Perfume and olfactory culture will be center stage at this week’s Paris Perfume Week. Bringing together B2B and B2C communities, it’s a moment for the industry and the public to gather in a venue that positions perfume as more than a product. The event goes citywide as almost 30 locations outside of the show host installations, experiences and workshops.

How many times have you heard that the cost of making a fragrance is a fraction of the retail price? When perfumers work on artisan and masstige brands, where is art and where are they just churning out launches? So what justifies lofty prices? A thought-provoking opinion piece on the conundrum of perfume pricing.

The arts of painting and perfumery intersect at a temporary exhibit occurring during and after Cosmoprof in Bologna. Students from the Italia Perfumery Institute have created a multisensorial experience combining two olfactory accords and four raw materials. It’s a rare occasion to build a link between Cosmoprof and Bologna’s cultural heritage.

A hot topic at Cosmoprof last week was the impact the industry will feel given the situation in the Middle East. Last year everyone worried about the threats of tariffs, this year we’ll be grappling with increases in raw material and transport costs, logistical challenges, lost sales and so much more. Executives comment on ways to be nimble in trying times.

Shanghai sets its cap on being the crossroads between Eastern and Western fragrance culture at Notes Shanghai in April. In addition to 200 exhibiting international and domestic brands, the event will include brand presentations, educational programmes and curated exhibits including one from L’Osmothèque and another in tribute to perfumer Dominique Ropion.

As Essencional goes to press, no formal agreement has been signed in what could be the biggest beauty deal of the year. While speculation continues to circulate, this article dives into how the deal could benefit the players along with examining the drawbacks that could arise if greater scale and accelerated growth erode brand appeal.

The niche fragrance sector has undergone tremendous change over the past two decades, amplified by M&A activity and the countless, soulless brand launches. Consumers are savvy to the changes. “They want to feel that the scent, the story, the price, and the brand identity belong together.” An interesting opinion piece.