Jane Lynch Rocks The 2012 FiFi® Fragrance Awards at Alice Tully Hall, New York City

NEW YORK, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At last night's 2012 FiFi Fragrance Awards to celebrate and honor the art, passion and personalities of the fragrance world, Golden Globe and Emmy winning actress and comedian Jane Lynch brought the house down with her opening remarks that went something like this: "I'm honored to be here tonight to serve as your host. Selecting me as host makes perfect sense, because when you think of a sexy, delicate and floral fragrance, you think, 'Jane Lynch.'"

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The FiFi® Awards are considered the "Oscars" of the fragrance industry. This prestigious, iconic New York event showcases and honors the very best the fragrance world has to offer. Competing to win a "Fragrance of the Year Award" are some of the big, the bold, instantly recognizable fragrance names, celebrity creations and collaborations as well as smaller, niche innovators. Over 800 guests attended and twenty-seven beautiful crystal FiFi ® awards were presented.

This year, the Foundation was honored to welcome Jane Lynch as host and emcee of the evening's program along with on-stage celebrity presenters: Carol Alt, Sam Champion, Tyson Chandler, Philippe Cousteau, Mariska Hargitay, Chaka Khan, Josh Groban, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Navayne, Nicole Richie, Jessica Stam and Martha Stewart. The evening also included a touching "Legacy of Excellence" tribute to Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder. 

The evening's Honorees:

Justin Bieber  - 2012 "Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year"
The Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year Award,  presented by The Fragrance Foundation's Board of Directors, honors a celebrity who has embraced and promoted the world of fragrance and celebrates the ongoing success and support given by the celebrity to the industry - therefore winning consumers to the category. 

In a very unique style and with his deep connection to his audience, Justin Bieber has accomplished all the criteria and more since launching his first fragrance, "Someday." As the undisputed king of social media, Justin has a strong connection with his fans and attained an electrifying following on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.  As an artistic expression, he has created a beautiful prestige fragrance that is playful, passionate, sexy and modern while skillfully harnessing his talent as a great communicator to get the message out to his fans in his own voice.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel - 2012 Hall of Fame Recipient
The FiFi® Hall of Fame award is voted on by the Foundation's Board of Directors and is presented to an individual who has brought extraordinary ingenuity, creativity, dedication and inner resources to bear, not only to their company's success but to the fragrance industry as a whole.

2012 FIFI WINNERS

Fragrance of the Year

Luxe Women
Tom Ford Violet Blonde - Tom Ford Beauty

Luxe Men
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme - P&G Prestige

Nouveau Niche Women
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge - Private Blend - Tom Ford Beauty

Nouveau Niche Men
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge - Private Blend - Tom Ford Beauty

Broad Appeal Women
Heidi Klum Shine - Coty Inc.

Broad Appeal Men
curve appeal for men - Elizabeth Arden

Specialty Brand Women
Anthropologie 1922 Lily Sanguine Eau de Parfum - Inter Parfums USA

Direct To Consumer Men
Comme une Evidence Green - Yves Rocher North America Inc.

"Consumer's Choice" Award     

Women
Victoria's Secret Angel - Victoria's Secret Beauty

Men
Bath & Body Works Signature Collection for Men Classic - Bath & Body Works

Best Packaging of the Year

Luxe Women
Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray - PUIG USA

Best Packaging of the Year - Luxe Men
John Varvatos * USA - Elizabeth Arden

Broad Appeal Women
Victoria's Secret Angel - Victoria's Secret Beauty

Broad Appeal Men
curve appeal for men - Elizabeth Arden

Media Campaign of the Year

Women
Coco Mademoiselle – Chanel

Men
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme - P&G Prestige

Bath & Body Line of the Year

Acqua di Gioia - Giorgio Armani Beauty

Interior Scent Collection of the Year

34 boulevard Saint Germain – diptyque

Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year
The Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year award recognizes the actual "juice" of a fine fragrance, an extraordinary olfactive creation launched within the award year. The award is about craftsmanship and measures the aesthetic beauty of the fragrance identified by its design, signature, creativity and quality. It not only recognizes the fragrance house but also the perfumer(s), who as olfactive visionaries inspire us most when their creations move the market forward.

International Flavors & Fragrances for New York Oud, Bond No. 9 New York

Fragrance Hall of Fame
The Fragrance Hall of Fame Award recognizes a fragrance classic (men's or women's) which was fifteen or more years old in 2011.

Women
24 Faubourg – Hermes, Beaute Prestige International

Men
Acqua di Gio, Giorgio Armani Beauty

Certified Fragrance Sales Specialists Award - Top Scorers Fall 2011/Spring 2012
The Fragrance Foundation's Online Certification Program for Fragrance Sales Specialists is designed to establish the professionalism of fragrance selling.  It was created in 1994 and to date approximately 11,000 Sales Specialists have received certification.  The program is an in-depth, detailed course that provides the fragrance sales specialists with the specific knowledge needed to increase the customer's fragrance purchasing experience and grow sales.

Martina Jones  from  Nordstrom, Shoreview, Minnesota 

Diana C. Lopez  from Nordstrom, Topanga, CA

SOURCE The Fragrance Foundation