One of the most interesting and ‘delicate’ events in the sector took place last week: Barcelona Olfaction Week (BOW) is a huge celebration of perfume, olfactive science and the perfume culture set in Barcelona and with the privileged wine-producing landscapes of Teià at its epicentre.
Naturally, RAFESA was present all throughout the week as sponsor of an event that gathered more than 2,000 professionals from 15 countries – mostly online due to COVID-19. Despite the physical distances, emotions remained high and the event’s objective intact: to highlight the world of perfumes through various sensory, knowledge-based and informative activities that included workshops on new technologies, webinars and seminars.
To conclude Barcelona Olfaction Week, the 3rd International Perfumery Contest prizes were presented on Saturday, 4 July, at the Ca l’Antiga art space in Teià. Under a broad theme of ‘Marriage of the Senses’, which was used for all activities during the week, the event was attended by the mayor of the host town, Andreu Bosch i Rodoreda, and an expert panel made up by: the master perfumer, Rosendo Mateu (as chairman); Sandra Iruela (winner of the 2nd International Perfumery Contest 2019); Daniel Pescio (winner of the 2nd International Perfumery Contest 2019); the Director of Beauty, Prof. Charo Moreno; the sommelier, César Cánovas; and the interior designer, Susana Cots.
With pepper as the ‘feature aroma’, the event was broadcast on YouTube and watched live from France, Brazil, Cuba and England, among other countries. From among the 12 finalist perfumes, First Prize from the panel went to ‘Pepper & CIA’ by Júlia Rodríguez and the Audience Award went to ‘Agartha’ by Sandra Lucas.
RAFESA would like to share its excitement and pride from having enjoyed the privilege to witness such a carefully planned and dynamic event capable of closing distances and highlighting an intimate format (rigorously adapted to the ‘post-COVID-19’ health reality) with international reach in line with the concerns and ambition always shown by the sector.
