The multinational Unilever has added the Canadian organic fragrance company The 7 Virtues to its portfolio (currently pending the B-Corp label). This is the company's first investment in the fragrance category, which has been enjoying a golden moment since the market's post-pandemic recovery.
The venture capital division, Unilever Ventures, together with True Beauty Ventures (a US investment firm), has been in charge of the operation in The 7 Virtues, a company founded in 2010 by Barb Stegemann, author of the book "The 7 virtues of a philosopher queen", a kind of guide for women who must adapt to living in an illogical world.
The 7 Virtues scents are characterised by a high concentration of essential oil (22%) and are designed to unfold their powerful aromatherapy, which helps the perfumer to achieve her aspirations. The brand's motto is "Make perfume not war".
The brand is available on its website and in Sephora shops in 18 countries. Its sales are growing faster than those of the fragrance sector, with a year-on-year increase of more than 80% in fiscal year 2023. The investment will allow Sephora to open an office in New York and boost its international expansion, which will lead to the opening of a maison in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The Perfume Academy presents its 2023 Awards
The perfume sector has dressed up in Spain to celebrate the 16th edition of the Perfume Academy Awards, which highlight the quality and creative height of the new fragrance launches that reach the market, as well as the value of perfumes with a track record.
"Perfume is something very delicate, very aspirational, very emotional, very ethereal, very subtle, but also very fragile", highlighted Juan Pedro Abeniacar, president of the Perfume Academy Foundation, in his welcome speech to those attending the gala. He also reviewed the impressive sales figures recorded by this industry in Spain, where sales have grown by 17%, reaching the figure of 93 million units sold. He highlighted the strength of the market in China and Japan, where the fragrance category has gone from representing 2% to 10% of the total beauty business.
List of winners
Perfume of the Year for Men
Terre d'Hermès Eau Givrée, Hermés (Puig). Perfumer: Christine Nagel.
Women's Perfume of the Year
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine, Gucci (Coty). Perfumer: Alberto Morillas.
Best Iconic Men's Perfume Award
Ck One, Calvin Klein (Coty). Perfumers: Alberto Morillas and Harri Frémont.
Best Iconic Perfume for Women
Shalimar, Guerlain (LVMH). Perfumer: Jacques Guerlain.
Best Niche Perfume Award
724, Maison Francis Kurkdjian (Isolée). Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian.
Best Collection Perfume Award
Rêve Lotus Collection Memori, Kenzo Parfums (LVMH). Perfumers: Quentin Bisch and Shyamala Maisondieu.
Best Men's Lifestyle Perfume Award
Mandarina Duck for Him, Mandarina Duck (Angelini Beauty). Perfumer: Mathieu Nardin.
Best Women's Lifestyle Perfume Award
Orchid, Pedro del Hierro (Tailored Perfumes). Perfumer: Jérôme di Marino.
Best Male Design Award
Born in Roma Coral Fantasy Uomo, Valentino (L'Oréal Luxury).
Best Female Design Award
Paradoxe, Prada (L'Oréal Luxury).
Best Male Campaign Award
Ralph's Club, Ralph Lauren (L'Oréal Luxury).
Best Women's Campaign Award
Loewe Botanical Rainbow Collection, Loewe Perfumes (LVMH).
Sustainability and Innovation Award
Grupo VIOR del CSIC, Misión Biológica de Galicia (project for the recovery of the native Narcea rose).
Blooming in Paradise: strolling among the flowers
Do you want to live an immersive, multi-sensory experience around perfume? The Santa Maria Novella perfumery ( ** Florence) invites you to immerse yourself in the magic of fragrances through the experiential artwork "Blooming in Paradise". **
Images, sounds and fragrances are combined in an installation, created by the artist Felice Limosani, which reproduces a heavenly environment in constant bloom, designed to be enjoyed with all the senses.
This multi-sensory experience, open to the public free of charge, revolves around the typically Florentine botanical raw materials present in the new Eau de Parfum I Giardini Medicei fragrance collection.
Blooming in Paradise
Where?
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.
Via della Scala 16, Florence.
When?
Until 15 February 2024.
9:30 h. - 20:00 h.