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?

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?

The term “beast mode” originally referred to long-wearing, super projecting fragrances worn primarily by men. Now however, the usage of the term extends to elixirs and scents with a long-lasting sillage. We can thank TikTok and social media for the creation and rise in this trend. An interesting look at how it started.

Fragrance can make us smell good and neuroscience is now proving it can do good – or at least it can have a positive impact on our mental health. With this proof, mood-boosting effects, such as stress and anxiety reduction, may now be included as product benefits. Sounds like we’re on the scent of something big!

There’s more to Barcelona than the Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas! It’s almost time for the Barcelona Perfumery Congress which gathers the international professional fragrance community. Conferences will cover diverse subjects including sustainability, AI-driven fragrance development, digital transformation and regulatory updates.