The Perfume Extraordinaire award is a respected Fragrance Foundation award, as it is aimed at celebrating the art of fragrance creation.
Each fragrance house is allowed to select and submit one fragrance creation from their 2016 launches. The fragrances are then evaluated blind by a panel of olfactive experts from fragrance suppliers and manufacturers. One fragrance is chosen from the selections as the Perfume Extraordinaire from that year.
Symrise took home the award this year for its Poppy Soma, a fragrance created for the Quartana Parfums Les Potions Fatales line.
How the fragrance was developed
According to the company, Symrise perfumers Emilie Coppermann and Dave Apel worked together to formulate the Poppy Soma scent over the course of two years
It is a part of Symrise’s Les Potions Fatales, a collection that explores ‘the treacherous beauty, intriguing lore and allure behind nine of the world’s most poisonous flowers’.
The scent, according to the company, is a floriental, smoky, narcotic, spicy amber scent crafted using Sichuan Pepper, Curry Leaf, Red Pepper, Black Gardenia, Jasmine Sambac, Red Rose, Old Church Incense, Labdanum, Tuberose, Styrax and Musk Tonquin.
Reaction: ‘an honour’
Speaking of the award, Symrise’s president of scent & care, Achim Daub, expressed pride in the idea that it comes as acknowledgement of the team’s innovation.
“I am excited about the creativity of our perfumers who have crafted a true masterpiece for Quartana Parfums,” he said.
“Taking home this most prestigious Fragrance Foundation Award is a true honour for us and underlines our mission to create better living through scent.”