A Closer Look At The Fragrance Awards
Virtuozity sits with Ghassan Hajjaj, fragrance expert at L’Oreal Luxe, tells us more about The Fragrance Awards and his role in the competition.
What is the importance of the TFA for the region fragrance scene?
The Fragrance Foundation is the organization works to be a resource and an asset to the fragrance and perfume industry by focusing on education, awareness, and more. Founded in 1949 in the USA,
The Fragrance Foundation Arabia like all other partner foundations will carry out the mission of The Fragrance Foundation, to enhance the image of the fragrance industry and expand the appreciation and use of fragrance in all its forms across all distribution channels globally. The Arabian foundation serves and facilitates regional brands not only to create an best products for regional and international consumers but also opens new international markets with help of our international offices globally.
Today the Fragrance Foundation has become an international source for historic, cultural, scientific and industry related reference materials. The Foundation maintains one of the most extensive print and video fragrance libraries in the world. It publishes educational and sales training materials. The Foundation produces videos and consumer publications and holds seminars and symposia for its members as well as for the international fragrance industry.
What is the selection process?
For the Fragrance Foundation Awards Arabia, we follow criteria prescribed by our international head quarter in New York. The Board of Directors of the foundation invites jury members that are from fragrance industry as well as from media, fashion and art. Fragrance brands are invited to nominate their best and latest brands to nominate in respective categories.
Jury members evaluate nominated fragrances on following criteria by marking from 0 to 3 marks on each criterion.
How difficult it is to judge similar fragrances?
To some extent it is difficult. But with our jury members, who are veteran in the Fragrance industry, are very clear with quality and innovation aspects of fragrances. They are well versed with the organic and synthetic combination that defines the nature of fragrance. Additionally, these experts are trained to differentiate among several fragrances notes from base to top layers.
Oriental fragrances are trendy at the moment how do you explain it?
This was very obvious trend that can be seen from last 7 -8 years. With tough times in the west and love of oriental seeding within western markets. Multiple usage and un-paralleled passion for fragrances is the USP of Middle Eastern fragrance lovers. This has gradually transforms western fragrance lovers, as they get amazed with the magic of oriental notes and its mysterious and unique combinations / permutations.