Inside the 2025 Annual Fragrance Foundation Awards
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Forget the first Monday in May. For perfumeheads, it’s all about the first Thursday in June. If you’ve ever wondered how the noses behind your favorite perfumes celebrate their craft, the answer is a star-studded evening at Lincoln Center. Every year at this time, fragrance founders, celebrities, and unabashed perfume enthusiasts gather to celebrate the annual Fragrance Foundation Awards at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. Presenters like actress Laverne Cox, beauty influencer Jackie Aina, and designers Vera Wang and Dapper Dan announced awards in categories like Best Indie Fragrance and Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year.
“This is the fragrance industry’s biggest night,” Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, said in a statement. “It’s the one night when the fragrance community—from the big, bold names to the independent creators—come together to celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of our industry, and the remarkable achievements of the people behind the scents.”
Standout honorees included Kilian Paris Sunkissed Goddess, an amber and vanilla blend with hints of coconut, which took home Women’s Luxury Fragrance of the Year; Byredo Desert Dawn, which smells like cardamom, rose, and papyrus, and won for Universal Luxury Fragrance; and the D.S. & Durga Murder Mystery Set, a layering trio designed to help you build a unique scent, awarded for Innovative Fragrance. Ralph Lauren was the evening’s Hall of Fame honoree. Fittingly, the awards were scented by Daniela Andrier, who won the Lifetime Achievement Perfumer award. The fragrance, aptly named Lincoln in June, filled the room with vibrant floral notes.
Click through the gallery below to take a peek inside the glamorous evening of fragrance.
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