The Institute for Art and Olfaction has announced the list of finalists for the Golden Pears this year. Every year the jury goes through a meticulous, blind evaluation selection process to identify excellence among the independent, artisan and experimental perfumer and community. The awards ceremony will be held in Athens on June 11th. See the article for the full list of finalists.

We recently brought you an article about myrrh so let’s follow it up with frankincense, another ingredient dating back to Biblical times. This precious gum was long traded at the same price as gold. Learn about the historic harvesting techniques that don’t endanger the trees, many of which are over one thousand years old.

The US branch of the Fragrance Foundation honored Michael Edwards, founder of Fragrances of The World, at their annual awards luncheon. Here he talks about his 40+ year career where he and his team have classified and matched over 60,000 fragrances. NOTE: Michael will be interviewed at Esxence on Thursday, June 4th. Mark your calendar now!

The Japanese approach to perfumery may be characterized by gentle restraint, a straightforward use of ingredients and a subtle projection. At J-Scent, authorship is a team effort where trend-driven development has no place, and where fragrance is designed for proximity.

It stands to reason that if you want to enter a competitive market, you have to bring something to the table that is new and different. Brand founders should ask themselves, what is my USP? And how can I tell my story while being relevant and meaningful to the consumer? An interesting article full of common sense.

The perfumer is celebrated as the artist behind the fragrance itself, but don’t forget the chemist who innovates through the creation of aroma molecules. While copyright laws don’t exist for perfumes, molecules are often patented and trademarked. An interesting look behind the scenes.

Since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, myrrh has been sourced from Ethiopia using traditional harvesting methods which helps to produce the best quality resin. Long a staple in the perfumer’s palette, it is also used in natural remedies. Climate changes and economic factors are now endangering the population of trees.