Industry News

Institute for Art and Olfaction Names Winners of 12th Art and Olfaction Awards

The Art and Olfaction Awards champions creative innovation and artistic risk-taking in perfumery and olfactory art.

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By: Lianna Albrizio

Associate Editor

The Institute for Art and Olfaction (IAO) has named the winners of the 12th Annual Art and Olfaction Awards, revealed June 11, 2026, at the Gazarte Cultural Center in Athens, Greece.

The ceremony brought together perfumers, artists, journalists, educators and fragrance enthusiasts from around the world for an intimate and friendly celebration of excellence in global independent, artisan and experimental practices with scent.

In its 12th year, the Art and Olfaction Awards champions creative innovation and artistic risk-taking in perfumery and olfactory art. Through a rigorous, three-stage, blind-judging process conducted by an international panel of experts, the awards recognize work distinguished by originality and craftsmanship.

“In our twelfth year, we celebrated the work of perfumers from all over the world. The excellence on evidence in the winning and finalist perfumes demonstrate that experimental and independent practices with scent provide a vital model for what can be creatively accomplished with perfumery,” said Art and Olfaction Awards founder Saskia Wilson-Brown.

2026 Winners

Artisan

Death By Vanity, Rivendare, David Clarke (Perfumer)
Aethi Opum, Maya Njie, Maya Njie (Perfumer)

Independent

Nuit Élastique, Première Peau, Ugo Charron (Perfumer) for Pierre Mergui (CD)
Ici, le pas s’arrête, TERRA•T, Kaiwei Hsieh (Perfumer) for Terrence Chen (CD)
Sadakichi Award for Experimental Work with Scent
Goavve-Geabbil (Hyundai Commission), Máret Ánne Sara (Artist), Nadjib Achaibou (Perfumer)

Newcomer

Water Moon, Oneiros, Anh Ngo (Perfumer, IFF) for Thanh Dang (CD)

Contribution to Scent Culture

Grant Osborne, for Basenotes

Septimus Piesse Visionary

L’Osmothèque

People’s Choice: Artisan Category

Dandelion Butter, Clue Perfumery, Laura Oberwetter (perfumer), with Caleb Vanden Boom

People’s Choice: Independent Category

Verdant, Ilé Olomu, Andreas Wilhelm (perfumer) for Bawo Ijirigho (CD)

The evening’s celebration highlighted the growing international reach of independent perfumery, with finalists and winners representing a broad spectrum of cultural perspectives, aesthetic approaches, and olfactory traditions.

Held against the backdrop of Athens and the Acropolis, the ceremony reflected the Art and Olfaction Awards’ ongoing mission to create meaningful dialogue around scent as an artistic medium and cultural force.

“We’re excited to build on our commitment to international dialogue in perfumery by holding the next edition of the Art and Olfaction Awards in Mexico City, in May 2027,” said Wilson-Brown. “Our team is thrilled to bring the awards to this important cultural center, which serves as a geographic bridge between North America and Latin America.” Submissions for the 13th awards will open in late September and will be open to perfumes and projects launched to market between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026.

The awards are supported by a roster of partners, including presenting partner MANE, producing partners Vioryl, Luckyscent | Scentbar, Pochpac, Perfumer’s Apprentice, and Esxence, and community partners 12Gods, Concepts, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Isno, Lefteris Lisgaras, ÇaFleureBon and Noted.

Venue partners included Baruti, Vryssaki (ArtFix), Gazarte, HGW Std., ImpactHub Athens and Cre8.

For a complete list of finalists and additional information about the 12th Annual Art and Olfaction Awards, visit thegoldenpears.com.

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