The Fragrance Foundation has announced the semi-finalists for this year's Fifi Awards, known as the "Oscars of the fragrance industry". Each category will be whittled down to 5 fragrances later this month; the final awards will be presented on Monday, April 3rd. The crystal award statue, shown at right, was designed by Pierre Dinand. And the finalists are:
Nouveau Niche ~ Women’s
Thierry Mugler Alien
Bond no. 9 Bleecker Street
Bond no. 9 Chinatown
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
Jill Stuart Jasmin Fleur/Night Blooming Lily/Vanilla Lust
Christian Dior Miss Dior Chérie
Narciso Rodriguez for her Eau de Parfum
La Prairie Silver Rain
Valentino V Absolu
Estée Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude
Luxe ~ Women’s
Chanel Allure Sensuelle
Kimora Lee Simmons Baby Phat Goddess
Burberry Brit Gold
Christian Dior Addict 2
Calvin Klein Euphoria
Britney Spears Fantasy
Gucci Envy Me
Moschino I Love Love
Michael Kors Island
Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely
Ralph Lauren Pure Turquoise
Nouveau Niche ~ Men’s
Michael Jordan 23
Emanuel Ungaro Apparition Homme
Giorgio Armani Armani Privé Ambre Soie/Bois d’Encens/Eau de Jade/Pierre de Lune
Bijan Wicked Man
Bond no. 9 Bleecker Street
Canali Men
Christian Dior Dior Homme
Bond no. 9 Hamptons
Annick Goutal Mandragore
Luxe ~ Men’s
Bvlgari Aqua pour Homme
Giorgio Armani Armani Code (formerly Black Code)
Baldessarini Del Mar
DKNY Be Delicious Men
Hummer H2
Kenneth Cole Signature
Ralph Lauren Polo Black
Liz Claiborne Soul by Curve for Men
Givenchy Very Irresistible for Men
Ermenegildo Zegna Z Zegna
(via Perfumer & Flavorist)
See also: the Fragrance Awards page.
I want Chinatown to win so darn bad! I am guessing it will be Flowerbomb. I also think Lovely will in its category.
does this turn anyones stomach, just a little? I think this year is a little better than last year, but we'll have to see what it gets whittled down to, all of the wrong ones I'm sure. That said, I think Lovely will win it's category too and I think it deserves it.
Yes it definitely would be nice to see Chinatown get it, it truly deserves it.
Do they also have awards for best bottle design at the Fifis? My vote on that goes to Alien or Chinatown.
And I'd like to see Mandragore win too, discovering it last week changed my life. I bought it with a student loan reimbursment check, don't tell my mother.
A, I would like to see Chinatown win too, but it is hard to guess in the Niche category. Could be YDAN, could be Miss Dior Cherie, could be Flowerbomb. Even Alien wouldn't surprise me. Agree that Lovely ought to win the Luxe category.
There used to be a packaging award, but it isn't mentioned on this year's ballot so perhaps it has been done away with.
Really, Mandragore changed your life? It was so darn fleeting on me. I can't seem to get a sample of the newer EdP version.
Dior, Estée Lauder and Thierry Mugler are niche companies? Huh? I must have been using the wrong definition of the word “niche”……
The EdT lasted about 8-9 hours on me. I didn't know there was an EdP until after I bought it – figures, doesn't it?
I don't know what it is about Mandragore but for me, I think it is the definitive “I don't want to smell like everyone else” fragrance. The anise really comes out on my skin for the first few hours.
Wow. I don't get anything like 8-9 hours. Really loved the first 45 minutes though. After that, it was so subtle as to be hardly noticeable.
The “Nouveau Niche” category includes anything sold in what they call “Specialty Stores”, and the definition is just a smaller chain (less than 250 doors). So it isn't what we tend to think of as niche…the kinds of things sold at little boutiques. Those sorts of fragrances aren't even considered.
Actually, I think I worded that wrong…I think it is that the fragrance itself is sold in less than 250 doors (?)
Happy Dance for Chinatown! What a delight to see it on the list! It is truly a masterpiece! Thanks for the info, R!
Fun!
Nouveau Niche Women’s : rooting for YDAN or Chinatown.
Luxe Women: rooting for Brit Gold. NOT rooting for Baby Phat Goddess.
Nouveau Niche Men's: rooting for mandragore (though I don't think of it as a men's scent at all)
Luxe Men's: rooting for nothing.
🙂
How in the world did Kimora Lee and Britney Spears low line perfumes get in the runings, I remember last year Britney's first fragence I belive won an award, but not again!
guys, I have been going to the Fifis for the past 2 years and it is only run by one thing: money money money, I'm surprised Trump fragrance didn't make the cut, haha… it is so depressing to think that olfactive character and creativity have very little to do with these awards, but again it is an industry and not an “artisan” world anymore, alas…
LOL! La Prairie Silver Rain is up there too with the migrane giver of a Flowerbomb?? Thank god I don't pay much attention to these awards. Frankly, I cannot even pretend to be interested if it is all about money and clout from reading massilia's post above! Running away…………………………………………………..
I knew it would make you happy, P 🙂
Poor Luxe men's! I have to admit there are quite a few on that list I've never tried, but I do like Armani Code.
Yes, that is why it is like the “Oscars of the Fragrance industry”. I guess we need a Sundance to balance it out…
LOL — at “migraine giver of a Flowerbomb” — well, I suppose I find it interesting for the same reason that the Oscars are interesting, even though the films might not really be the absolute best of the year in the artistic sense. Perhaps I will start an NST award for the most ignored niche scent 😉
Is this the best the Fragrance Foundation could come up with? I'm sorry but what's the great thing about Thierry Mugler's Alien or Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb? Aren't them a little behind the Angel concept?
By the way, does anybody think that La Prairie Silver Rain deserves an award? Isn't it just annoying?
On the contrary, I have some favorites in the Men's category like Christian Dior Dior Homme, DKNY Be Delicious Men or Ralph Lauren Polo Black.
It's strange what's happening with female perfumery these days. Doesn't it seem like the segment is more concentrated in mass marketing blockbuster fragrances rather than coming up with great new concepts?
Regards, R.
Please do start one and do please invite me to be on the selection committee! ;D We could have a blast!
Well, I think we *all* know where my votes are going :~D
It is quite true that usually only blockbusters make the list…so was quite surprised to see the Jill Stuarts. They are so rare I can't even seem to locate a tester.
But lots of great women's scents came out this year, so I'm not complaining. The Fifis are fine for what they are, but like I said above, we need a smaller award — something like the Sundance Independent Film festival — to balance it out and recognize the boutique scents that don't get any space here.
You wonderful previous posters have said it all, but what are these Jill Stuart fragrances, R? I have never heard of them.
Hugs!
R, that is brilliant — a “Sundance” alternative awards ceremony. When an organization becomes bloated and incestuous, it's time for change.
Fingers crossed that Chinatown wins.Thanks to Patti's assurance when I finally tried it, I instantly fell in love. As most have already said, this is the most unique fragrance and I've never tried anything like it.
Click on the link in the article above and you'll see the notes. They were to launch in “select Nordstroms” but I have checked at least 3 Nordstrom stores and haven't found them. You can apparently order them via Nordstrom's toll free beauty number. That is all I know!
A, yet another project that I can add to my list…maybe next year 🙂
Oh good lord. I prefer our collective “Best of 2005” lists, frankly – they are a much more discerning collection of lists.
I don't know what to say about the Baby Phat one. *Snerk* I am going to have to go to the emergency room now, because I do believe my eyes have rolled so far to the back of my head that they may never be dislodged from that position.
LOL! You guys are a tough crowd.
I have to admit, I've never tried or owned any on these lists. The Annick Goutal Mandragore sounds very intriguing though. Personally, my own awards list would be SO different – I agree totally with ParisLondres, truly.
Mandragore is very much worth trying. It doesn't last on me, unfortunately, but I do like the scent.
Robin, I truly trust your taste. I will scour ebay for decants. Today I'm wearing SL's Sa Majeste la Rose. It's pretty delicious.
Sa Majeste is a gorgeous scent. I don't know why I don't reach for rose more often.
The Mandragore is unisex & very light…a summery kind of thing. They recently released an EdP version & I'm meaning to try that.
Got a decant of it on it's way, looking forward to it! Also got a lot of large Annick Goutal decants coming, oh ebay's dangerous. Sa Majeste is pretty amazing. I put it on before I went running (weird, I know) and I kept catching lovely whiffs of it. It turns to honey with a touch of rose on me, pretty amazing. I also tried Keiko Mecheri's Fleur de Peau and am in LOVE. Have you ever tried that? Got a sample of Loukum too.
Hope you will like it! Sa Majeste is not what I'd think of for running, LOL, but why not?
Fleur de Peau is a nicely done scent. I didn't like it enough to buy but I would wear it. Loukhoum is another matter — I know everyone loves it, but I can't take the heavy sweetness & powder. Not my sort of thing, but heavy powder rarely is.