A total of 30 Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards were presented at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center, including several new awards for this year, such as Retail Innovation of the Year and Interior Scent Collection of the Year.
Winners included men's European fragrance of the year Gucci Pour Homme by Cosmopolitan Cosmetics, the award for which was presented by Sigourney Weaver and accepted by Cosmopolitan Cosmetics' president and chief executive officer Donald Loftus.
The award for women's European fragrance of the year, meanwhile, went to Chance by Chanel, and the award was accepted by Lyle Sanders, Chanel's vice president of creative services.
In the main fragrance of the year category, Burberry Brit was the winner in the in women's 'Luxe' section, for department & specialty stores with more than 250 doors.
Other finalists in that section were Estee Lauder's Beyond Paradise; Ralph Lauren's Ralph Lauren Blue; Sicily by Dolce & Gabbana, developed by Euroitalia/Fragrances Exclusive; and Stella by Stella McCartney by Stella McCartney Parfums/YSL Beaute.
Cosmopolitan Cosmetics developed the perfume for Burberry Fragrances and Burberry's senior vice president Marcella Cacci accepted the award.
Speaking to CosmeticsDesign.com recently, fragrance consultant and chairman of the Fragrance Foundation UK John Ayres commented on Burberry Brit's commercial success: "More than 200 new perfumes were launched in the UK last year, and more than 300 worldwide. Since 1990, each year has witnessed an additional 20-30 new launches on the previous year's figures."
"The success or failure of these products is relative. It depends on the company's business objectives. One of the most recent examples of this is Burberry Brit, which has exceeded the objectives that were set in the business plan," said Ayres
In part due to the successful launch of Burberry Brit, but also due to the company extending its product range to include a new candy pink version of its trademark beige, boosting revenues, annual profits at luxury goods group Burberry were reported last month to have jumped by more than 20 per cent to UK£140 million plus (€215 m).
The earnings were at the top end of analysts' expectations, in what the company's chief executive Rose Marie Bravo described as "a terrific year".
More Fragrance Foundation's 200' FiFi Award winners are listed below:
2004 FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR: Presented by Kwame Jackson.
NOUVEAU NICHE: Women's - narciso rodriguez for her, Beaute Prestige International. Men's - Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Fragrances. POPULAR APPEAL: Women - Celine Dion Parfums, Coty Beauty US. Men's - adidas Adrenaline Man, Coty Beauty US.
PRIVATE LABEL/DIRECT SELL: Women's - Pure Tiffany, Tiffany & Co. Men's - Very Sexy For Him2, Victoria's Secret Beauty.
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR: Print Campaign - Ralph Lauren Blue, Ralph Lauren Fragrances. TV Campaign - Very Irresistible Givenchy, Parfums Givenchy.
BATH & BODY LINE OF THE YEAR: Prestige - Origins Natural Resources, Calm To Your Senses Collection. Popular Appeal: Avon Products Inc., Avon Planet Spa
BEST PACKAGING OF THE YEAR: Prestige: Women's - Flower ByKenzo Le Parfum, Kenzo Parfums. Men's - Dunhill, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics. Popular Appeal: Women's - Illusion, Le Club des Createurs de Beaute (CCB-Paris). Men's - adidas Adrenaline Man, Coty Beauty US.
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE - SCENT FEATURE: Allure.
EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE IN FRAGRANCE COVERAGE- SCENT BITE (tie): Allure and Modern Bride.
FRAGRANCE HALL OF FAME: Presented by Badgley & Mischka. Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Fragrances
INTERIOR SCENT COLLECTION OF THE YEAR: Prestige: Slatkin & Co., Elton Rocks, Elton John (Crystal Potpourri). Specialty: Latitudes International for Home London, Potpourri & Passive Diffuser.
RETAIL INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR: Nordstrom.
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR: Michael Edwards and Co. - Fragrance Database: Fragrances of the World.Info.
HALL OF FAME: Presented by Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City fame. Oscar de la Renta.
EUROPEAN FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR: Presented by Sigourney Weaver. Men's: Gucci Pour Homme, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics. Women's: Chance by Chanel.
CERTIFIED FRAGRANCE SALES SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR: Presented by Sigourney Weaver. Jayne Williams, Marshall Field's Oakland (Troy, Michigan).