“Le Parfum, C’est la Fête!” was the theme of the 28th

International Perfumer-Creator Award, 2012 edition

The International Perfumer-Creator Award was originated in 1957 by Ernest-Pierre Meunier, a perfumer at Germaine Monteil and president of the SFP at the time. The management committee included some of the great names in perfumery, like Henri Fraysse, H. M. Gattefossé, H. Hoffmann and, last but by no means least, Edmond Roudnitzka.

Since then, the prize has been awarded every two years based on the evaluations of two judges panels: technical and artistic. So far, 27 young talents have received the distinction, most of whom have gone on to become well-known perfumers.

For the 28th edition this year, SFP vice president Patrick de Vilmorin chaired an organizational committee including Fabienne Pastor, perfumer at Rochas and winner of the 2004 prize, Francis Thibaudeau, perfumery director at Robertet and former SFP president, and Norbert Bijaoui, perfumer and former SFP president.

From a field of 82 anonymous entrants from 12 different countries, including five Europeans, the technical panel submitted a short list of five finalists to the artistic panel for the final selection.

MEMBERS of the 2012 TECHNICAL PANEL: Laurence Fanuel, Robertet; Jacques Huclier, Givaudan; Jean Jacques, Takasago; Nathalie Lorson, Firmenich; Daniel Moliere, Azur Fragrances; Alexandra Monet, Drom; Françoise Guermeur, Symrise; Elisabeth de Vilmorin, Chanel.

MEMBERS of the 2012 ARTISTIC PANEL: Dominique Ropion of the IFF, chairman; Patrick Saint-Yves, SFP; Norbert Bijaoui, perfumer; Violaine de Carné, author, actress and director; Nathalie Helal, author of the blog “Du Nez au Palais”; Mathilde Laurent, perfumer at Cartier; Nicolas Olczyk, Rouge Curacao; Antigone Schilling, journalist; Terry François, Terry François Gospel Singers; Yin Yqing, designer, Cité de la Mode et du Design.

And the winner of the 2012 International Perfumer-Creator Award is… Virginie Armand!

SFP vice president Patrick de Vilmorin and Dominique Ropion, chairman of the judges panel and perfumer at IFF, shared the stage with Virginie Armand, a perfumer at Argeville in Mougins (France) as she received, from the hands of its designer, the magnificent trophy created by Jean-Christophe Gaydon, as well as a check for €2,000 in prize money presented by Patrick Saint-Yves in the name of the SFP. After this promising start, the Society wishes Ms. Armand a long and successful career in perfumery!

Visibly moved, the prizewinner described her work on the theme of Le Parfum, C’est la Fête! (“fragrance is a celebration”) based on keywords like conviviality, lightheartedness and carefree fun. Her initial idea was to evoke sweet candy, making it even lighter by blending it with the tart notes of cola. She concluded, “Imagine a martini glass in which you mix rum and cola. Then on the toothpick, you put pieces of candy instead of an olive. That gives you an idea of the concepts I wanted to convey in my fragrance for ‘Le Parfum, C’est la Fête’.”

A creation that was perfectly in step with the celebration

of the SFP’s 70th anniversary!

CAPSULE BIO: VIRGINIE ARMAND

Winner of the 2012 International Perfumer-Creator Award

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Virginie Armand is the daughter of Michel Armand, a respected perfumer who has created functional products for Firmenich, IFF and Takasago.

Born in 1981, Virginie Armand works for Argeville in Mougins, France. After earning a degree in organic chemistry at Lyon University and a post-graduate degree in chemical and sensory analysis applied to fragrances, flavors and cosmetics at Le Havre University, she worked at IFF in Mexico for two years (2004-2005), followed by stints with IFF in New York (2006) and Jean Niel in Grasse (2007-2011) before joining Argeville in 2011.