Can appetite suppression medications also curb your hunger for gourmand fragrances? One reporter investigates the reasons behind her altered sense of smell from a clinical and psychological perspective.

The awards season is upon us and in the world of niche perfumery we salute the Institute for Art & Olfaction who has just announced the 2025 Golden Pear finalists. The awards, which recognize excellence amongst independent, artisan and experimental practitioners with scent, will be announced in May in Los Angeles. See the full list of finalists here. Good luck to all!

UK lawyers are being contacted by brands who want to legally create dupes as well as by brands who want to protect themselves against these copies. Several attorneys explain the complexity of the argument, and one suggests these companies pay royalties to the copied brand. What to do when the young generation feels it’s cool to get a bargain?

The Prestige Fragrance sector is challenged. Inflation has had a direct effect on fragrance pricing leading to the premiumization movement. Meanwhile Retailers may discount products to make them more affordable as social media hypes dupes and knock offs. At the same time the niche sector is growing. How to cope? An interesting argument.

Should the quality of your fragrance be judged by how long it lasts on your skin? As more and more intense and extrait versions of top sellers hit the market, what’s the truth behind the term? In this article several perfumers weigh in on their unique creation process and what it means to have strength behind a scent.

Despite being criticized and derided, fragrance flankers represent big business – but at what cost? According to one expert it’s a sure way of killing your brand. Largely present in the designer or mass segment, they are rarely seen in niche brands although that’s beginning to change. Is this a step in the right direction or does it dilute the original scent?

New scientific research is now available to corroborate the link between pheromones and attraction, meaning we can look forward to fragrances that make us smell good while boosting our personal allure. Clearly the marketing behind these products will have to be crustal clear to avoid the potential of false claims.

Is the US about to cause a trade war with the rest of the world? How might it affect the beauty industry? Fragrance sales have been growing at double digit increases in recent years so it’s definitely a category that may be impacted. Will companies absorb the added cost or will they pass them on to the consumer?