The Press Jury selects its best perfumes for the Perfume Academy Awards 2026. The selection process for the Best Perfumes of the Year continues its course with a new phase. After the first vote of the distribution jury, at the beginning of March, the online vote followed with a record participation of twelve hundred professionals and perfume enthusiasts.
This week, the press jury has evaluated the 79 creations that had reached this stage, from among the 200 candidacies presented.
The press jury is the broadest and has a great involvement and commitment that brings together more than fifty professionals from the main Spanish media, print, digital and audiovisual, of the perfumery and beauty sector.
The Perfume Academy Awards continue to focus on the cultural and artistic value, as well as the science of perfume. Beyond the fragrance, the set of elements that shape each creation is recognized: the perfumer's creativity, the story that inspires the composition, the choice of raw materials, the innovation and technology of its formula and production, as well as the sensory experience and c´pmo it is communicated. Aspects such as olfactory quality, innovation, coherence and global harmony of the proposal are decisive in the evaluation.
Academia del Perfume, the following trends have been detected after analyzing the candidacies that have been presented: conscious innovation committed to sustainability, new synthesis notes and captive molecules, which coexist with naturals, and in design it stands out as a territory of extraordinary creativity with a high conceptual aesthetic that transmits powerful messages.
The growth of the Niche Perfume category has intensified, more complex and exclusive fragrances that reflect a growing sophistication of the market and the taste for differennciating oneself, coexisting with other more accessible modalities that diversify the offer, such as llas lifestyle fragrances, original, democratic, and affordable creations.
The "top" finalists for the press jury
Perfume Lifestyle
The "Perfume Lifestyle" recognizes accessible fragrances, for a wide audience that are often the entry point for young people into the world of perfume and are usually inspired by celebrities, sports emblems, musical or accessible fashion.
The top 3 in “Masculine Lifestyle Perfume” are: Iconic Statement White by Reebok, Jawhara Amberwood Nomad by Jawhara and Tribe Play by Benetton.
The top 3 in “Female Perfume Lifestyle” are: Confidently You™ EDP of Mary Kay, Corre Que Te Pillo of Victorio&Lucchino and Jawhara Golden Nectar of Jawhara.
Perfume of the Year
Recognizes the creations denntro of selective or luxury perfumery.
The top 5 in “Men's Perfume of the Year” are: Absolus Allegoria Ambre Samar EDP by Guerlain, Devotion for men by Dolce&Gabbana, Elie Saab L’Homme by Elie Saab, No Limit$ Platinum by Philipp Plein and Prada Paradigme EDP by Prada Beauty.
The top 5 in “Female Perfume of the Year” are: ADN Neroli Ecstasy by Adolfo Domínguez, Eau Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford, L’Eau Pure by Kenzo, Miutine EDP by Miu Miu Beauty and Zadig by Zadig&Voltaire.
Niche Perfumes and Perfumes of Coelction
They connect with maximum exclusivity, with exquisite raw materials aimed at a very select public that does not fear daring essence combinations, frequently a proposal of grna aromatic complexity that declare themselves without gender. With the same high criteria of exquisiteness, Collection Perfumes represetan the haute couture or high-end of luxury perfume brands.
The 3 top in “Niche Perfume” are: Bal D’Afrique Absolu by Byredo, Histoire D’Orangers Extrême by L’Artisan Parfumeur and No Time for Roses by Fitz-James Stuart.
The 3 top in “Perfume of Collection” are: Aerin Les Jardins Botaniques Wisteria by Estée Lauder, Atelier des Fleurs Cedrus Intense by Chloé and La Collection Particuler L’Enfant Térrible by Givenchy..
Perfume of the Home
It incorporates high-end room fragrances, such as candles and diffusers, which accompany the spaces.
The 3 top “Perfume of Home” of this edition are the candles: Coin Laundry by Byredo, Leather Drive by Rabanne and Sweet Almond by Loewe Perfumes.
Design
Recognizes the importance of the packaging as an artistic and qualitative element that helps to transmit the proposal, values, and motivations of the fragrance.
The 5 top in “Masculine Design” are: Angel’s Share On The Rocks by Kilian Paris, Armure Mara by La Collection Rabanne by Rabanne, Kenzo Homme Índigo by Kenzo, Light Blue Capri in Love pour Homme EDP by Dolce&Gabbana and Prada Paradigme EDP by Prada Beauty.
The 5 top in “Female Design” are: La Bomba EDP by Carolina Herrera, Lapis Lazuli by Aristocrazy, Loewe Iris Root by Loewe Perfumes, Serpentine by Roberto Cavalli and Zadig by Zadig&Voltaire.
Campaign
Recognizes the creativity of communication, its ability to capture the essence of the product and its aspirational values, as well as its capacity for differentiation and to generate an impact of sensations.
The 3 top in "Men's Campaign" are: Explorer Extreme by Montblanc, Le Sel D’Issey EDP by Issey Miyake and Prada Paradigme EDP by Prada Beauty.
The 3 top in “Female Campaign” are: L’Eau Pure by Kenzo, La Bomba EDP by Carolina Herrera and Libre L’Eau Nue by Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.
Iconic perfumes
The iconic perfumes will be evaluated soon by the Jury of Perfume Academics will be announced later; it is the category that highlights fragrances with a special importance, with milestones in the history of perfume that set trends and that continue to be current and relevant proposals today.
The Award for Innovation and Sustainability will be chosen by the Perfume Academy, recognizes initiatives, campaigns, organizations, facilities or raw materials that stand out for their innovation, sustainability and/or corporate social responsibility and will be announced directly at the gala.