Spain is the second largest global exporter of perfumes and fragrances, with more than 10,124 million euros in annual exports, and perfume already represents 21% of the beauty market in Spain
These figures have been shared today during the official presentation of the Barcelona Olfaction Week (BOW) by Beauty Cluster, held at the Iberchem offices, where the new edition of the event has been announced, which will mainly take place from May 18 to 24 in Barcelona, although there will be activities before and after this week such as La noche de los museos.
Driven by Beauty Cluster, the Barcelona Olfaction Week (BOW) is consolidated as one of the main international meeting points linked to perfumery, olfactory culture, and sensory innovation, bringing together perfumers, scientists, brands, and industry enthusiasts for seven days in a program that combines tradition, creativity, and innovation.
“Spanish perfumery is experiencing one of its greatest moments of growth and international projection in recent years. Spain remains the second largest global exporter thanks to an increasingly innovative, competitive industry connected with creativity and excellence,” highlighted Eva Lluch, vice president of Beauty Cluster.
For her part, Irene Gisbert, member of Beauty Cluster, has reviewed the evolution of the Barcelona Olfaction Week and how this initiative has consolidated itself as a reference space for the industry and olfactory culture. “The BOW was born with the objective of reclaiming perfume from a much more transversal perspective, connecting industry, creativity, science, and culture. Today it has become a meeting space that helps to make talent visible, promote new conversations within the sector, and bring olfactory culture closer to the general public,” she explained.
The program for this edition will include workshops, exhibitions, immersive experiences, specialized conferences, and professional meetings focused on key areas such as innovation in raw materials, sustainability, the science of smell, and creativity in perfumery.
One of the main focuses of this edition will be to strengthen the link between perfumery and culture through activities in different spaces of the city. In this sense, BOW has promoted collaborations with cultural institutions such as Palau Güell, La Casa Vicens, El Palau de la Música, the CCCB, Park Güell, El Poble Espanyol or the Altaïr or Alibri bookstores, incorporating smell as another language within the artistic experience.
Among the highlights of this edition are the celebration of the IX International Perfumery Competition Mouillette d’Argent and the Barcelona Perfume Day event, a professional gathering focused on raw materials, creativity, sustainability, and the evolution of current perfumery.
For more than a week, Barcelona will become a meeting point for professionals and the general public, strengthening the role of perfume as an element capable of connecting disciplines, generating experiences, and providing cultural and economic value.
“We want to continue positioning Barcelona as an international capital of perfume culture and as a meeting point between innovation, creativity, and knowledge. BOW very well reflects the capacity this industry has to connect disciplines, generate experiences, and create cultural and economic value,” adds Adrià Martínez, general manager of Beauty Cluster.