging of the Year: Men’s
Intoxicated (By Kilian)
Packaging of the Year:
Daisy Dream Marc Jacobs (Coty)
Interior Scent Collection of the Year
Hermès le Parfum de la Maison (Beauté Prestige International)
Media Campaign of the Year: Men’s
Dior Homme Eau for Men (Parfums Christian Dior)
Media Campaign of the Year: Women’s
J’adore (Parfums Christian Dior)
Bath and Body Line of the Year
Hermès Le Bain (Beauté Prestige International)
Indie Fragrance of the Year
Intoxicated (By Kilian)
Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage: Feature (Over 500 Words) Town & Country — “In the Mood for Oud?” by Lawrence Osbourne (previously announced and not presented at the event)
Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage: Article (250-500 Words) Cosmopolitan — “Fire Starters” by Jessica Matlin (previously announced and not presented at the event)
Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage: Online: Cafleurebon.com — “Smoky Eyes and Smoky Perfumes: The Allure of Scents That Smolder” by The Silver Fox (previously announced and not presented at the event)
Consumer Choice Awards: Prestige
Daisy Dream Marc Jacobs (Coty Inc.)
Consumer Choice Awards: Popular
A Thousand Wishes (Bath & Body Works)
I missed catching up with Calice Becker who was the perfumer behind three major Award winners, J'Adore, By Kilian Intoxicated and Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi. For those who want to know what Luca and I were wafting, Garuda (by Luca) for Luca, his new fragrance for Jul et Mad and Shalini Parfum by Maurice Roucel for me; Shalini kindly outfitted me in one of her couture cocktail dresses for the event.
Photos by Luca Maffei for ÇaFleureBon, all rights reserved
Congratulations to all the winners
Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief