Fragrance

The 2011 Arab Spring revolutions in North Africa have had profound effects on the cosmetics industries in Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. While international brands have reputation on their side, local brands retain significant strength. But political instability has left many C&T businesses suffering.

New Zealand has a wealth of natural ingredients including manuka honey, totarol – a natural preservative – and harakeke – a native flax claimed to be more hydrating than aloe vera. The surge of natural and organic companies in New Zealand is no surprise, with some brands becoming popular abroad. Trilogy, Living Nature and Comvita are just an example of New Zealand natural companies that are doing well worldwide.

Financially, 2010 proved a middling year for Germany’s C&T market. However recent product launches from international and local brands in fragrance, colour and skin care mean 2011 may prove more successful, despite a rocky year for hair care. Meanwhile Germany’s drugstores dominated retail and luxury outperformed mass

ITF stands for Italian Fragrances and the company has been promoting for 30 years made in Italy fragrances. Under its wing, fashion labels like Trussardi and Versace have stepped into the fragrance market and have become known and appreciated in over 70 countries worldwide.

The fragrance market has bounced back with the launch of creative, high profile fragrances, reinterpretations of classics, a new generation of oriental scents and increased focus on sustainable packaging

Responding to an upturn in the US economy, department stores and drug stores are improving their beauty product offering and retail spaces, while sectors performing strongly include lip and eye colour, hair care, naturals, fragrance and skin care

Canada's C&T market has been very resilient in the recession and local brands are becoming popular worldwide including homegrown hair care brand Moroccanoil.

Asian consumers may be notoriously brand conscious, but designer names offering heavier western fragrances would do well to lighten their juice or adjust marketing to appeal to this increasingly consumerist demographic

The gulf market’s appetite for personal care products, both traditional and niche, continues to grow. Paul Cochrane reports from Beirut

Atelier & Design Fragranze (ADF) is a recently founded Italian company which specialises in fragrance creation, distribution and home scents. It is looking to expand outside of Italy and is hoping to secure a worldwide presence soon. ADF fragrance brands are stocked in fashion, beauty and home furnishing retail outlets.