As pandemic restrictions ease in Asia, opportunities abound for niche fragrances in key markets. Several brands talk about their experiences in China and Korea while giving great insight on best practices to follow.

As the beauty sector embraces sustainable practices, more and more brands from mass to premium to luxury are growing their refillable SKU assortment. NPD France reports increases across all categories with phenomenal growth in refillable fragrances. Heritage brands have historically followed this practice which builds loyalty and encourages repeat purchases while doing something good for the planet.

Beauty is not immune to economic, environmental and political upheavals, yet it is nimble and able to change with the times. What trends and movements will effect the sector in 2023? Gazing into the crystal ball we see a continued focus on personalization, inclusivity, self-expression and self-care along with a consumer who is more demanding than ever before.

The “Lipstick Effect” is a term coined many years ago when the Estee Lauder Companies noticed a growth in lipstick sales over several recessions. What could be the cause of this? Are women trying to more attractive when the going gets tough? Are they making a small indulgence? Are they buying a product that can change their look with one swipe? Or is all of this overstated? Let’s find out.

Luxury goods are remarkably resilient in the face of economic downturns, even if today’s consumer is in the mindset of “buy better, buy less”. Along with quality, craftsmanship and originality, there’s more to the recipe for success: a brand needs to be desirable. A few top brands share their secrets on how to maintain that love affair with the consumer to ensure growth and staying power.

What exactly is clean beauty? Therein lies the dilemma as the claim is still unclear for consumers, brands and retailers. A recent class action suit in the US against Sephora just goes to show how much confusion is out there. It’s time for “clean” communication that’s transparent, understandable and honest.

Independent perfumer Rosie Jane Johnson of By/Rosie Jane is experiencing a surge in sales induced by Instagram and TikTok influencers. People are craving comfort and calm with a bit of nurturing thrown in, yet there’s also a need for experimentation. Gone are the days of signature scents as people embrace the fragrance wardrobe concept. But keep it small because in 2023, we’re still far from long term commitments!

Puig, in collaboration with Michael Edwards’ Fragrances of the World, is on a mission to make fragrance discovery – and shopping - easier for the consumer. The new WikiParfum website and app taps into a database of over 20,000 mainstream and niche fragrance brands, so in a few clicks there’s a wealth of information at your fingertips. This tool empowers the user to find alternatives to favorites or to branch out to try something new.