The Art and Olfaction Awards
Annual
Locations Variable
In our more than a decade of operations, the Art and Olfaction Awards have evolved into an important arbiter of excellence for independent and artisan perfumery and experimental practices with scent.
With our anonymized judging, careful management, clearly stated ethics, and impartial mechanism, we’ve set a rigorous – and challenging – standard.
We also never forget our purpose: to celebrate the unfettered expression and creative risk that can come with independent practices with scent, and to celebrate independent perfumery as a whole. It’s true that the competition is tough, and not everyone will get the Golden Pear. But when we celebrate and promote independent voices, all of us will win.
Learn more about the Art and Olfaction Awards at our dedicated website: www.thegoldenpears.com
The 12th Art and Olfaction Awards
June 11, 2026
Athens, Greece
The 12th Art and Olfaction Awards will take place on June 11 at Gazarte, in Athens, Greece. We will be programming several days of events around the awards, including the Experimental Scent Summit on June 9, parties, and exhibitions.
Learn more: www.thegoldenpears.com
About the Art and Olfaction Awards
The Art and Olfaction Awards celebrate creativity, innovation and excellence in global independent and artisan perfumery.
We accomplish this through an annual juried award in four categories: Artisan, Independent, Newcomer, and Experimental Work with Scent (known as the Sadakichi Award). In addition to these juried categories, we present several discretionary awards: the Contribution to Scent Culture Award, the Septimus Piesse Visionary Award.
The Art and Olfaction Awards present a highly competitive and highly selective award that is designed to raise interest and awareness for active independent and artisan perfumers from all countries. Our hope is that by shining a spotlight on perfumery’s most outstanding creators, we—in turn—will help generate support for independent perfumery, as a whole.
Submissions to the awards are open to any perfume released in the submission year by an independent brand, artisan perfumer, or experimental practitioner with scent. Submissions are judged blindly by an international panel, in several phases.
The award ceremony itself takes place in May or June of every year, in cities around the world. We announce the finalists earlier in the year in a separate ceremony, sometimes at Esxence, in Milan, sometimes at our home base in Los Angeles.
Learn more about the awards here.
Past Editions
2025 – Los Angeles
The 11th Art and Olfaction Awards
The eleventh edition of the awards took place on May 29, 2025 at Cicada Club, in Los Angeles. The awards were presented in the context of a ten day celebration of scent we call Scent Week, that presents exciting new ideas in artisan, indepedent and experimental practices with scent at venues across Los Angeles.
Winners, Independent Category
Bad Lily, by TALE Parfum / Michael Nordstrand for Chad Hodge, Diandra Barsalou (USA)
Northern, by Soulvent 所闻 / Ciny Ye for Dennis Zhu, Yvonne Guo (China)
Winners, Artisan Category
Mekha Aranya, by SIAM1928 / Nutt Wesshasartar (Thailand)
Mint Rose, by OrDioLab / Jerry Lin (Taiwan)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Sfumato, by Karola Braga, with incense maker Theo Bibancos (Brazil)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Linda Andrews for Perfumers Apprentice (USA)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
Anicka Yi (USA/Korea)
Newcomer Award
Principalities, by Caeleste / David-Lev Jipa-Slivinschi for Stefan Radut (Romania)
People’s Choice Awards
Independent category – The Mandala, by Param Sara / Alex Lee for Ankita Gill (India | China)
Artisan category – You & I (Will Die), by House of Mammoth / Benjamin Esposito (USA)
+ Learn more here
2024 – Lisbon
The 10th Art and Olfaction Awards
The tenth edition of the awards took place on June 7, 2024 at Casa do Alentejo, in Lisbon. It was preceded on June 6 by the 5th Experimental Scent Summit.
Winners, Independent Category
Amnesia Rose, by Aedes de Venustas / Luca Maffei for Karl Bradl (USA)
Kajal IV, by Kajal Perfumes / Kévin Mathys for Moe Khalaf (France)
Winners, Artisan Category
Grove is in the Heart, by SAMAR / Na-Moya Lawrence, Debbie Lin (USA)
Molotov Cocktail, by Sylhouette Parfums / Sy Truong (Vietnam)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Smell & Paste, by Jas Brooks, Pedro Lopes (USA)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Odeuropa, with Inger Lehman, Bernardo Fleming, and team (Netherlands / international)
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
Arabian Jasmine, by Amer Perfumes / Amer Al Radhi (Saudi Arabia)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
Pia Long (UK)
Newcomer Award
Queer de Russie, by Nos Republic / Valery Mikhalitsyn for Ksenia Golovanova (Russia)
2023 – Los Angeles
The 9th Art and Olfaction Awards
The ninth Art and Olfaction Awards took place on May 11, 2023 at Cicada Club, in Los Angeles. It was presented in the context of a ten day celebration of scent, called Scent Week, that celebrated independent and experimental practices with scent.
Winners, Independent Category
Fuchsrot by Bodé Studios / Andreas Wilhelm for Lino Bottani, Nicola Deflorin (Switzerland)
Ierofante by Parfums Quartana / Luca Maffei for Joseph Quartana (USA)
Winners, Artisan Category
Tabacco Smeraldo by Miguel Matos (Portugal)
Voices by House of Mammoth / Benjamin Esposito (USA)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Salt Flowers by Peter de Cupere (Belgium)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Black Perfumers by Elle N. and a collective of 33 perfumers (US/International)
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
La Tacita De Cafe, Extrait by Day Three Fragrances, by Michael Paul (USA)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
Olif by Taylor Ahlmark & Anoria Gilbert for Maak Lab (USA)
2022 – Miami
The 8th Art and Olfaction Awards
The eighth Art and Olfaction Awards took place on July 1, 2022 at the World Perfumery Congress in Miami, as part of a larger celebration of global perfumery.
Winners, Independent Category
Aged Tea by Pan Seven International (Taiwan)
Saskia by Grandiflora / Christophe Laudamiel, Ugo Charron, Saskia Havekes (Australia)
Winners, Artisan Category
Mayan Chocolate by Aether Arts Perfume / Amber Jobin (USA)
Oolong Tea by One Day / Michael Wong (China)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Viral Parfum by Maki Ueda (Japan)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Nez (France)
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
Behold, Patchouli by Gallagher Fragrances / Daniel Gallagher and Mindy Ruiz (USA)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
Mandy Aftel (USA)
2020 – Online
The 7th Art and Olfaction Awards
The seventh annual Art and Olfaction Awards took place in September 17, 2020, in a celebration on Zoom. We made the best of the Covid-19 enforced lockdown with a virtual dance party led by Maxwell Williams.
Winners, Independent Category
Young Hearts by Bruno Acampora Profumi / Miguel Matos (Italy, Portugal)
PostHume by Son Venïn / Rosine Courage for Dag Laska (Norway)
Winners, Artisan Category
Bonsai by House of Matriarch / Christi Meshell (USA)
Nimbis by Parallax Olfactory / Linda Sivrican (USA)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Jónsi: Í blóma (In bloom), Hvítblinda (Whiteout), Svartalda (Dark wave) by Jónsi Birgisson (Iceland / USA)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
No award given
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
Rasa, by Pomare’s Stolen Perfume / Rachel Binder (USA)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
No award given
2019 – Amsterdam
The 6th Art and Olfaction Awards
The sixth annual Art and Olfaction Awards took place at the historic Oude Kerk in Amsterdam on May 2, followed by an after-party for awards attendees at Mata Hari Bar. The third annual Scent Summit took place two days later, on May 4, at Treehouse NDSM.
Winners, Independent Category
Rich Mess by Ryan Richmond / Christophe Laudamiel for Ryan Richmond (USA)
Colorado by American Perfumer / Dawn Spencer Hurwitz for Dave Kern (USA)
Winners, Artisan Category
Hyde, by Hiram Green Perfumes / Hiram Green (The Netherlands)
Powder & Dust by SP Parfums / Sven Pritzkoleit with Yana Lysenko Tommelise (Germany)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Diary of Smells: Glass Ceiling by Josely Carvalho with Leandro Petit (Brazil)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Sissel Tolaas (Germany)
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
Maderas de Oriente Oscuro by PK Perfumes / Paul Kiler (USA)
Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
Frederik Duerinck (Netherlands)
2018 – London
The 5th Art and Olfaction Awards
Attended by more than 200 people, traveling from four continents, 2018’s award ceremony took place on April 21, 2018, at The Tabernacle, in London’s eclectic Notting Hill neighborhood. The awards were preceded by the 2nd Experimental Scent Summit at The Swedenborg Society in London.
Winners, Independent Category
Nuit de Bakélite, by Naomi Goodsir / Isabelle Doyen for Naomi Goodsir (Australia / France)
Eau de Virginie, by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger / Jean-Claude Gigodot (France)
Winners, Artisan Category
Chienoir, by BedeauX / Amanda Beadle (UK)
Club Design, by The Zoo / Christophe Laudamiel (US/Germany)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Under the Horizon, by Oswaldo Maciá with perfumer Ricardo Moya (IFF)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Peter de Cupere (Belgium)
Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
Pays Dogon, by Monsillage / Isabelle Michaud (Canada)
2017 – Berlin
The 4th Art and Olfaction Awards
Attended by visitors from around the world, 2017’s award ceremony took place at the historic and beautiful Silent Green Kulturquartier in Berlin on May 6, 2017. The awards were preceded on May 5 by the first Experimental Scent Summit, a day of talks and conversations around experimental work with scent, co-curated by the Institute for Art and Olfaction and Smell Lab, Berlin.
Winners, Independent Category
Altruist, by J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin / Véronique Nyberg (Germany)
Fathom V, by BeauFort London / Julie Marlowe for Leo Crabtree (UK)
Winners, Artisan Category
Mélodie de l’Amour, by Parfums Dusita / Pissara Umavijani (France)
Bruise Violet, by Sixteen92 / Claire Baxter (USA)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Osmodrama / Smeller 2.0 by Wolfgang Georgsdorf, with perfumer Geza Schön (Germany)
Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Christophe Laudamiel (US/Germany)
2016 – Los Angeles
The 3rd Art and Olfaction Awards
The third annual Art and Olfaction Awards were held on May 7, 2016 at Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and emceed by Zachary Drucker. The awards were preceded on May 6 and 7 by a two day scent fair, co-curated by the Institute for Art and Olfaction and Darin Klein.
Winners, Independent Category
Bat, by Zoologist Perfumes / Ellen Covey for Victor Wong (Canada/USA)
Néa, by Jul et Mad Paris / Luca Maffei (France/Italy)
Winners, Artisan Category
Incendo, by La Curie / Lesli Wood Peterson (USA)
Miyako, by Auphorie / Eugene and Emrys Au (Malaysia)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Century’s Breath by Cat Jones (Australia)
2015 – Los Angeles
The 2nd Art and Olfaction Awards
The second annual Art and Olfaction Awards were held on April 17th, 2015 at The Goethe Institut in Los Angeles.
Winners, Independent Category
Black Pepper & Sandalwood, by Acca Kappa / Luca Maffei (Italy)
Skive, by Canoe / Jessica Hannah (USA)
Winners, Artisan Category
Eau de Céleri, by Monsillage / Isabelle Michaud (Canada)
2015 – Woodcut, by Olympic Orchids / Ellen Covey (USA)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Famous Deaths by Marcel van Brakel, Frederik Duerinck, Mark Meeuwenoord, Marcel Boonman, Daan Rijnkels, Caro Verbeek, Jorg Hempenius, Peter de Cupere, Wander Eikelboom, Thijs Eerens, Simon Kentgens, Martijn de Ruiter (Netherlands)
2014 – Los Angeles
The 1st Art and Olfaction Awards
The first annual Art and Olfaction Awards were held on April 25, 2014 at The Goethe Institut in Los Angeles, attended by approximately 100 people from around the world.
Winners, Independent Category
Ashoka, by Neela Vermeire Creations / Bertrand Duchaufour for Neela Vermeire (France)
König, by YOSH / Olivia Jan for Yosh Han (USA)
Winners, Artisan Category
Calling All Angels, by April Aromatics / Tanja Bochnig (Germany)
John Frum, by Aether Arts Perfumes / Amber Jobin (USA)
All Winners
Past Winners of the Art and Olfaction Award, Independent Category
2014 – Ashoka, by Neela Vermeire Creations / Bertrand Duchaufour for Neela Vermeire (France)
2014 – König, by YOSH / Olivia Jan for Yosh Han (USA)
2015 – Black Pepper & Sandalwood, by Acca Kappa / Luca Maffei (Italy)
2015 – Skive, by Canoe / Jessica Hannah (USA)
2016 – Bat, by Zoologist Perfumes / Ellen Covey for Victor Wong (Canada/USA)
2016 – Néa, by Jul et Mad Paris / Luca Maffei (France/Italy)
2017 – Altruist, by J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin / Véronique Nyberg (Germany)
2017 – Fathom V, by BeauFort London / Julie Marlowe for Leo Crabtree (UK)
2018 – Nuit de Bakélite, by Naomi Goodsir / Isabelle Doyen for Naomi Goodsir (Australia / France)
2018 – Eau de Virginie, by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger / Jean-Claude Gigodot (France)
2019 – Rich Mess by Ryan Richmond / Christophe Laudamiel for Ryan Richmond (USA)
2019 – Colorado by American Perfumer / Dawn Spencer Hurwitz (USA)
2020 – Young Hearts by Bruno Acampora Profumi / Miguel Matos (Italy, Portugal)
2020 – PostHume by Son Venïn / Rosine Courage for Dag Laska (Norway)
2022 – Aged Tea by Pan Seven International (Taiwan, R.O.C)
2022 – Saskia by Grandiflora / Christophe Laudamiel, Ugo Charron, Saskia Havekes (Australia)
2023 – Fuchsrot by Bodé Studios / Andreas Wilhelm for Lino Bottani, Nicola Deflorin (Switzerland)
2023 – Ierofante by Parfums Quartana / Luca Maffei for Joseph Quartana (USA)
2024 – Amnesia Rose, by Aedes de Venustas / Luca Maffei for Karl Bradl (USA)
2024 – Kajal IV, by Kajal Perfumes / Kévin Mathys for Moe Khalaf (France)
2025 – Bad Lily, by TALE Parfum / Michael Nordstrand for Chad Hodge, Diandra Barsalou (USA)
2025 – Northern, by Soulvent 所闻 / Ciny Ye for Dennis Zhu, Yvonne Guo (China)
Past Winners of the Art and Olfaction Award, Artisan Category
2014 – Calling All Angels, by April Aromatics / Tanja Bochnig (Germany)
2014 – John Frum, by Aether Arts Perfumes / Amber Jobin (USA)
2015 – Eau de Céleri, by Monsillage / Isabelle Michaud (Canada)
2015 – Woodcut, by Olympic Orchids / Ellen Covey (USA)
2016 – Incendo, by La Curie / Lesli Wood Peterson (USA)
2016 – Miyako, by Auphorie / Eugene and Emrys Au (Malaysia)
2017 – Mélodie de l’Amour, by Parfums Dusita / Pissara Umavijani (France)
2017 – Bruise Violet, by Sixteen92 / Claire Baxter (USA)
2018 – Chienoir, by BedeauX / Amanda Beadle (UK)
2018 – Club Design, by The Zoo / Christophe Laudamiel (US/Germany)
2019 – Hyde, by Hiram Green Perfumes / Hiram Green (The Netherlands)
2019 – Powder & Dust by SP Parfums / Sven Pritzkoleit with Yana Lysenko Tommelise (Germany)
2020 – Bonsai by House of Matriarch / Christi Meshell (USA)
2020 – Nimbis by Parallax Olfactory / Linda Sivrican (USA)
2022 – Mayan Chocolate by Aether Arts Perfume / Amber Jobin (USA)
2022 – Oolong Tea by One Day / Michael Wong (Hong Kong R.O.C)
2023 – Tabacco Smeraldo by Miguel Matos (Portugal)
2023 – Voices by House of Mammoth / Benjamin Esposito (USA)
2024 – Grove is in the Heart, by SAMAR / Na-Moya Lawrence, Debbie Lin (USA)
2024 – Molotov Cocktail, by Sylhouette Parfums / Sy Truong (Vietnam)
2025 – Mekha Aranya, by SIAM1928 / Nutt Wesshasartar (Thailand)
2025 – Mint Rose, by OrDioLab / Jerry Lin (Taiwan)
Past Winners of the Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
2015 – Famous Deaths by Marcel van Brakel, Frederik Duerinck, Mark Meeuwenoord, Marcel Boonman, Daan Rijnkels, Caro Verbeek, Jorg Hempenius, Peter de Cupere, Wander Eikelboom, Thijs Eerens, Simon Kentgens, Martijn de Ruiter (Netherlands)
2016 – Century’s Breath by Cat Jones (Australia)
2017 – Osmodrama / Smeller 2.0 by Wolfgang Georgsdorf, with perfumer Geza Schön (Germany)
2018 – Under the Horizon, by Oswaldo Maciá with perfumer Ricardo Moya (IFF)
2019 – Diary of Smells: Glass Ceiling by Josely Carvalho with Leandro Petit (Brazil)
2020 – Jónsi: Í blóma (In bloom), Hvítblinda (Whiteout), Svartalda (Dark wave) by Jónsi Birgisson (Iceland / USA)
2022 – Viral Parfum by Maki Ueda (Japan / Netherlands)
2023 – Salt Flowers by Peter de Cupere (Belgium)
2024 – Smell & Paste, by Jas Brooks, Pedro Lopes (USA)
2025 – Sfumato, by Karola Braga, with incense maker Theo Bibancos (Brazil)
Past Winners of the Contribution to Scent Culture Award
Given to a person or collective in honor of significant contributions to public awareness of artisan, independent and experimental practices with scent, on an international scale.
2017 – Christophe Laudamiel (US/Germany)
2018 – Peter de Cupere (Belgium)
2019 – Sissel Tolaas (Germany)
2020 – no award given
2022 – Nez (France)
2023 – Black Perfumers by Elle N. and a collective of 33 perfumers (US/International)
2024 – Odeuropa, with Inger Lehman, Bernardo Fleming, and team (Netherlands / international)
2025 – Linda Andrews for Perfumers Apprentice (USA)
Past Winners of the Septimus Piesse Visionary Award
This award is given to an outstanding person or collective showing proof of exceptional vision with regards to how scent is used, developed, presented, or imagined.
2019 – Frederik Duerinck (Netherlands)
2020 – no award given
2022 – Mandy Aftel (USA)
2023 – Olif by Taylor Ahlmark & Anoria Gilbert for Maak Lab (USA)
2024 – Pia Long (UK)
2025 – Anicka Yi (USA/Korea)
Past Winners of the Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume
2018 – Pays Dogon, by Monsillage / Isabelle Michaud (Canada)
2019 – Maderas de Oriente Oscuro by PK Perfumes / Paul Kiler (USA)
2020 – Rasa, by Pomare’s Stolen Perfume / Rachel Binder (USA)
2022 – Behold, Patchouli by Gallagher Fragrances / Daniel Gallagher and Mindy Ruiz (USA)
2023 – La Tacita De Cafe, Extrait by Day Three Fragrances, by Michael Paul (USA)
2024 – Arabian Jasmine, by Amer Perfumes / Amer Al Radhi (Saudi Arabia)
This award was discontinued in 2025 and replaced by the Newcomer Award
Past Winners of the Newcomer Award
2024 – Queer de Russie, by Nos Republic / Valery Mikhalitsyn for Ksenia Golovanova (Russia)
2025 – Principalities, by Caeleste / David-Lev Jipa-Slivinschi for Stefan Radut (Romania)
People’s Choice Awards
2025 – Independent category – The Mandala, by Param Sara / Alex Lee for Ankita Gill (India | China)
2025 – Artisan category – You & I (Will Die), by House of Mammoth / Benjamin Esposito (USA)
More information
The Art and Olfaction Awards present a highly competitive and highly selective award that is designed to raise interest and awareness for active independent and artisan perfumers from all countries. Our hope is that by shining a spotlight on independent and artisan perfumery’s most outstanding creators and experimental practitioners with scent, we- in turn – will help generate support for independent perfumery, as a whole.
The Art and Olfaction Awards were started to fill a perceived gap in the industry, allowing access to a well-produced and fair competition specifically designed to celebrate the work done by artisan perfumers, independent perfume houses, and experimental practitioners with scent.
We started the awards by implementing and improving upon some existing awards structures, including:
– Blind, multiple-phase judging
– A clear set of judging parameters
– Affordable submission fees
– Public announcement of finalists, as well as the winners
– An international panel of judges, reflecting a diversity of fields and interests
Our first awards ceremony took place in April, 2014 at Goethe Institut Los Angeles, with the support of Luckyscent / Scent Bar. Since that date, the awards have been presented in cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Lisbon, Athens, and, of course, Los Angeles.
For more information about the Art and Olfaction Awards, please visit our website: thegoldenpears.com