Karlie Kloss, Carolina Herrera, and Joel McHale Host Fragrance Foundation Awards

Last night was the best-smelling night of the year, when the Fragrance Foundation Awards took over Lincoln Center’s Alice Tulley Hall to award the best perfumers from around the globe. Joel McHale was on emcee duty, while Karlie Kloss and Carolina Herrera were co-chairs and Trisha Yearwood was the headlining performance. “I don’t want to overstate things, but all of you, in this room tonight, are the most powerful and important people in the entire universe,” McHale said to open the evening. “Before you came along, everything smelled bad.”

“We actually smell every single perfume, and we get about 500 entries,” Elizabeth Musmanno, Fragrance Foundation president, told us. “Nobody knows who’s winning until it is announced at the awards. It’s very much like the Oscars. There’s an envelope and everything. But we didn’t hire Ernst & Young!”

There were 20 winners in all, from John Varvatos to Chanel to Tom Ford and beyond (check out the full list below). Award presenters and attendees included Katie Holmes, Judith Light, Adrian Grenier, John Varvatos, Debi Mazar, Mario Cantone, Anna Chlumsky, Annie Parisse, Tommy Dorfman, Dascha Polanco, Jessica Pimentel, Carly Chaikin, Elsa Hosk, Rose Gilroy, and Lais Ribeiro. Hearst was a sponsor of the awards, and some of its top names were on the scene to present, including ELLE’s Robbie Myers, Marie Claire’s Anne Fulenwider; Marie Claire’s Nina Garcia, Town & Country‘s Stellene Volandes, Cosmopolitan‘s Michele Promaulayko, and Harper’s Bazaar’s Alexandra Parnass. Marc Puig, chairman and CEO of Puig, was recognized as this year’s Hall of Fame Honoree, while Harry Frémont, master perfumer at Firmenich, was honored with the Perfumer of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.

In light of the affair, we polled some guests about the scents that remind them of summer. Breathe in! 

“Definitely hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. I like to go jogging when I was younger and I remember running in the neighborhood and smelling everybody’s cooking.” —Katie Holmes

“Honeysuckle! That’s my childhood.” —Trisha Yearwood

“Fresh lime.” —Stellene Volandes

“Cut grass.” —Elizabeth Musmanno

“Lime and lemon—the first thing I think of when I think of summer is a great margarita.” —Alexandra Parnass

Winners included Original Penguin Premium Blend – Falic Fashion Group (Men’s Popular), Sweet Like Candy by Ariana Grande – Luxe Brands (Women’s Popular), John Varvatos Artisan Blu – Elizabeth Arden (Men’s Prestige), Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau De Parfum – Yves Saint Laurent (Women’s Prestige), Tom Ford Vert D’Encens – Tom Ford Beauty (Men’s Luxury), Tom Ford Soleil Blanc – Tom Ford Beauty (Women’s Luxury), SYMRISE – Parfums Quartana Poppy Soma – Perfumer: Emilie Bevierre-Coppermann (Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year), Outrageous Simply Divine – Diana Vreeland Parfums (Indie Fragrance of the Year), Basil & Neroli Body Crème and Body & Hand Wash – Jo Malone London (Bath & Body Line), Victoria’s Secret Heavenly – Victoria’s Secret (Fragrance Hall of Fame), John Varvatos Dark Rebel Rider – Elizabeth Arden (Packaging of the Year: Men’s), Moschino Fresh Couture – EuroItalia (Packaging of the Year: Women’s), London Orange Bitters Christmas Candle – Jo Malone London (Interior Scent Collection of the Year), Armani Code Profumo – Giorgio Armani (Media Campaign of the Year: Men’s), No5 L’Eau – Chanel (Media Campaign of the Year: Women’s), Victoria’s Secret Crush – Victoria’s Secret (Consumer Choice: Women’s), Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Parfum – Ralph Lauren Fragrances (Consumer Choice: Men’s), Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne – Jo Malone London (Breakout Star).