The Fragrance Foundation has announced the semi-finalists for the 2011 Fifi Awards, known as the "Oscars of the fragrance industry". Note that some categories show more than 10 fragrances because of tied votes and some have fewer than 10 because not enough fragrances were nominated.
Each category will be whittled down to 5 fragrances at the Fifi Finalists Breakfast on April 8th; the final awards will be presented on May 25. The award statue is shown above.
And the finalists are:
Women’s Luxe (sold in over 250 doors)
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia
Givenchy Ange ou Démon Le Secret
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre
Coach Poppy
Gucci Guilty
Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musc Collection Eau de Parfum Intense
Donna Karan PureDKNY
Versace Versus
Hermès Voyage d’Hermès
Thierry Mugler Womanity
Men’s Luxe
Chanel Bleu de Chanel
Azzaro Chrome Sport
Dolce & Gabbana The One Gentleman
Gucci by Gucci Sport pour Homme
Lacoste Essential Sport
Marc Jacobs Bang
Perry Ellis Night
Ralph Lauren The Big Pony Collection
Hermès Voyage d’Hermès
Women's Specialty Luxe (sold in 26 to 249 doors)1
Balenciaga Paris
Bebe Sheer
Yves Saint Laurent Belle D’Opium
Bond No. 9 High Line
Bond No. 9 Washington Square
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia
Christian Dior J’adore L’Or
Paco Rabanne Lady Million
By Kilian Love & Tears
Prada Infusion de Tubereuse
Tom Ford Azure Lime
Men's Specialty Luxe
Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk
Bond No. 9 Cooper Square
Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
Guerlain La Cologne du Parfumeur
Paco Rabanne One Million
Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine
Prada Infusion de Vetiver
By Kilian Rose Oud
Tom Ford Azure Lime
Victorinox Swiss Army Snowpower
Indie Brand (Men's & Women's; 25 doors or less)2
Aftelier Candide
Aftelier Honey Blossom
Aftelier Lumiere
Six Scents Series Three
(via wwd)
You can find the other award categories at the Fragrance Foundation website, but they do not seem to have posted the semi-finalists there as of yet.
See also: the Fragrance Awards page.
1. Replaces the category "Nouveau Niche"
2. Replaces the category "Unique Boutique". Indie Brand is supposed to include new or emerging brands (on the market 1-2 years).
Well, the mainstream nominations are fairly predictable, but well done to Mandy Aftel for managing to get three in there!
It’s an odd group though. Why is she in there at all…she’s been in business, AND distributed in retail, for more than 2 years, as has Six Scents, which is hardly what most people would call indie given that the perfumers are all from Givaudan.
Mind you…I hope she wins! Just think it’s an odd category, and more confusing than the old Unique Boutique.
I guess this Oscars of the Fragrance industry is as hip as the regular Oscars.* They haven’t quite noticed the unisex trend, Also, why call everything “Indie” or” Luxe?” It’s like a coffee shop calling its smallest size “Grand”
* On the Oscars this year, just after (30 year old PHD candidate) James Franco announced that he was asked to host to show the Oscar’s commitment to a young, hipper presentation, he introduced Kirk Douglas as the evening’s first presenter. Kirk Douglas is a retiree, who was hip back in the 1950’s.
The names of the categories have always been slightly odd. In some ways they’re better this year: the difference between Luxe and Specialty Luxe is less confusing, perhaps, than Luxe and Nouveau Niche.
But the Indie Brand, I agree, is quite badly named since it doesn’t appear to have much to do with indie-ness, or at least, any way in which I define indie-ness.
I do sort of understand why they don’t bother with unisex categories…they probably don’t have enough nominees to fill any unisex categories.
Wow and he did a great job considering his age! I was concerned for him, that perhaps he would teeter over, or completely lose his train of thought! James Franco seemed flat to me.
As for the fragrances… I was so glad to see the ‘specialty luxe’ and ‘indie’ categories, at least they represented some more interesting work. I have been curious about the Six Scents Series Three… can anyone comment on this one for me please?
(Actually, these SIX, I should say!)
We’ve reviewed 3 of the 6 (click on the link in the article, you’ll find them).
Andy Warhol Montauk under the Men’s range? That’s a fruity-floral…. I don’t get it…
I sound like a Debbie Downer here, but I really don’t care for anything in that Women’s Luxe (sold in over 250 doors) list….
I think Montauk was officially a unisex woody citrus.
The Women’s Luxe category is usually slim pickings. I’d go for Voyage d’Hermes or Mugler Womanity if I was voting.
I received a mini of Womanity and like it. It is a sort of salty fig. It is particularily good layered with a very light rose.
i loved the chrome sport but the cap is easily broken after a few weeks
What is meant by “doors”?
Individual retail stores
Orange Sanguine is that new? Somehow I was under the impression that it has been around for a while. So many releases and too little time!
I’m surprised that Rose Oud is in a men’s category. It is very floral and rather sweet IMO.
Yes, I would put Rose Oud as definately unisex, and too floral for many men I’d expect! However, maybe it is based on the idea that rose is common for men in many non-Western cultures? Just a guess. . .
The whole brand is that new…2010.
I’m glad to see the NR for her Musc Intense in there. Horrid, confusing name but really a delightful scent and a favorite of mine.
The name is so horrid that I’m not even sure what it is or if I ever announced it. I have a feeling I didn’t because when it came out I didn’t even realize it was something new.