The Art Perfumery Showcase was held at One World Trade Center in New York Unsplash
“New York is the perfect stage to highlight the sophistication of Italian artistic perfumery. Our collaboration with Esxence allows us to bring a true Italian olfactory experience to an international audience, while also strengthening commercial and cultural ties with key U.S. stakeholders,” said Erica Di Giovannangelo, Trade Commissioner of ITA New York.
The Art Perfumery Showcase: The Italian Trade Agency and Esxence event banner
The Art Perfumery Showcase was held on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for a select group of buyers, distributors, and press on the 102nd floor at Aspire/ One World Trade Center Observatory. The Italian fragrance exhibition event Esxence, now in its 16th edition this year, teamed up with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to bring a specially curated experience for an immersive journey into the artistry and innovation of Italian olfactory culture. For the event, the Observatory was transformed into a multi-sensory gallery celebrating Italian perfumery, featuring 20 of Italy’s most innovative fragrance houses showcasing their collections and latest creations. The Art Perfumery event was focused on “Made in Italy.”
Marisa Auciello, Senior VP of Europerfumes, and Maurizio Cavezzali, Co-Founder of Esxence
“The niche experience of fragrance is very important, because everybody wants to understand which kinds of different flowers or different fragrances are for the niche market, all over the world. You cannot understand perfume by itself. You need to understand the materials that produce fragrance. In the United States, we wanted to introduce the culture and the study of fragrances. Perfume, a long time ago, started with Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance period. In the Renaissance, we started with the fragrances, and afterward, there was a diffusion in France, and then, all over Europe and the United States. Fragrances are very, very old memories of Italy. We are more mature in the market. We know the fragrances very well, and the people and perfumes themselves are at the top level.” Maurizio Cavezzali (Co-Founder of Esxence)
Marisa Auciello, Senior VP of Europerfumes, Vicken Arslanian, CEO Europerfumes, Alexandre Helwani, Perfumer, Brand Ambassador and Fragrance Writer, and Cristian Calabrò, Profumiere presso Creative Flavours & Fragrances SPA at The Art Perfumery Showcase
To open up the evening’s event, Marisa Auciello introduced Maurizio Cavezzali (Co-Founder of Esxence) to give opening remarks. He reflected on the artistry, history, and future of Italian fragrance. The Event then got down to business with a panel conversation skillfully led by Marisa Auciello with panelists, Vicken Arslanian (CEO Europerfumes, Twisted Lily, and Commodity), Alexandre Helwani (Fragrance Writer, Perfumer, & Trainer) & Cristian Calabrò (Profumiere presso CREATIVE FLAVOURS & FRAGRANCES SPA). They discussed what differentiates Italian perfumery from its French and American counterparts, as well as the distinctions between niche, artisanal, and designer labels.
Cocktails and Aperol Spritz, along with light bites, were provided throughout the event. A wonderful performance by The Joffrey Ballet was a special delight.
Joffrey Ballet performing The Dance of Scents at The Art Perfumery Showcase
At sunset, a special modern dance performance by the Joffrey Ballet took place, titled “The Dance of the Scents,” performed by three of its members, was a highlight. The dancers were individually scented with a singular fragrance note and costumed to enhance the olfactory effect. As the dancers come together, their scents blend in harmony, creating a living, breathing perfume that evolves in real time through the performers’ movements. The dance program was conceived and produced by ATELIER Creative Services, Inc.
Nobile 1942 display
As for the walk-around counter displays, twenty brands were selected to represent the craftsmanship, heritage, and contemporary spirit of Italian design. Three scents that stopped me in my tracks were Nobile 1942’s Il Colore del Vento (Maria Celeste Lombardo), Luce by WA:IT (Raffaella Grisa), and Abaton’s Moonlight Shadow from The Sides Of The Moon Collection.
Abaton at The Art Perfumery Showcase
Featured Fragrance brands:
Abaton
Acqua di Sardegna
Aulentissima
Casamorati
Essentia Puglia
Giardini Di Toscana
Gourmet
Jacques Zolty
Marcoccia Profumi
Moresque
Olfattology
Posh Extrait
Profumo di Firenze
Sandalia Shardana Luxury Collection
THoO
WA:IT at The Art Perfumery Showcase
WA:IT
The evening’s two sponsors set a high standard for future events. The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is the governmental body supporting the business development of Italian companies abroad and promoting the attraction of foreign investment into Italy. And Esxence, which for 15 years has brought together some of the world’s most innovative perfumers, distributors, buyers, and media, fosters cultural dialogue and creativity in the art of scent. I believe that this might be the first move to bring an annual event to New York City.
ÇaFleureBon has a long-standing relationship with Esxence as a media partner led by Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen. Since 2011, we have chronicled the evolution of niche perfumery, bearing witness to the emergence of numerous fragrant icons over the years. Each year, the bar is set high. This partnership includes detailed reporting on the event’s highlights, new perfumes, and the evolution of artistic perfumery through articles, social media, and giveaways.
–Hernando Courtright, Senior Contributor and Brand Ambassador
All photos by Hernando for ÇaFleureBon unless otherwise specified
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