After a welcoming speech by Rochelle Bloom, president of The Fragrance Foundation, regarding “What is Right About the Fragrance Industry” on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at HBA in New York City, GCI magazine’s group editor in chief, Karen Newman, announced the 2008 Fragrance Business award winners.
Sponsored by Arylessence, Inc., Cosmo International Fragrances, Flavor & Fragrance Specialties, International Flavors & Fragrances and IRFA/RIFM, the Fragrance Business Conference and Pavilion provided ground for diverse categories of fragrance entrepreneurs—both big and small—to participate in the competition. Judges included Jeb Gleason-Allured, editor, Perfumer & Flavorist magazine; Mary Manning, owner, Manning Associates; Marc Rosen, president, Marc Rosen & Associates; Matt Frost, global marketing director, fine fragrance and beauty care, International Flavors & Fragrances; and Virginia Bonofiglio, assistant professor, cosmetics and fragrance marketing department, Fashion Institute of Technology.
From the selection of award nominees, judges were asked to choose the 2008 Fragranced Product of the Year in accordance with GCI magazine’s guidelines—“a dramatically different approach to fragranced products, including uniqueness, creativity, market positioning, technology or application.” Slatkin & Co., the luxury home fragrance company led by Harry Slatkin and sold through Bath & Body Works, won the Fragranced Product of the Year award for Scentportable.
According to Natalia Tsurikova, associate account executive at Tractenberg & Co. and media representative for Harry Slatkin, Scentportable is nothing short of a technology breakthrough. “A palm-sized white circular disc with a clip feature, the Scentportable blends into its surroundings. The one-of-a-kind fragrance creation scents your car, closet, hamper, handbag or gym locker—any environment that can use scent infusion,” Tsurikova said. “It represents an unprecedented marriage of form and function that will revolutionize the way we scent all of the spaces in our lives.”
The second award from GCI magazine came for 2008 Fragranced Product Marketer of the Year—“a company, group or person with a dramatically different approach to the development, branding and marketing of fragranced products.” The judges chose Depth Body LLC for its marketing of Depth, “a marine botanical-based, naturally formulated, design-oriented line of body care products.” According to Jean-Pierre Subrenat, president, Creative Concepts Corp., for Depth Body LLC, the products are all compliant with the Whole Foods Premium Body Care standard.
“Depth products proudly use a blend of essential oils and 100% natural isolates to create a complete range of sumptuous fragrances,” Subrenat said. “All packaging is fully customized and silk-screened in order to avoid the waste associated with label production. Moreover, Depth bottles are made from 50% postconsumer resin.”
Additional fragranced product award nominees on display in this year’s GCI magazine and HBA Global Expo Fragrance Pavilion included representatives from fine fragrance, personal care and home fragrance segments. The final nominees were as follows: Advanced Beauty Systems for Bodycology Continuous Spray Lotion; The Basix and Beyond for Agoodnightkiss Organic Tub Tea Blend Satchets; Marc Jacobs, Coty for Daisy; Latitudes International for The Multi Liquid Phase Diffuser; Le Cherche Midi for Le Cherche Midi Home Collection; Mark for Mark Jewel Eau de Toilette; Prai Beauty Group, Inc. for Scent of a Woman Whisper; Safi Fragrance LLC for Safi Fragrance Parfum Oil; Scandle LLC for Scandle Body Massage Candle; Tarte Cosmetics for Tarte All Natural Full Blossom Cheek Stain; Yves Rocher North America Inc. for Pure Calmille Oil-Free Hydrating Gel; Yves Rocher North America Inc. for Jardins du Monde Comoran Ylang-Ylang Flower Shower Gel; and lastly, Yves Rocher North America Inc. for Secrets d’Essences Rose Absolute Eau de Parfum.
