The pace of women’s fragrance launches in 2013 far exceeded the growth of the overall market, according to information in the latest 2014 edition of Fragrances of the World, the comprehensive guide from scent expert Michael Edwards.

 

According to the 30^th annual publication, just launching now, a total of 1,432 new scents hit the shelves in 2013, up by +7.7% from the 1,330 launched in 2012.

 

However, women’s launches were in double digits at +13.3%, helping the segment to reach a two thirds share of the market with 953 releases.

 

The men’s market fared badly with launches down by -6.8% leading to a three percentage point fall in share to 20% (see table left). Among other segments, there was a notable rise in the number of limited editions – up by +12.6% to 232. Flankers took a hit, dropping almost -10% to 229 while celebrity scents remained steady with 53 launches.

 

Edwards (right) says: “The 1984 edition (and the first) listed just 38 new fragrances. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined that, 30 years later, I would track more than 1,400 new fragrances in a single year, or that the tiny guide would grow to become the industry’s fragrance ‘bible’.”

 

Edwards and his team based in Sydney, Australia do not charge for listings or accept advertising enabling them to build independent relationships with different brands and perfumers.

 

Every fragrance launch, including celebrity, limited edition and niche is categorised, to create a full reference tool. In the 30th anniversary edition, Edwards’ famous ‘Fragrance Wheel’ has been brought to life using a pictorial timeline to show the evolution of certain iconic fragrances within each family.

 

Fragrances of the World 2014, is available online from www.fragrancesoftheworld.com.