The Fragrance Foundation Awards Honors John Varvatos, Marc Jacobs & Joanna Coles

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 07: Laverne Cox (L) and Joanna Coles attend the 2016 Fragrance Foundation Awards presented by Hearst Magazines on June 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images Fragrance Foundation)

Last eve, the Fragrance Foundation Awards celebrated the industry’s top talent at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, where host Alec Baldwin was his naturally funny self, and entertained a packed crowd of winners, presenters, and guests. “Usually when I want to go to a place that has 1,000 smells, I’ll just take subway, but tonight I’m at the 2016 Fragrance Foundation Awards,” he said.

Top honorees included John Varvatos Dark Rebel (men’s) and Marc Jacobs Decadence (women’s) for Packaging of the Year awards, presented by Karolina Kurkova and Linda Wells; Laverne Cox presented the inaugural Gamechanger of the Year award to Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles; Leslie H. Wexner, founder, chairman and CEO of L Brands received the 2016 Fragrance Foundation Hall of Fame Award; and Sophia Grojsman, vice president senior perfumer at International Flavors and Fragrances, received the Lifetime Achievement award. 

Other award presenters and attendees included: Co-chairs Adriana Lima and Natasha Gregson Wagner, Meg Ryan, Lionel Richie, Tracee Ellis Ross, Stella Maxwell, Eric Dane, Hilaria Baldwin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josephine Skriver, CMO of L Brands Ed Razek, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire Anne Fulenwider, editor-in-chief of Town & Country; Stellene Volandes, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of O Magazine Lucy Kaylin, Génesis Rodríguez, Maye Musk, Jessica Stam, Tao Okamoto, Andreja Pejić, Lindsey Wixson, Sean O’Pry, and Luka Sabbat.

Given the focus of the evening, guests weighed in on their favorite fragrances and most-despised odors…
AS TOLD TO ARIANNA AULISI

“I don’t know if I have a favorite scent, but I like oils, geranium, and rose. Summer garbage in New York is not great.” —Tracee Ellis Ross

“My least favorite scent is when people cook too much and then smell like takeout food.” —Ryan Leslie

“Decadence.” —Adriana Lima

“Diamond water by Jar, and then anything by Eric Buterbaugh. I particularly like roses. Fruity or citrus smells aren’t right for me.” —Glenda Bailey

“Poison from Dior and Flower from Kenzo. [My least favorite is] wet dog.” —Tao Okamoto

“My favorite is Natalie fragrance, which I created for my mom. My least, trash.” —Natasha Gregson Wagner

“I wear Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady every day. Then there’s a day in August in New York that has a mixed scent of very high heat and humidity and garbage.” —Stellene Volandes

“Fresh linen smell, citrus, fresh…I love how babies smell. Clean, yummy, fresh. [My least favorite is] patchouli…I know a lot of people like it, but it’s just not for me.” —Génesis Rodríguez