Fragrance Foundation Arabia was founded on the 27th of October 2008 in Dubai by signing the license agreement with Rochelle Bloom and Miss Mary Ellen Lapsansky, president and vice-president of The Fragrance Foundation USA. This milestone was hosted in Dubai on the invitation by Chairman Mr. Grit Pannier, President of Fragrance Foundation Arabia. The Fragrance Foundation headquartered in NYC was es
tablished in 1949 by six industry leaders affiliated with the legendary fragrance houses Elizabeth Arden, Coty, Guerlain, Helena Rubenstein, Chanel and Perfumes Weil, to develop educational programs about the importance and pleasures of fragrance for the American public. Today the Fragrance Foundation has become an international source for historic, cultural, scientific and industry related reference materials. The Foundation maintains one of the most extensive print and video fragrance libraries in the world. It publishes educational and sales training materials. The Foundation produces videos and consumer publications and holds seminars and symposia for its members as well as for the international fragrance industry. In 1982 the Board of The Fragrance Foundation established the Sense of Smell Institute (formerly the Olfactory Research Fund) at the Foundation. The Sense of Smell Institute is devoted to supporting significant scientific and psychological research at leading universities and hospitals around the world related to unraveling the mysteries and importance of the sense of smell and the psychological benefits of fragrance. Currently, the Foundation's international members include manufacturers, suppliers, media, advertising and public relations agencies as well as designers, packagers and retailers. Every year the respective Fragrance Foundations around the globe organize the prestigious FiFi Awards. The American "FiFi" Award was initiated in 1973 by the then president to acknowledge and honour the creativity of the fragrance industry. In 1993, the first annual European "FiFi" was awarded. The Middle East chapter is the second one outside of Europe, following the foundation of partner organisations in Australia, UK, Italy, France and Germany. Fragrance Foundation Arabia is now in its 5th year and the planning for the FIFI Awards 2015 are underway. The Arabian Gulf is the world's largest consumer per capita of perfumes in its many different genres. The Fragrance Foundation Arabia like all other partner foundations will carry out the mission of The Fragrance Foundation, to enhance the image of the fragrance industry and expand the appreciation and use of fragrance in all its forms across all distribution channels globally.
