The
French Fifi Awards will be presented on April 10th at the Salle
Wagram, in Paris. For the fifth year running, I was a member of the jury for
the Prix des Experts, along with fellow bloggers, journalists and evaluators.
This
year there are two awards, one given out for niche, the other for exclusives
lines by big brands. Jurors were sent a first list of 86 fragrances in the
first category, 21 in the second – far short of the 395 niches fragrances
tallied up by Michael Edwards in Fragrances
of the World, but a fair round-up of products available in France in more
than a single point of sale.
We
were each asked to pick three fragrances for each category, with 5 points for
the first, 3 for the second and 1 for the third. According to Sabine Chabbert,
deputy director of the Fragrance Foundation France, 58% of the votes singled
out 5 fragrances in the big brands; in niche, the 5 short-list selectees garnered
38%.
We
met up in the offices of Cinquième Sens to blind-smell the 10 finalists, with
two sets of blotters: one dipped earlier in the day, one freshly made up for
each scent. Again, we were asked for three picks in each category, with the
same points system as in the first round.
Here
are the finalists. The winners will be announced on April 10th (or
on the 11th if the evening has been too… bubbly).
Shortlist in the niche perfume category
Black – Comme des Garçons
Eau du 34 – Diptyque
Dries Van Noten par Frédéric Malle – Editions de Parfums Frédéric
Malle
Saffron – Jo Malone
Ylang 49 – Le Labo
Shortlist in the big brands' exclusives
collections
1932 – Chanel
Gris Montaigne – Dior
Epice Marine – Hermès
N°14 Rossetto – Prada
Tobacco Oud – Tom Ford
Which would you vote for in each category?
The person who guesses the two winners correctly will win one sample
from each shortlist, out of my personal decants (but bear in mind I don’t have Gris
Montaigne, Saffron or Eau du 34). If there is more than one
correct answer I will do a draw. You have up to April 9th to enter.
Composition of the Jury for the Prix des Experts
10 fragrance evaluators : Julia
Devismes (Drom), Célia Dunand (Takasago),
Lydie Deneiple (IFF), Maryline Bonnard (Cinquième Sens), Naila Hamayed
(Givaudan),Peggy Robert (Mane), Anne-Marie Benoît (Firmenich),Caroline
Catherine (Symrise), Sophie Villerette (Robertet), Hélène Jamin (Fragrance Resources).
5 bloggers : Denyse Beaulieu
(Grain de Musc/Citizen K), Juliette Faliu (Poivre Bleu), Nicolas Olczyk (Rouge
Curaçao, Osmoz), Thierry Blondeau (Olfactorum), Alexis Toublanc (Dr Jicky &
Mr Phoebus).
10 journalists : Lili
Barbery-Coulon (M le magazine du Monde), Johanne Courbatère (Les Echos Série
limitée),Laurence Férat (Le Figaro), Marie-Bénédicte Gauthier (Voici), Karine
Grunebaum (Version Fémina, Gala), Laurence Hovart (Numéro), Antigone Schilling
(Faux Q, slate.fr), Lionel Paillès (Grazia, Lui…), Jean-Luc Suchet (Voici),
Sylvie Vaz (Cosmétique Mag).
L'actu 
Articles
How interesting. I tried Ylang 49 a few weeks ago and liked it a lot, I could imagine it doing well here too. In the big brand exclusive short list I don't know many, but feel that Epice Marine is the one sticking out. I trust you had fun sniffing, and I hope you'll let us know your own favourites in due course, if you are allowed to share that info, of course.
RépondreSupprimerIt's always interesting to do the bling-smelling session... While journalists and bloggers focused on recognizing the products first, then discussed them, while evaluators didn't really take that under consideration.
SupprimerFive of my first-round votes were in the short-lists, is all I can say!
Tough to choose because I've smelled less thany 50% of the shortlisted perfumes...
RépondreSupprimerSo I'll name the only one I know I like - Dries van noten from FM (I am so rooting against Ylang 49, you have no idea!).
I liked the backstory for epice marine, so I'll choose that one from the second cathergory, even if me and hermes are not meant to be!
Interesting that Ylang 49 would arouse such passionate dislike! Personally it was the only perfume I actually asked for as a gift (from a man, I mean, I didn't pester Le Labo for it!) in... quite a few years, actually!
SupprimerNot sure I would wear Epice Marine either, but the story is wonderful indeed...
I'm sorry to repeat Zazie, but I have to go with Dries Van Noten and Epice Marine as well. I have not sniffed all of these, but of the ones I have, these two stood out. I also share a strong dislike of ylang 49.
RépondreSupprimerOh, Ylang 49 is definitely a love/hate fragrance, I hadn't realized since all the French bloggers I know love it. Just goes to show that at least it has character!
SupprimerI don't know who the winner will be, and I haven't smelled all of these, so I am just going to go with what I like! :-) I'm going to say Dries Van Noten for FM and Dior's Gris Montaigne, which I think is just beautiful.
RépondreSupprimerAshley, that's the best way to go. They certainly have their chances!
SupprimerBlack and Tobacco Oud, I'll say. E spero che tutto vada bene per te!
RépondreSupprimerMoira, che piacere! Anche se non ti scrivo, ti penso. Ti scrivero tra poco, va tutto benissimo, ma ho troppo lavoro! Mi piacciono anche a me Black e Tobacco Oud. And that is the extent of the Italian I can squeeze out at this hour, except: un bacione!
SupprimerMy guess for the two winners would be Dries van Noten and Epice Marine.
RépondreSupprimerI quite like 1932 too when I tried it. Looking at the list, I realize I have not tried almost half of the nominees. I should really get busy sniffing soon!
Well, at least with this type of short list you can be sure several people found them interesting, so it's a good start!
SupprimerI have not tried many of these either, though I recognize the names from my to-sniff list :) That said, I will choose Ylang 49 and Epice Marine, for the two that sound the most interesting and thought-provoking to me!
RépondreSupprimerThank you Yuki. They are certainly that!
SupprimerI'll make a complete blind guess as I haven't tried any of these; how about Dries van Noten and 1932. Good luck, everyone!
RépondreSupprimerGigi
Well at least if you win you'll have the opportunity of discovering your lucky guesses!
SupprimerBlack and 1932 would be my guesses...AnnieA
RépondreSupprimerThank you for your input Annie!
SupprimerI have tried only two of these, Dries van Noten par FM and 1932. I would guess Dries van Noten par FM and Epice Marine by Hèrmes as the winners. The Dries van Noten is very interesting, but stays too close to the skin for my personal liking. 1932 is a scent I guess would appeal to a large number of people, but it seems sooo very safe, nearly boring.
RépondreSupprimerI had that issue with the Dries as well, though apparently other people could smell it on me. In fact, 1932 also did that!
SupprimerI agree it is safe, but I do find it exquisite and indeed, it's also safe in the sense that on days when I don't know what to spritz, I'd go for 1932.
I'd guess Ylang 49 and 1931. They seem the most likeable, but I suppose it depends on the judge's criteria
RépondreSupprimerThe jurors were at different tables so I don't know what everyone said... Certainly bloggers and journalists took brands into account as one of the factors, while evaluators focused on construction.
SupprimerI mean 1932!
RépondreSupprimer