Industry News

Home fragrances.(FYI)(Brief Article)

Global Cosmetic Industry   VOL. 172   NO. 1   2004-01-01 PP. 8(1)

"In October, the CSPA Air Care committee presented a full day conference in Chicago on the development of air care products. Product trends and the status of the market segment were covered for the US$2.34 billion industry. News also was shared that continuing strong growth in the candle  product category has taken more than 54 percent share of the product category with room freshener diffusers at a growing 27 percent the market. Laura Coelho, VP sales and marketing for Noville, chaired the conference and Bryan Ruble, of Ruble & Associates, reviewed the regulatory issues affecting the industry. Also speaking were Carol Perkins of Arizona Chemicals, who discussed technologies in gel air fresheners. Heide Fuentes, Manager of Scientific Services at Reckitt Benckiser Inc., shared some tips on selecting claims based on product positioning."
 

Posted 1/18/2004

52nd Annual Appliance Industry Forecast

by Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Editor

Appliance, January 2004, pp46-52

"There's something to cheer about, as the global appliance industry anticipates a healthy 2004. The wait is over. Recovery has come for the U.S. economy, and that means more than fatter American pocketbooks. It means sunnier days for economies worldwide."...

2004 Industry Forecast

Editorial: Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, by Joseph M. McGuire, President

Appliance, Jan 2004, p.58

"The home appliance industry and its primary trade association, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) will be moving into 2004 with great momentum. After several years of strong industry shipments, increased participation, and activity within our organization, including the expected merger of the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association (VCMA) into AHAM, we will remain energized and focused on our mission: to serve a growing industry." ...

Posted 11/6/2003

American influences.(ambient scents)

European Cosmetic Markets   VOL. 20   NO. 10   2003-10-01  PP. 365(1)  


   "...Executives in the US are optimistic, saying the home fragrance market remains strong and opportunistic. The candle sector is growing, but not at the same rate as in the 1990s. As growth is slowing, manufacturers are looking for innovative ways to create new interest and ancillary
  categories to help grow business.

   ...Consumers are focusing more on the home and home decor creating warm and comforting atmospheres, supported by the popularity of DIY and improvement shows. The next big thing will depend on consumer lifestyle and product innovation."

Posted 9/12/2003

HAPPI.com ,September 2003   (http://www.happi.com)

Fair Weather Home Fragrances: a new climate

"...The Spark of Creation
Though candle and diffuser sales slumped last year, executives insist the home fragrance sector remains strong and opportunistic.

“The candle category is still growing but not at the same massive rate as in the 1990s,” noted Blyth HomeScents’ Mr. Lanman. “With this plateauing of the trend, marketers are looking for innovative ways to spark new interest and ancillary categories to help grow business.”

Consumers are definitely focusing more on home decor these days and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, as evidenced by the popularity of shows such as The Learning Channel’s “Trading Spaces,” home fragrance use and holiday decorating. The next big thing will depend on consumer lifestyle and product innovation."

Posted 8/15/2003

Appliance, August 2003, p.14     (www.appliancemagazine.com)

Smart Appliance News

Smart Appliances Reaching a Broader Audience

"While the smart appliance industry is not growing by leaps and bounds in terms of unit shipments, it includes an ever-growing number of products by a variety of companies, according to In-Stat/MDR. The high-tech market research firm finds that even though economic conditions of the past 2 years have put many projects on hold and have lowered consumer spending, the overall Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for smart appliances will be 53.4 percent from 2002 to 2007."   ...

Posted 5/4/2003

Global Cosmetic Industry (GCI), March 2003, "Global Report: Aromatherapy, 3: HOMEFRONT", pp. 48-50, Cynthia A. Challener, PhD

"Despite an anticipated slowdown in market expansion, sales of home fragrance products are expected to increase by 24 percent and top US$3.4 billion by 2006, according to a new report published by Packaged Facts. Consumers are spending more time in their homes and are looking to fragrances in all types of products to convey a desired atmosphere."

"Trends in home fragrances have focused on innovation and change to reach consumers through scent technology and new functions."

"As the candle market, the largest end use for home fragrances, has matured, manufacturers are looking to fragrances and fragrance delivery technologies as a means for differentiating their products"

"...the interest in total home air quality is at an all-time high, and when the air quality is restored, there is a natural tendency to have that reflected by a pleasant smell throughout the house."  -- Cheryl Budzinski, manager of Gelled Products, Penreco.

"According to Susan Swenson, marketing manager, Intercontinental Fragrances, the trend in fragrances is to go back to the basics, to fragrances that make people feel warm and safe in their own homes."

" 'The market never stands still, and consumers are always looking for innovative products with improved performance,' said Carruba's [marketing manager, Barbara] Nash. Areas of interest include lifestyle fragrances, decor, longer-lasting fragrances, fragrances more targeted to cover specific malodors and safe disposability. In addition, because of today's "nesting" phenomenon, consumers are looking to fragrances that create natural and comfortable ambiance, added Nash. Products that are innovative and offer an additional benefit other than fragrancing the air will make an impact on the home fragrance market in 2003."

Posted 2/10/2003

CONFERENCE INFORMATION- THE FRAGRANCE FOUNDATION, 145 E 32  STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016-6002, USA

The Fragrance Foundation's third annual Circle of Champions award winner is Annette Green, current president of the foundation. Ms. Green will retire at the end of the year and serve as the organization's consultant for the next two years. The award will be presented Nov. 4 during a special tribute at the Ritz-Carlton, New York, Battery Park. Ms. Green will also be honored with the "Decoration of Paris" award by the mayor of Paris on Oct. 16 preceding the "Global Symposium: Well-being, aroma-chology and the future of fragrance, "Oct. 16 and 17 at L'Empire, Paris.
 

HAPPI, 2002, 39, 10, 14

The Sense of Smell Institute's (SOSI) Corporate Vision award will be presented to Lanc me, Paris at the ninth annual Night of Honors gala on Dec. 3 at the Pierre Hotel in New York. The award recognizes corporations that have successfully applied the science of aromachology to new product development and marketing strategies, specifically Lanc me's AromaFit, AromaCalm and AromaTonics brands. Other winners include Charles J. Wysocki, PhD of the Monell Chemical Senses Center for the Henry G. Walter Jr. Sense of Smell award and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for the Richard B. Soloman ward for its "Designing for the Senses" conference in May.

SOAP AND COSMETICS, DECEMBER 2002, 78, 9, 6-8,

THE FUTURE OF FRAGRANCE

The "Global Symposium: Well-Being, Aroma-chology and The Future of  Fragrance," was held October 16-17, 2002 at the L'Empire in Paris, France.  A fragrance-related survey was conducted by Worlding, an intercultural strategic consultant agency also based in Paris, and was commissioned by the Fragrance Foundation. It is a behavioral X-ray that reveals consumers' perceptions and expectations of fragrance and well-being, and the benefits proposed by various brands. By questioning 100 women from key markets (US, Japan, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain and France), Olwen Wolfe, President of Worlding, produced an analysis of the subject and brings a modern
interpretation of the meaning of "well-being." Results reveal that the consumers' desire for aromachology (defined as the scientifically
observable influence of scent on emotions and moods combined with fragrance technology) products is based on several factors - among them, time perception - the most critical. Those who estimate not having enough time (the majority of them are women) consider this a source of stress. Therefore, they seek time for themselves ("personal moments") and enjoy time in the bathroom, where perfumed products are used to suspend time and create a "protected personal zone of pleasure." Those who feel they don't have enough time, but endure this feeling are in a state of extreme anxiety or even depression. Perfume's perception has been deeply modified over the last ten years. It ranges from glamour to pampering, and from seduction to a more practical and intellectual notion - the management of body and mind. Ten years ago, perfume was limited to alcoholic perfumery products, and in the last five to eight years, it expanded to include toiletries for bath and body. Within the last few years, perfume has evolved to include aromachology.

AROMATHERAPY TRENDS, KINTISH, L.

SOAP AND COSMETICS, 2002, 78, 5, 34-36

A report on the actual trends on the market of aromatherpeutical products is given. Some key distinctions between aroma-chology and aromatherapy as established by the Sense of Smell Institute include - "Aroma-chology seeks to establish the positive effects of aromas on human behavior that are verifiable through reproducible scientific experiments. The results can then be expressed in quantitative terms and analyzed to determine their statistical significance. Aromatherapy seeks to establish the therapeutic effects of aromas utilizing a patchwork of folklore traditions passed down
from ancient times and various cultures."

posted 7/15/2002

Household and Personal Products Industry (www.HAPPI.com)

"June 25, 2002

Marketers Seek to Rekindle Home Fragrance Sales
The home fragrance market managed a low single-digit increase in 2001, according to a newly released market study from Kline & Company, Little Falls, NJ.

Kline attributes the sluggish performance to a slow down in mass-market candle sales that began in 2000. The business management and consulting firm
reported that marketers are seeking ways to recapture consumers' attention and boost growth in 2002.

In the study, HOME FRAGRANCES USA 2001, Kline states that total home fragrance sales grew by only 4% in 2001 to $2.3 billion, up from $2.1 billion at the manufacturers' level. Sales gains were largely due to the 21% growth of diffuser products. Candle sales were lackluster, especially in mass-market outlets, as marketers shift their attention and promotional spending from candles to their oil diffuser products.

Kline notes that another problem for marketers is the impact of private-label entries and foreign imports that has disrupted some longstanding marketer/retail partnerships. Private-label sales were up by nearly 20% in 2001, a source of great concern among branded marketers.

Sales softness also continues to plague the specialty store segment, which has had too many new store openings in a short period of time, not enough product freshness, and overall lack of consumer traffic, according to the Kline study.

Among the leaders in this segment, Intimate Brands (Victoria's Secret and The Limited) is implementing new merchandising measures in 2002 to jumpstart sales for its newest specialty stores format, The White Barn Candle Company, which showed virtually no sales growth last year.

Lenka Contreras, Group Director at Kline & Company, says the outlook isn't entirely gloomy. The study indicates that consumer interest in home fragrance products did pick up at the end of 2001, helping candle sales and other product categories. A helpful factor is the "nesting," trend. "While nesting has affected growth of the [home fragrance] market for several years, it became a larger factor after 9-11," Contreras said.

Contreras also says to watch for a resurgence in potpourri, which Kline expects to pickup after several years of decline as new trendy products hit the shelves and stimulate interest.

Reckitt Benckiser, a marketer of home fragrances, did well in 2001, more than doubling sales as it outspent S.C. Johnson and gained shelf space for its parity diffusers and candle products. The Yankee Candle Company also performed well by expanding its distribution through new retail partnerships with large chains such as Linens 'N Things and Bed, Bath & Beyond, according to Kline."
 

HOME FRAGRANCE


  ABBREVIATED JOURNAL TITLE- SOAP AND COSMETICS   2001   SOAP AND COSMETICS,
  2001, 77, 11, 25-28, 1 REFS   DOCUMENT TYPE- REPORT   AUTHOR/INVENTOR
  ADDRESS- SUE PHILLIPS, SCENTERPRISES LTD., USA, TEL: +1-212-876-2984,
  EMAIL: scenterprise@aol.com  

  Traditionally, the holidays are the time that the entire fragrance category generates the largest sales volume, approx. 60-70 % of the annual turnover occurs in the fourth quarter. Environmental fragrance products are no exception, particularly scented candles, which have dominated the gift-giving arena in the home fragrance market over the last five years, with candles enjoying double digit increases from 1997 - 1999 with sales  of us$1.8 billion to us$2.1 billion respectively. Last year candle sales slowed down for the first time since the boom in the mid 1990s due to a saturated market, slowing economy, decreased consumer confidence and bad weather during Christmas and most of the winter. In addition, electric diffusers took the home fragrance market by storm. Despite slower sales in 2000, up only 4.2 percent due to the reasons cited, plus safety warnings and mature candle marketplace, candles will still remain number one in both the home fragrance category and the home decorative category.  However, total home fragrance sales increased to us$2.2 billion in 2000, up 6.3 percent from 1999. Sales growth was propelled by the diffusers category and new scented oil entries from mass merchandisers and specialty store marketers, which include S.C. Johnson and Bath & Body Works. Following to these general market statistics are trends discussed such as comfort and aromatherapy. Clearly, there is now homogenization of trends linking aromatherapy, home fragrance and wellness. Consumers around the world are seeking products that offer inner and outer peace and harmony in both their personal care products and home care. Well being is sought in terms of products and technology for home ambience as well as physical and spiritual well being; and performance, pleasure and pampering are the buzz words for products today.

THE HOUSEHOLD FRAGRANCE MARKET


  ABBREVIATED JOURNAL TITLE- HAPPI   2002   HAPPI, 2002, 39, 1, 55- 60
  DOCUMENT TYPE- REPORT   AUTHOR/INVENTOR ADDRESS- TOM BRANNA, EDITORIAL
  DIRECTOR, HAPPI, RODMAN PUBLICATION, 70 HILLTOP ROAD, RAMSEY, NJ 07446,
  USA, TEL: +1-201-825-2552, FAX: +1-201-825-0553  

  Whether a household product is designed to clean dishes, kitchen counters or bathrooms, more and more of these products feature sophisticated scents. In recent months, U.S. companies have launched a number of household cleaners with novel scents, which are discussed in the report. According a spokesman of Givaudan, the trend is partly consumer-driven and partly-technology driven. Overall, product success is due to creative perfumery and innovative and high-efficiency delivery systems that release actives more effectively and with greater consistency. Haarmann & Reimer executive noted that comforting fruit scents will remain important to household product perfumery for the foreseeable future. In addition to these descriptions of trends by perfumers, the report also describes a number of product launches. According to Euromonitor, market data is given for the world of household cleaners. The U.S. may be the biggest single market for household cleaning products, but there are plenty of other important markets throughout the world. Detailed figures in retail value in millions of us$ are given for the years 1996 to 2000. The 2000 values for the regions are specified: Western Europe 21,209.70; Eastern Europe 4,053.30; North America 17,735.40; Latin America 10,377.80; Asia-pacific 16,529.00; Australasia 1,075.00; Africa and the middle east 3,426.90; world: 74,407.10 us$ millions in retail value.
 

posted 11/14/2001

The Fragrance Foundation announces the Fall/Winter 2001/2002 Trends Report

....apparently they have the same visionary "scents" as we do!

(click on the link above)

Excerpts from theFall/Winter 2001/2002 Trends Report:

"WHAT IMPACT WILL TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN FRAGRANCE DIFFUSION HAVE ON THE FOLLOWING:

...WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE STANDOUT TREND IN THE ATTITUDE AND USAGE OF FRAGRANCE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: