The evocative power of perfume, in dialogue with music and dance, has been the common thread to commemorate two decades of life of the Perfume Academy and its XIX edition of Awards at the Teatro Real.
The Academy gathered some 500 guests representing the world of perfume, founders, authorities, patrons and Academicians, distribution, the different award juries, as well as other personalities from the world of art, science and culture.
Among them, the Dukes of Huéscar, Fernando Fitz-James Stuart and Sofía Palazuelo, winners of the Best Niche Perfume in the first year of their firm's life, and the charismatic artist Antonio Banderas, commemorated with the distinction "Legend of the Culture of Arts and Perfume", stood out; his first words upon taking the stage, after thanking the Perfume Academy, were "I want the Goyas to be like this. It's very elegant and everything is very good, I like it a lot."
The event brought together numerous representatives from cinema, dance, music, sports, art, science, fashion, luxury, communication, gastronomy or design such as Natalia Verbeke, Sandra Sánchez, Carmen Lomana, Xandra Falcó, Nuria March, Mónica de Tomás, Lorenzo Caprile, Topacio Fresh, Rubén Sanz, Josie, Laura Pamplona, Almagro San Miguel, Antonio Najarro, Teresa de la Cierva, Pedro Mansilla, Adrián Carrera (dyanbye), Ana Cerrato, Félix Ramiro, among others.
The Academicians of Perfume, from different countries, did not miss the event: Full Academicians such as Alberto Morillas, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Adriana Medina, Emilio Valeros, Nuria Cruelles, Gregorio Sola, Agustí Vidal, Jérôme Di Marino, Ane Ayo, Luz Vaquero and Merit Academicians such as Dominique Roques, Laura López-Mascaraque, Ramón Freixa, Charo Izquierdo, Lola Gavarrón or Adriana Izquierdo Domínguez.
The president of the Perfume Academy, Juan Pedro Abeniacar, emotionally reviewed the Academy's trajectory in its first twenty years of life and some of its great milestones as a non-profit entity motivated by the dissemination of the art and culture of perfume.
The show was a journey of music and dance inspired by the evocative power of perfume through four universal emotions: Joy, Melancholy, Fullness, and Passion. Each one immersed in a sensory universe that invited to feel, remember, and discover the mark that these emotions leave on us. The synesthetic experience was enriched with four perfumes created exclusively for each evocation by Jérôme Di Marino, perfumer at Mane and Academician of the Tonka Bean Perfume Chair.
Legend of Culture of Arts and Perfume Distinction
The Perfume Academy pays a special tribute with the "Legend" distinction to those who, with their talent, have contributed to enhancing the art of perfume from different fields. Val Díez, vice president of the Perfume Academy, presented this recognition to Antonio Banderas as an exceptional ambassador and unique talent who proudly defends different artistic disciplines, spreading the values of creativity, excellence, and the cultural heritage of perfume as another art for 30 years.
The winners
In his speech, Antonio Banderas praised the work of the Perfume Academy and the extraordinary gala, highlighting its elegance, artistic quality, entertainment, and agility, even pointing it out as a benchmark for other great ceremonies, including the Goya Awards. He also expressed his deep gratitude to Puig for accompanying him throughout his career in the world of perfume and the learnings from the hand of perfumer Gregorio Sola, capable of encapsulating the essence of his personality in a bottle.
The winners
After months of suspense, the winners of the XIX Perfume Academy Awards 2026 were revealed.
- Men's Perfume of the Year: Prada Paradigme EDP by Prada Beauty. Perfumers: Marie Salamagne, Bruno Jovanovic and Nicolas Bonneville.
- Women's Perfume of the Year: Eau Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford. Perfumer: Nathalie Gracia-Cetto.
- Niche Perfume: No Time for Roses by Fitz-James Stuart. Perfumer: Alberto Morillas.
- Collection Perfume: Atelier des Fleurs Cedrus Intense by Chloé. Perfumers: Quentin Bisch and Louise Turner.
- Home Perfume: Sweet Almond by Loewe Perfumes. Perfumer: Nuria Cruelles.
- Iconic Men's Perfume: Cool Water by Davidoff. Perfumers: Pierre Bourdon.
- Iconic Women's Perfume: Trésor EDP by Lancôme. Perfumer: Sophia Grojsman.
- Men's Lifestyle Perfume: Iconic Statement White by Reebok. Perfumer: Benoit Lapouza.
- Women's Lifestyle Perfume: Corre que te pillo, Victorio&Lucchino. Perfumer: Nathalie Lorson and Jeanne M. Faugie.
- Men's Design: Armure Mara La Collection by Rabanne.
- Women's Design: Lapis Lazuli by Aristocrazy.
- Men's Campaign: Prada Paradigme EDP by Prada Beauty.
- Women's Campaign: La Bomba EDP by Carolina Herrera.
- Sustainability and Olfactory Heritage: La Jara del Andévalo.
- Legend of Culture of Arts and Perfume Distinction: Antonio Bandera.
Sustainability and Olfactory Heritage Award
The Sustainability and Olfactory Heritage Award was given to la Jara del Andévalo. It was received by the mayor of Puebla de Guzmán, Antonio Beltrán, on behalf of ADRAO, the Association for the Rural Development of Western Andévalo, from the hands of Dominique Roques, the Essence Seeker and Academic of Merit Benjuí Chair.