The Fragrance Foundation (TFF) expanded its Packaging of the Year Award to include Men’s, Women’s, and the new Universal category — to recognize the many fragrances that are unisex, leading the gender-neutral trend. The virtual celebration was held online on September 10.

Wes Gordon, creative director, Carolina Herrera New York, announced the winners during the online event. “I’m joining you today from our offices and atelier in midtown Manhattan,” he said, “as we design and create our next collection in a healthy and socially distanced way.”

Gordon acknowledged the collaborative effort it takes for a brand to launch a new fragrance -- as package designers, package development teams, and packaging engineers all work with suppliers to get every subtle detail correct. Beauty and functionality must come together to ensure a fragrance delivers a positive user experience.

“Little touches make all the difference — from a satisfying click of a cap to the tactile texture or curve of the glass.” —Wes Gordon

Before revealing the winners, Gordon named the finalists in each packaging category. (Note: They are listed below, and at the link below.) “These finalists all went above and beyond to entice the eye just as much as the nose,” he said. 

Note: Take a look at Wes Gordon -- and the other presenters in the slideshow: The Fragrance Foundation Awards Go Virtual, Here's All The Presenters, Winners & More

Here are the winners...

Eau De Juice Pure Sugar Wins Women’s Packaging of the Year

Eau De Juice, Pure Sugar by Luxe Brands, and Cosmopolitan is the Women’s Packaging of the Year Women’s winner. Pure Sugar is part of the cheeky Eau De Juice four-scent collection. The pop-art-inspired Millennial pink bottle is extremely Instagrammable.

A child’s juice box inspired the fun design. It comes complete with a lipstick-stained straw, and the ‘box’ even looks ‘squeezed.’ The patented design is by the Brooklyn-based team at Powershovel Creative, led by co-founders and creative directors Joshua English and Aleks Hadden.

The actual “juice” is by Firmenich and perfumer Clément Gavarry. Top notes are wild strawberry, pink grapefruit. Plum blossom and pink pepper are at its heart, followed by a base of jasmine sambac and praline.

Noreen Dodge, chief marketing officer of Luxe Brands, explained, “Our vision was to create a brand narrative that is aspirational yet relatable, with a wink of humorous sensibility.” Dodge accepted the award.

Women’s Packaging of the Year Finalists are — 
 

• Floral Street, Neon Rose Eau de Parfum (Floral Street)
• Juicy Couture, Viva La Juicy, Bowdacious (Revlon, Paul McLaughlin)
• Kylie Jenner By KKW Fragrance, Nude Lips (KKW Fragrance, Kim Kardashian West, Kylie Jenner)
• Moschino Toy 2 (EuroItalia, Jeremy Scott)

K by Dolce & Gabbana Wins Men’s Package of the Year

K by Dolce & Gabbana by Shiseido is the Men’s Packaging of the Year winner. The bottle has a a striking feature — an ornate, glistening, crown-shaped cap.

Each cap is handcrafted and unique. The crown is overlaid with particles of 24-carat gold, and then individually aged to a distinct patina.

The clear, rectangular-shaped glass bottle is decorated with a crowned letter K, in black. The royal blue carton complements the light blue juice. The raised gold crown emblem on the carton looks luxe and adds a tactile element.

Patchouli, cedarwood, pimento, Sicilian lemon, and blood orange are the Mediterranean woody fragrance’s key notes. “Magnetic and unmistakably masculine, the scent both reflects and intensifies the innate charisma of a modern-day king,” the brand states. Perfumers Daphne Bugey and Nathalie Lorson of Firmenich, created the juice.

Robin Mason, sr. vice president of Marketing, Shiseido Americas, accepted the award. “The intricacy of this design captures the artistry that is so evident in every aspect of the brand," she said.

"Each handcrafted cap is a unique crown…and tops a strikingly contemporary bottle — mirroring the sophisticated, modern essence of the fragrance it holds,” Mason added. “And I want to say thank you to our development team at Shiseido Paris, and most importantly, to Mr. Dolce and Mr. Gabbana, our inspiring and visionary designers.”

Men’s Packaging of the Year finalists are — 

• John Varvatos JVxNJ Silver Edition (Revlon, John Varvatos, Paul McLaughlin)
• Tiffany & Love for Him by (Coty, Malin Ericson)
• Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Night Vision (L’Oreal, Malin Ericson)
• Ignacio Figueras Buenos Aries (The Lovely Distribution Co., Jon Michael Design)

Note: Jon Michael Design's Jon Dinapoli talks about his 3 nominated fragrances 

Gucci The Eyes of the Tiger Wins Universal Package of the Year

Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden, The Eyes of the Tiger by Coty is TFF’s first-ever Universal Packaging of the Year winner. The Alchemist’s Garden collection is the vision of Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele.

Each fragrance is in a different bottle, inspired by a vintage apothecary. The Eyes of the Tiger Eau De Parfum features a gold drawing of a tiger on the white-lacquered bottle. It is topped with a cap that resembles a stopper. 

The fragrance has a warm amber base — a scent “believed to harness the tiger’s soul in ancient Chinese legend,” Gucci states. The amber is blended with woody Ciste resin and a hint of Vanilla. Perfumer Alberto Morillas, Firmenich, created the juice.

Frederic Arbel, senior vice president of U.S. Marketing Luxury, Coty, accepted the award. He thanked the teams at Gucci, Coty, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue for bringing the unique collection to life.

“With The Alchemist’s Garden, we reimagined the art of fragrance making with a luxury collection of scent that each tells the story of a place, a moment, or a season,” said Arbel.

“The bottle design is inspired by things you would find on the wooden shelves of a vintage apothecary — and features gold lettering, decoration, animal symbols, on white lacquered glass with classic stoppers.” --Frederic Arbel
 

Note: Coty’s Arbel accepted another award for Gucci — Media Campaign of the Year Presented by Cher 

Just before revealing Gucci as the winner, Gordon acknowledged all the finalists in the Universal category, saying, “Packaging plays such a strong role in the overall fragrance experience, and these standouts have set the bar high, whether in regards to sustainability, storytelling, or unique aesthetic design.”

Gordon added, “Not only that, but these finalists have all achieved something even more challenging — universal appeal.”

Finalists in the Universal Packaging of the Year category are — 

• Carine Roitfeld, Seven Lovers Lawrence by Carine Roitfeld
• Esscentials Good Morning! Scent Mist (Edge Beauty, Oskar Puchalski)
• Paco Rabanne Pacollection, Strong Me (Puig) 
• Tom Ford Lavender Extreme (Tom Ford Beauty, Tom Ford)

Congratulations To All In The TFF Awards

The virtual celebration was The Fragrance Foundation’s first-ever online event, and it was a major success. Celebrities and fashion designers acted as presenters, while fragrance industry executives dressed up to thank their teams.

If you missed the livestream, take a look at Everything that happened at the Fragrance Foundation Awards.

More From The Fragrance Foundation Awards 2020

All the Winners & Finalists, Listed