“ESSENTIAL. The art of the invisible”, the grand cultural gala of the XVIII Perfume Academy Awards 2025, invited a sensory experience through the links between the universes of music and perfume. Fragrances and sounds merged in a journey back to the essence, with an inspiring scenic narrative by the pianist and musical curator Marta Espinós, specialized in connecting music with other disciplines from a transversal perspective. For the guests, "it was a very heartfelt, profound, authentic, emotional gala of serene beauty."
In an atmosphere of celebration and with a manifesto of the "essential," the Perfume Academy brought together more than 350 personalities at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid. The patrons and Academics of Perfume, collaborators, awards juries, representatives of the distribution sector, authorities, personalities, and talents from the arts, science, and culture were all present. Among them, the Duke and Duchess of Huéscar, Fernando Fitz-James Stuart and Sofía Palazuelo; the Casa de Alba foundation; representatives from the Prado Museum, the Royal Botanical Garden-CSIC; representatives from film, dance, music, literature, art, science, fashion, journalism, design, gastronomy, and entrepreneurship such as Natalia Verbeke, Topacio Fresh, Nadia de Santiago, Rubén Sanz, Sergio Alguacil, Sofía Ellar, Antonio Najarro, Cecilia Gómez, Nuria March, Antonio Fournier, Irini Fournier, Ramón Freixa, Pepe Leal, Patricia Manterola, Maialen Gurbindo, Roberto Verino, Iago Jover, and Pedro Mansilla, among others.
They were joined by great perfumers and master perfumers of world renown, such as the Académicos de Número del Perfume Carlos Benaïm, Alberto Morillas, Olivier Cresp, Ramón Monegal, Emilio Valeros, Ane Ayo, Elisabeth Vidal, Gregorio Sola, Nuria Cruelles, Agustí Vidal, Marina Barcenilla or Luz Vaquero, and Académicos de Mérito such as Dominique Roques, “the essence seeker,” the neuroscientist Laura López Mascaraque, Dr. Adriana Izquierdo Domínguez, and Lola Gavarrón, accompanied by Juan Pedro Abeniacar, President of the Perfume Academy, and Val Díez, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Stanpa ecosystem.
During the gala, moments of connection between music and perfume were intertwined, like two arts in dialogue, with the presentation of the different award blocks. Marta Espinós' grand piano was joined by poetry, the sound of Iván Montero's bandoneon –like inhalation and exhalation– and Raúl Márquez's violin, with a new electronic light dimension. Enveloped in the magic of the images projected on the screen, an immersive sensory spectacle was unleashed with four moments: "Essential", "Synesthesia", "Inspiration" and "Sublimation". The public was able to appreciate that perfume is a silent language, an art that is not looked at, but breathed. Among the astonishing coincidences between the universe of music and that of perfume, the external gaze was extinguished to open the internal gaze. It was recalled that the etymological origin of perfume comes from the Latin, fumum, to the sound of the ritual fire dance of El amor brujo, by Manuel de Falla. During the piece "Flores de Francia", the guests connected ear and smell through five perfumes created especially courtesy of the Eurofragance team and its perfumers. Fleurs de France is a suite for piano composed in 1930 by Germaine Tailleferre, a musical tribute with a flower from each province of France as the protagonist: jasmine from Provence, poppy from Guyana, rose from Anjou, lavender from Haute Provence and daisy from Roussillon.
The musical and artistic direction of the gala was led by Marta Espinós, fresh from performing at the Princess of Asturias Awards program, together with architect and museographer Juan Alberto García de Cubas, who co-direct the Cultura en Vena foundation, dedicated to the connection between art, health, and well-being; with Pedro Chamizo as stage director and the general coordination of Cristina de Catalina, Director of Development of the Perfume Academy. The president of the Perfume Academy, Juan Pedro Abeniacar, in his opening speech, highlighted that "perfume is something essential, it is the beauty category that is growing the most worldwide, it is a source of pride to see the evolution of the Perfume Academy as a cultural foundation and its content program, which is increasingly rich, as well as the community it has created around it."
The Legends of Perfume
The Perfume Academy paid an extraordinary tribute to three of the world's most renowned master perfumers: Carlos Benaïm, Olivier Cresp, and Alberto Morillas, distinguished with the title "Perfume Legend," who came from New York, Grasse, and Geneva, respectively. This tribute marked a historic milestone by bringing together three figures of global reference who could be considered "Nobel Prizes of Perfume": three universal talents, authentic masters whose work has transcended borders, eras, and styles, visionary geniuses who have written essential pages in the history of perfume.
The "Perfume Legend" distinctions were presented by the president of the Perfume Academy, Juan Pedro Abeniacar; Val Díez, Executive Vice President of the same and president of the Jury of the Awards; and Manuel Puig, Vice President of Puig, representing the profound history of perfumery in Spain and its global projection. The tribute highlighted their legacy, their olfactory creations, and the values they embody: excellence, generosity, inspiration, and commitment to spreading the culture of perfume, recalling their role as Academics of the Perfume Academy. An explosion of applause brought the entire audience to their feet in a unanimous and deeply felt ovation.
The Winners
After months of suspense and excitement, the winners were revealed:
- Men's Perfume of the Year: Le Sel d’Issey by Issey Miyake. Perfumer: Quentin Bisch.
- Women's Perfume of the Year: Barénia by Hermès. Perfumer: Christine Nagel. · Niche Perfume: From the Garden by Maison Margiela. Perfumer: Olivier Cresp.
- Collection Perfume: Comète by Chanel. Perfumer: Olivier Polge. · Home Perfume: Bois de Russie by Ladenac. Perfumer: Patrick Douenat.
- Iconic Men's: 1 Million EDT by Rabanne. Perfumers: Christophe Raynaud, Olivier Pescheux, and Michel Girard.
- Iconic Women's: Loewe Aire EDT by LOEWE Perfumes. Perfumer: Emilio Valeros.
- Men's Lifestyle: Iconic Statement by Reebok. Perfumer: Jordi Fernández. ·
- Women's Lifestyle: Paris Fashion Collection by Prêt-à-Porter. Perfumers: Caroline Dumur and Fanny Bal.
- Men's Design: Le Beau Paradise Garden by Jean Paul Gaultier.
- Women's Design: Daisy Wild by Marc Jacobs.
- Men's Campaign: Old Fashioned by Kilian Paris.
- Women's Campaign: Barénia by Hermès.
- Sustainability and Innovation: Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC.
- Iconic 100 Years Award: Shalimar by Guerlain.
- Legends of Perfume Distinction: Carlos Benaïm, Academician “Poleo Chair”; Olivier Cresp, Academician “Cedro Chair” and Alberto Morillas Academician “Jazmín Chair”.
Sustainability and Innovation Award, Iconic 100 Years Award, and a Moment for Remembrance
The Sustainability and Innovation Award went to the Royal Botanic Garden–CSIC, recognizing its extraordinary work in scientific research, environmental education, and its firm commitment to environmental conservation, consolidated as a reference space for citizens of all ages.
Its 270th anniversary was highlighted, reaffirming its role as a leading scientific institution. Its facilities conserve and study numerous plant species, including an outstanding collection of aromatic plants—many of them historically linked to perfumery—and a magnificent rose garden with more than 70 varieties of roses. Its program of sensory activities was valued, such as routes that allow discovering the space through the sense of smell. The award was collected by Isabel Sanmartín, Deputy Director of Research and Documentation of the RJB-CSIC, from Dominique Roques "The Essence Seeker" and Academic of Merit "Benjuí Chair" of the Perfume Academy.
For a perfume on the market to reach its centenary is a truly extraordinary event, which led to the presentation of the Iconic 100 Years Award to Shalimar by Guerlain, created in 1925, presented by 4th generation perfumer Ramón Monegal, Academician “Iris de Florencia Chair”. To date, the Perfume Academy had only presented this similar award to Chanel No. 5, in 2021, for its centenary.
At the gala, a space was dedicated to the memory of the designer Giorgio Armani, who died in 2025, for whom fragrances were a natural extension of dressing: an invisible but powerful way to express style and personality. Armani also had a symbolic presence at the gala through the makeup of the pianist Marta Espinós, courtesy of Armani Beauty.