Minorité and Firmenich Announce 2019 Niche Perfumery Award Winners

Minorité, a niche Chinese Fine Fragrance company and Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned perfume and taste company announced the winners of the Minorité 2019 Niche Perfumery Awards (mNPA), China’s first niche perfumery awards. Announced at a ceremony in Shanghai, this new annual event organized by Minorité and sponsored by Firmenich aims to increase awareness of niche perfumes in China and introduce Chinese niche brands to the world.

The awards encourage the creation of innovative fragrances with an artistic touch, based on a unique approach. The nomination jury included leading perfumers, senior fragrance critics and Key Opinion Leaders who were responsible for nominating the candidates and shortlisting the finalists for each award category. Winners were then chosen by public vote.

Open to everyone in the niche perfume industry around the world, the winners of this year’s awards are:

• Best Independent Niche Perfumes 2019: Fig-Tea by Nicolaï; Hermann A Mes Cotes Me Paraissait Une Ombre by Etat Libre d`Orange; The Orchid Man by Frapin

• Best Niche Perfumes Affiliated with a Group 2019:  Oolang Infini by Atelier Cologne; L`Ombre Dans L`Eau (EDT) by diptyque; Florabellio by diptyque

• Best Chinese Niche Perfume 2019: Insects Awaken by KONG BAI; Wind by UTTORI; Rosmanthus by O D’HORA

“Following the opening of our first Fine Fragrance Atelier in China in September last year, Firmenich’s participation in mNPA demonstrates our commitment to developing the Fine Fragrance industry in China,” says Paul Andersson, Firmenich China President. “Firmenich is honored to support worldwide exposure for the outstanding Fine Fragrance players in China by leveraging our global network and our understanding of the local Chinese consumers and market.”

Olivier Viejo, Firmenich Shanghai Fine Fragrance Atelier director, added, “The mNPA awards offer a great platform for Fine Fragrance players, especially the startup companies in China. We support global niche brands in China and encourage local Fine Fragrance creators to invest in fragrances for China and the world.”

“This is the first time we have held the awards for niche perfumes in China,” said Song Yuan, founder of Minorite. “We chose Firmenich as a partner because of its great reputation and strong passion for both Fine Fragrance and the local Chinese market. Firmenich is the No.1 fragrance house in Fine Fragrance worldwide. We hope these awards will help Chinese consumers learn more about our local niche brands and inspire domestic perfumes.”