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 next month; the final awards will be presented in May. Note that Armani Cuir Amethyste, a unisex, appears under both the men’s and women’s categories, and there are 11 semi-finalists for nouveau niche men’s due to a tie. The new award statue is shown at right.
And the finalists are:
NOUVEAU NICHE – WOMEN’S
Givenchy Ange ou Démon
Anna Sui Dolly Girl on the Beach
Giorgio Armani Privé Cuir Amethyste
Cartier Delices de Cartier
L’Artisan Fleur de Narcisse 2006
Kenzo KenzoAmour
Missoni Eau de Parfum
Bond no. 9 The Scent of Peace
Tom Ford Black Orchid
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Extreme Amethyst Edition
NOUVEAU NICHE – MEN’S
Giorgio Armani Privé Cuir Amethyste (unisex)
Hugo Boss Baldessarini Ambre
David Beckham Instinct
Calypso Figue
Dunhill Pursuit
Bond no. 9 Fire Island
L’Artisan Fou d’Absinthe
L’Homme Yves Saint Laurent
Montblanc Starwalker
Paul Smith Story
Viktor & Rolf Antidote
LUXE – WOMEN’S
Giorgio Armani Code for Women
Badgley Mischka
Betsey Johnson Parfum
Burberry London for Women
Donna Karan Gold Eau de Parfum
Guerlain Insolence
Juicy Couture
Estée Lauder Pure White Linen
Stella McCartney Stella in Two
Vera Wang Princess
LUXE – MEN’S
Burberry London for Men
Calvin Klein Euphoria for Men
Fresh Cannabis Santal
Lacoste Essential
Liz Claiborne Lucky Number 6 for Men
Ralph Lauren Polo Double Black
Prada Man
Hermès Terre d’Hermès
Sean John Unforgivable
Versace Man Eau Fraiche
You can see last year’s semi finalists here. See also: the Fragrance Awards page.
6 Comments
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Bond no. 9 does well at the FiFi awards. I wont be surprised if Fire Island and the Scent of Peace (this one quite mediocre) take top honors. And YSL L'homme is classified niche ?
Are the FiFi awards relevant anymore ?
Really, has Bond ever won a Fifi? If so, I'd forgotten. Niche, for the Fifis, is just based on how many doors carry the scent — it isn't what the perfume fans think of as niche.
And as for relevant, well, I suppose as much so as any industry award system…I doubt it has much to do with sales, but I'm sure it makes the winners happy!
These classifications throw me. Since when is Givenchy “niche” ? Kenzo? Hugo Boss? Is Sean John “luxe”?
'Nuff said.
As I said above, the classifications are based solely on how many stores carry the fragrance, and have nothing to do with what we think of as “niche”. The luxe category has to do with price & stores (dept vs mass market).
Put it down to lack of caffeine in the morning… Just fired away without reading your first reply. I still think they are iffy categories though…
Found it: nouveau niche is a prestige fragrance sold in 500 or fewer doors, if more doors, it is luxe. Or at least, that used to be the definition — can't find a current one on the fragrance.org site.
And no worries — I am useless before my 3rd cup of tea in the morning.