A true ode to beautiful perfumery where creation rhymes with audacity, the Alternative show’s ambition is to become a reference in this field. Although Paris is the cradle of the perfume industry, the world’s beauty capital and its largest exporter (with 19 Billion USD exports in 2014), there is no other event dedicated to this typically ‘Frenchy’ area of expertise  in Paris.

In the words of Julie Cartigny, director of the show: ‘ With this new meeting place for confidential perfumes, we want to give the floor to a different type of fragrance and promote the relationship between distributors and buyers of a new sort; those concerned by creation, beautiful materials and the legacy and values perpetuated by these new fragrance creators. Thanks to our past experience (the ZOOM platform at Cosmeeting, promising brands with great potential have come to us to expose their products at the show, convinced that it will help to launch them. New this year is the meeting with the public on 18th of June, which will enable the exhibitors to test their brands face to face. We need to connect with the consumers. A most rewarding experience!’

As well as this exhibition space, various animations are on the programme: conferences, circuits and creative workshops for an unforgettable olfactory experience, within a contemporary scenography made by our partner ‘Centdegrés”, who has worked hard on a new visual identity. In the words of Elie Papiernik, co-founder of Centdegrés: ‘ As  Creatives, alternative fragrances is a subject that fundamentally interests us and fascinates us. We have noticed that consumers are becoming somewhat tired of perfume. This perfumery will restimulate the interest of both amateurs and the general public. Innovations always come from the influential and are then transmitted to the public by capillarity. Perfume is evolving! For us creators, the alternative show also provides us with a place to reflect; what will tomorrow bring? Oriental perfumery is very interesting, it is a perfumery based on ritual, on passion, very high end which brings new players onto the market. It is a strong competitor for France, but it is very positive!’

Olfactory and sensory initiation

• Nez. The first magazine entirely dedicated to olfaction and perfume. We talk about smell, the odors of certain places, odors of the past, perfumery seen from various angles (reports, interviews, portfolios, illustrations) which mixes history, literature, art and sciences. For the first time ever in a magazine, Nez will also put forward some real criticism of the perfumes! For people who are nostalgic for their old classrooms, they will be able to relive the odors they used to smell at school (glue, crayon, ink, soap) in the very first edition which will be available at the show.

• The Olfactorama will organise a Perfume blind test for all the visitors to their stand. Professionals and consumers will be blindfolded and invited to guess and explore the exhibitors’ juices and vote for their favourite fragrance.

• L’École Supérieure du Parfum (The higher school of perfume) and the ONG ‘Initiative Développement’ have got together this year 2016 to work on the Ylang project, presented at the Alternative show. This partnership is devoted to the promotion of Ylang-Ylang essential oils made in economical distillation units which permit a reduction in wood consumption. 3 perfumes and one dry oil of a ‘flower of the flower’ fragrance will be created, and the profits will be used to improve the global quality of life of the Comorian distillers.

• Studio sensoriel. In the presence of a chocolatier, a florist and a spice expert, a mini sensorial studio will be created to offer visitors an original olfactory and gustative experience.

• Sevessence. A 100% natural home perfume will be specifically tailor-made for the show and will be dispersed at the entrance to welcome the visitors. It will be composed by Jean-Charles Sommerard -eco perfumer and aroma designer for Sevessence- using a base of essential oils and natural and organic flower waters.

• Centdegrés will reveal the secrets of perfume bottles: the whole process from the client brief, design and perfume bottle and case sketches, to the synthesized image, models, prototypes and finally the finished goods.

Two renowed competitions put together

For the first time this year, Olfactorama is organising its award ceremony during the show, on Friday 17th June at 7:00 pm, where 240 professionals but also amateurs and perfume lovers will come together to discover the primed juices for 2016.

This ceremony will complete the popular Beauty Challenger Awards evening which will be held for the 12th time on the 16th of June at 6:30pm, bringing together participating brands and juries as well as a selection of the best buyers in the sector, who will then be able to meet up for a cocktail to network after the ceremony.

A programme with details of conferences dedicated to the cosmetic and perfumery sectors will be revealed very shortly.

The Informa group, 3rd largest events organizer in the world, is committed to a lasting investment in Paris and intends to use all its expertise to develop this new show in accordance with the expectations of a new type of consumer who is better educated, better informed, searching for originality and a certain aesthetic ideal.

Further information
• Go to The Alternative Fragrance & Beauty website