Here’s the first deal of the year! Ex-Nihilo gets a new investor as global investment group Eurazeo closes its brand portfolio. LVMH-backed L Catterton has stepped in to take it’s place, aligning with the brands’ objectives to expand into the US and other core markets, while strengthening digital presence and reinforcing the brand’s luxury positioning.

Mark your calendar for the latest niche fragrance tradeshow! London is the host city for the International Maisons of Fine Fragrance to be held at the Frieze Gallery from February 18 – 20. Industry veteran Valerie Kaminov is behind the event, set to bring together global niche perfume brands with key retail buyers, distributors and international partners to foster strategic collaborations.

Slow luxury meets slow perfumery in Atelier Materi. For Veronique Le Bihan, founder, the respect for time, craftsmanship and intention have been instrumental in creating her brand. The link between nature and craft is primordial; fragrance, object and emotion meet in every bottle. Discover the brand and meet the founder in this article.

The US Beauty and Fragrance brand Malin & Goetz is streamlining its operations in the UK. With seven free-standing locations in addition to counters in key retailers including Liberty, John Lewis and Space NK, perhaps it was overextended. Sadly the stores have closed and the staff have been let go. The online shop is temporarily closed in the UK but set to reopen soon.

We know that scent triggers memory but there’s more to it than that. Once that memory is jarred, our body starts reacting, our mood may change, our stress may subside or even increase. We also have the ability to feel scents, and this will affect how alert, attentive – or aroused we are. This article dives deep into the science behind the mind-nose connection.

Scent is increasingly becoming a part of museum exhibits where fragrance is paired with a work of art or it is custom-created to capture a place, a space, a moment in time. The technical challenges are numerous but the payoff for the visitor is enormous. In this article read about some recent events where new technology is implemented to diffuse scent safely, efficiently and effectively.

In another sad turn of events for US retail, Saks Global has filed for bankruptcy protection, just over a year after acquiring Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Stores will remain open for now after the retailer finalized a $1.75 Billion financing package and appointed a new CEO.