Comedy Adds Top Note to FiFis

Actress and comedian Jane Lynch kept the audience laughing, with a repertoire of fragrance jokes.

Comedy Adds Top Note to FiFis

‘Glee’ star Jane Lynch concocted a range of fragrance jokes to entertain show-biz and beauty industry A-listers at the 40th anniversary of the ‘Oscars of the Fragrance Industry.’

Written by Jamie Matusow, Editor

If actress/comedian Jane Lynch ever launches a fragrance, she wants the flacon to be in the form of a PEZ container, in which you flip up her plastic molded head to spritz the juice. Due to her role as Sue Sylvester, in the Fox television series “Glee,” she says a fragrance she developed “might be expected to smell like a boy’s locker room”—but quipped, “Kim Kardashian has already done that.” Remarks including these kept the audience laughing out loud as Lynch took the podium to emcee the 40th anniversary of the FiFi awards on May 21 at Manhattan’s Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.

Jill Belasco, board chair, The Fragrance Foundation—and president & CEO, Coscentrix—with Philippe Cousteau.

On-stage celebrity presenters included Carol Alt, Sam Champion, Tyson Chandler, Philippe Cousteau, Mariska Hargitay, Chaka Khan, Josh Groban, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Navayne, Nicole Richie, Jessica Stam and Martha Stewart. The evening also included an emotional “Legacy of Excellence” tribute to Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder, by her devoted husband Leonard.

The evening’s presentation started with audience members asked to don 3D glasses to view a fast-paced video of the year’s fragrance bottle contenders zooming down the cavernous streets of midtown Manhattan, and zipping around towering office buildings.

Multi-talented actress Nicole Richie served as a guest presenter; she has signed a recent fragrance deal.

One glitch in the audio-visual presentation left actress Nicole Richie and Cosimo Policastro, executive vice president fine fragrances, Givaudan Fragrances Corporation, at a temporary loss for words, but the two polished pros switched to ad-lib mode, and with the help of fellow presenter, weatherman Sam Champion, commented on the week’s forecast as well as the fashion designers behind the clothing the three were wearing. Bids to Chaka Khan to leave the front row and take the stage went unfulfilled

The Estée Lauder Companies’ Karyn Khoury and Leonard Lauder presented a special tribute to Evelyn Lauder.

The Estée Lauder Companies and Elizabeth Arden were the big winners of the evening, each scoring three FiFis.

Tom Ford Beauty won the trifecta for Lauder, while Arden and Victoria’s Secret each drew two honors for one fragrance apiece.

Arden captured two FiFis for Best Packaging of the Year (Luxe Men, for the lager-like bottle created for John Varvatos USA; and Broad Appeal Men, for the slanted packaging of Curve Appeal for men).

In the Best Packaging of the Year-Women’s categories, Prada Candy, from Puig USA, sweetened the Luxe category, while Victoria’s Secret Angel fluttered its wings in Broad Appeal.

Tom Ford Beauty took home FiFis for Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Women, for Tom Ford Violet Blonde; and Fragrance of the Year-Nouveau Niche—in both the Women’s and Men’s categories—for Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge Private Blend.

Donald J. Loftus, president & CEO, P&G Prestige, U.S., accepted the award for Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Men for Gucci Guilty Pour Homme.

The award for Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Men went to P&G Prestige for Gucci Guilty Pour Homme.

International Flavors & Fragrances earned the title of Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year for New York Oud, Bond No. 9 New York.

Other notable honors of the evening included the posthumous induction of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel into the FiFi Hall of Fame, with a tribute from the iconic brand’s Christine Dagousset; and the presentation of the Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year—accepted long-distance from Justin Bieber.

This year’s entrants into the FiFi Hall of Fame for Women are 24 Faubourg—Hermès, Beauté Prestige International; and for Men, Acqua di Gio, Giorgio Armani Beauty.

Following is the complete list of 2012 FiFi Award winners, with information on packaging suppliers, where available:

Christine Dagousset, U.S. executive vice president, Fragrance and Beauté, Chanel, Inc., accepted a posthumous award for Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who was voted into the FiFi Hall of Fame.

Best Packaging of the Year-Luxe Women
Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray-Puig USA

Best Packaging of the Year-Luxe Men
John Varvatos * USA-Elizabeth Arden

Best Packaging of the Year-Broad Appeal Women
Victoria’s Secret Angel-Victoria’s Secret Beauty

Best Packaging of the Year-Broad Appeal Men
Curve Appeal for Men-Elizabeth Arden
(Bottle-Bormioli Rocco; pump-Rexam)

Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Women
Tom Ford Violet Blonde-Tom Ford Beauty, (Cap-Lombardi Design & Manufacturing; bottle-Heinz; pump-Aptar)

Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Men
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme-P&G Prestige

Fragrance of the Year-Nouveau Niche Women
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge-Private Blend-Tom Ford Beauty
(Cap-Lombardi Design & Manufacturing; bottle-Bormioli Luigi; pump-Rexam)

Fragrance of the Year-Nouveau Niche Men
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge-Private Blend-Tom Ford Beauty
(Cap-Lombardi Design & Manufacturing; bottle-Bormioli Luigi; pump-Rexam)

Fragrance of the Year-Broad Appeal Women
Heidi Klum Shine-Coty Inc.

Fragrance of the Year-Broad Appeal Men
Curve Appeal for men-Elizabeth Arden

Specialty Brand Women
Anthropologie 1922 Lily Sanguine Eau de Parfum - Inter Parfums USA

Direct To Consumer Men
Comme une Evidence Green-Yves Rocher North America Inc.

“Consumer’s Choice” Award-Women
Victoria’s Secret Angel-Victoria’s Secret Beauty

"Consumer’s Choice” Award-Men
Bath & Body Works Signature Collection for Men Classic-Bath & Body Works

Media Campaign of the Year-Women
Coco Mademoiselle-Chanel

Media Campaign of the Year-Men
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme-P&G Prestige

Bath & Body Line of the Year
Acqua di Gioia-Giorgio Armani Beauty

Interior Scent Collection of the Year
34 boulevard Saint Germain-diptyque

Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year
International Flavors & Fragrances for New York Oud, Bond No. 9 New York

Fragrance Hall of Fame-Women
24 Faubourg–Hermès, Beauté Prestige International

Fragrance Hall of Fame-Men
Acqua di Gio, Giorgio Armani Beauty

Certified Fragrance Sales Specialists Award-Top Scorers Fall 2011/Spring 2012
Martina Jones from Nordstrom, Shoreview, MN
Diana C. Lopez from Nordstrom, Topanga, CA

Best Packaging of the Year-Luxe Women Prada Candy packs a punch For caramel lovers, and others, Prada Candy packs a delicious punch—and so does its bottle. It is a tall, slender “wrapper” that combines an Art Deco inspired line with a color palette that shouts Warhol and Pop Art, bright and unapologetic. The result is standout and original. (From a “Euro Style” column published in the January/February 2012 issue of Beauty Packaging.)

Best Packaging of the Year-Broad Appeal Men Curve Appeal draws packaging kudos Paul McLaughlin, vice president of creative at Elizabeth Arden, describes Curve as “a big mass brand with lots of flankers.” Curve launched 15 years ago and has proven highly successful as a top 10 fragrance for the past 10 years. In 2011, he explains, they developed a new brand within the line, called Curve Appeal. The challenge, according to McLaughlin: “How do we keep the DNA current?” In the end, Arden launched both men’s and women’s fragrances in packaging based on the original bottle—but literally put a slant on it, skewing the glass of the flacon. “How do you make something new but keep the continuity?” asks McLaughlin rhetorically. Major challenges were to create the slanted bottle and also to achieve the gradated color on the glass for the men’s product. “Complications arose with decorating,” admits McLaughlin. “We had to figure out how to spray with the slant, then how to package the slanted bottle. We decided to package the bottle in a tin, like they did 15 years ago, when a tin was a first for fragrance.” Unlike its original linear secondary packaging, it was put in a circular tin for its 2012 reveal. The resulting fragrance package is a new, sleek spin on the brand’s signature aesthetic. The modernized bottle is inspired by “the fast-paced energy and forward motion of a new Curve generation” and features the classic Curve pump lock. (This info is from an interview with McLaughlin that was originally published in the January/February issue of Beauty Packaging.)

Fragrance of the Year-Broad Appeal Women Heidi Klum Shine, from Coty Inc., radiates glamour. Shine is elegantly presented in a luxurious golden box and bottle that reflect Heidi Klum’s radiance. The oval glass and crystal bottle moves visually, reflecting a concentric pattern of crystal waves, and revealing the golden juice inside. The flacon is topped with a square-shaped gold-colored cap and collar embossed with the fragrance name. The premium-quality fragrance carton echoes the bottle’s distinctive design. In addition to the gorgeous packaging, it was, of course, the juice that earned the FiFi, due to its “effervescent floral oriental fusion.”—Coty, Inc.

Best Packaging of the Year-Luxe Men Consumers ‘flip’ for John Varvatos* USA Best Packaging of the Year-Luxe Men went to John Varvatos* USA, by Elizabeth Arden. The bottle for the 10th anniversary limited edition fragrance is made of smoky glass (produced by SGD) and silver metal, drawing inspiration from19th century vials and industrial materials, while the spring system of the cap is reminiscent of antique beer bottles. McLaughlin says designer John Varvatos was very involved in creating the package. He came to Arden (his licensor) with the idea of a lager-like cap that would be the focus of the whole piece. The lager-like cap takes top billing on John Varvatos U.S.A. The carton (produced by AGI Shorewood) makes the package complete. (For more on the design and the challenges in producing the bottle and cap, please see beautypackaging.com; (the info extracted here was originally published in the January/February issue of Beauty Packaging.)

Victoria’s Secret Angel Flies High Takes home two FiFis for Best Packaging of the Year-Broad Appeal Women and Consumer’s Choice Award-Women Qualitative elements and intricate details led Victoria’s Secret Angel to score high at this year’s FiFis. “Our fragrance was inspired by one of our sexiest icons, the Victoria's Secret “Angel” and her coveted wings. She is defined by her confidence and glamour. We wanted the bottle shape to be both strong and confident—with qualitative elements like a significant glass foot and distribution, and clean, modern shape. The frosted wings needed to be feminine and a counterbalance to the bolder, stronger bottle frame. The wings were a challenge as we spent time refining the intricate details in the material to best illustrate our Angels’ wear on the runway.” —Karine Schnapp, VP, concept, creative & creative production operations, Victoria’s Secret Beauty

Tom Ford Trifecta Jasmin Rouge and Violet Blonde capture three FiFis. Jasmin Rouge follows the classic profile packaging used in all Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances. Designed as a unisex fragrance, it hit a home run in both Men’s and Women’s categories for Fragrance of the Year-Nouveau Niche. The packaging for Violet Blonde, which walked away with the FiFi for Fragrance of the Year-Luxe Women, follows the lines of the classic Tom Ford fragrance, but with subtle changes to the shape and accents on the collar and cap decoration. “I believe the components have been produced to the highest quality level,” says Allan Hafkin, vice president, global package development, The Estée Lauder Companies—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s board of advisors. “It is ultra important to maintain this high level of quality for each Tom Ford package. This is the same for all Private Blend fragrances as well as the Violet Blonde franchise.”