Independent perfumery is celebrating. The Institute for Art and Olfaction (IAO) has officially revealed the finalists of the 12th edition of the Art and Olfaction Awards. This competition, popularly known as the "Golden Pears" (the golden pears), has consolidated itself as the beacon that guides and rewards innovation, craftsmanship, and experimentation in the universe of fragrances globally.
What makes these awards special is not only their independent nature, but their blind selection process. An international panel of experts evaluates the proposals based purely on their artistic and technical merit, without being influenced by names or marketing budgets
This year, the winners' gala will have an unbeatable backdrop: the Cultural Center Gazarte in Athens, Greece, next June 11, 2026. "In our twelfth year, we are excited to bring the awards to global capitals with vibrant perfumery scenes," comments Saskia Wilson-Brown, founder of the IAO.
The Finalists of 2026
Below, we highlight the nominees who will compete for the award in the three main categories:
Independent Category
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Chinese Calligraphy, by d’Annam (Anh Ngo and Nick Hoang).
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Crème de Menthe Café, by Statik Olfactive (Hez Binkowitz and Chris Martin).
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Deity, by Ataraxia (Sy Truong and Tudor Ristea).
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Grounded Hills, by DAN LO (Kaiwei Hsieh and Terrence Chen).
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Ici, le pas s’arrête, by TERRA T (Kaiwei Hsieh and Terrence Chen).
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Japanese Whiskey, by d’Annam (Anh Ngo and Nick Hoang).
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Laban Arruz, by NBITOR (Miguel Matos, Thomas Dennis and Raul Falcon).
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Nuit Élastique, by Première Peau (Ugo Charron and Pierre Mergui).
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Torreja Sacra, by NBITOR (Miguel Matos, Thomas Dennis and Raul Falcon).
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Verdant, by llé Olomu (Andreas Wilhem and Bawo Ijirigho).
Artisanal Category
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Aethi Opum, by Maya Njie.
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Ambrosia, by Aysha Hansen Fine Fragrances.
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Dandelion Butter, by Clue Perfumery (Laura Oberwetter).
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Death By Vanity, by Rivendare (David Clarke).
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DinoS’mores, by House of Mammoth (Benjamin Esposito).
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Eclipse, by Ermetiche Fragranze (Raffaella Meccheri).
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Hoàng Trà, by Maison de Nguyễn (Nguyen Do).
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Hotteok, by KST Scent (James Miju Nguyen).
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Snippid, by House of Mammoth (Benjamin Esposito).
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Vanitas, by LVNEA Perfume (April Lea).
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work
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The Womb Space, by Delcy Morelos and Nadjib Achaibou.
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Goavve-Geabbil, by Máret Ánne Sara and Nadjib Achaibou.
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Hang Our Gods, by Regina Mamou.
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The Anemoia Device, by Cyrus Clarke.
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Three Kings, by Sigrid Moses-Jacobsen.