Fragrance Foundation Arabia has announced the award categories for the region’s first ‘Perfume Oscars’ to be held in Dubai on 30 November, 2010 – and will let consumers have a say on which scents make it to the top.
The Chairman of the Fragrance Foundation Arabia, Mr. Shahzad Haider, said about FiFi Dubai 2010 at the announcement: “We are partly following the procedures of the FiFi awards around the world, and partly make the FiFi Dubai 2010 special for our region. We have created categories for fragrances made in Arabia and categories for international perfumes. They don’t compete against each other, but within their own categories. This is after discussion with all the top industry players – and their excellent response shows their commitment and zest for the growth of the fragrance industry across all sectors of business. We firmly believe that the first ever FiFi Awards in Dubai will not only provide a platform to bring the entire industry together but also have a positive impact on the international fragrance scene.”
The ‘FiFi’ Awards will be the first perfume award in the Middle East to highlight and acknowledge local and regional fragrance producers. In its inaugural year the Fragrance Foundation Arabia will award the “’Best Fragrances of the Year” in the following categories: ‘Arabian Prestige’ Male and Female, ‘Arabian Popular Appeal’ Male and Female, ‘International Prestige’ Male and Female, and ‘International Popular Appeal’ Male and Female.
“Once the nomination entrees have been received, consumers will be encouraged to vote online for the best fragrances in each award category.” said Grit Pannier, President of Fragrance Foundation Arabia. “The top three finalists in each category will then be evaluated in a second step by an independent jury of professionals that will choose the final winners of each category.” added Pannier. Whereas the ‘My favourite perfume of the Year’ Award represents the opinion of the consumer only. This category allows consumers to register votes for their favourite perfumes in participating retail outlets and print titles.
The deadline for submission of nominations is on the 30 September, 2010, and consumers can vote online for the best fragrances of the year from 01 October until 31 October, 2010.
Further awards will be given for the “Best Retailer of the Year” including an award for the best multi-brand store of the year as well as for the best mono-brand store of the year, meaning a retail outlet that only represents a single umbrella brand of perfume and its various brand extensions.
“We will surely introduce further categories like e.g. “Best Packaging of the Year” or “Best Media Campaign of the Year” in the next year of the FiFi, but wanted to keep the focus on the fragrances in our inaugural year, said Grit Pannier.
The first annual ‘FiFi’ Fragrance Awards will be held at The Address Downtown Dubai on 30 November, 2010. The event will be attended by the industry’s key players including local manufactures, brand custodians, suppliers, perfumers, retailers and distributors. A host of local and International celebrities will also be present at the prestigious event.
For further details about the award categories, the submission guidelines and the nomination process, please log onto http://www.fragrancefoundationarabia.org/fifi-awards/history.html.
