Polaris Olfactive Awards AW26
— Terms & Conditions
We aim to keep things clear, fair, and respectful for everyone taking part in the Polaris Olfactive Awards. By submitting your work, you agree to the following terms stated on this page.
About the awards
Polaris Olfactive Awards is an independent platform celebrating perfumery, craftsmanship, and artistic excellence. We focus on quality, creativity, strong concepts and skilled execution. We stay neutral and do not take political, religious, or ideological positions.
Submitting your work
To submit your work, you will need to provide your brand name, contact details and perfume information (name, year, concentration, perfumer, award category). After submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email and we will then review your entry. You will also submit at least 30 ml of perfume in a non-transparent bottle for each entry. The vial should not have any branding or identifying marks other than the code provided by Polaris. You will receive your code once the submission is accepted. Send all required information digitally, not inside the package). This will help us to ensure a fair and fully blind judging process.
Submissions must be complete, late submissions or to change a category after the deadline will not be accepted. Incomplete submissions may be cancelled and refunded.
Eligibility review
All submissions go through an internal review, which may take up to three months, to ensure that they meet category requirements, technical standards, and general rules of the Awards. We will also check that all required documents are complete and that the sample meets the requirements. If the submission is incomplete we will contact you with a request for qualification with a deadline. If the deadline is not met, the submission will be considered incomplete.
We reserve the right to reclassify entries or reject entries that do not meet the criteria. This is not about limiting creativity, but about maintaining a respectful and focused environment.
Fees and refunds
Submission fees are required to complete your application. Minor mistakes may be handled with flexibility when reasonable, and refunds are only given if your submission is rejected during the administrative review.
Submission outcomes
After review, you submission will be:
Accepted. Your entry meets all requirements and moves to jury evaluation.
On hold. There are minor issues, for example missing details or unclear category. You will be asked to clarify (with a deadline) before a final decision is made.
Rejected. The entry will not proceed due and fails to comply with eligibility rules, requested information is missing after the clarification deadline and/or the sample or documentation does not follow the guidelines.
Fair judging
Before final judging, entries go through a screening stage to ensure fairness and neutrality, which are central to the process. All entries are codes and handled by Polaris. Samples will be checked and may be decanted into neutral bottles for the judges to evaluate submissions without knowing the brand or creator.
Before the judging process, judges must declare any conflicts of interest. They will not evaluate entries they are connected to and all judging is conducted individually before discussion.
Evaluation
Each category has its own evaluation criterias, but in general we will look at the clarity of the idea, how the concept translates into scent, technical quality and structure, originality and creativity, as well as emotional impact and memorability. Strong concepts must be well executed – ideas alone are not enough.
We use a blind, two-stage judging process. Your submission is anonymized and the judges evaluate independently. Scoring focuses on craftsmanship, concept, technical quality, and originality. Awards are only given when the standard is met, which can result in categories not having a winner.
Content & presentation rules
We ask all participants to respect the tone and purpose for the Awards. We may remove any entries that don’t align with the following standards:
Not allowed: Political or religious messaging, controversial or provocative branding as main strategy, promotion of illegal drugs, strong focus on alcohol marketing, explicit or pornographic content, degrading or offensive imagery.
Allowed: Artistic expression, emotional and conceptual storytelling.
Transparency & ingredients
In some cases, we may request confidential information (such as ingredients) to verify category placement and professional standards. All submissions must be safe for skin use. The use of natural civet and natural deer musk is not permitted.
Category specifications & rules
Each category (“Conceptual”, “Hantverk”, “Independent”, “Natural”) has specific rules regarding materials, production methods, and eligibility requirements. By submitting, you confirm that your perfume complies with the rules of your chosen category.
Each category has a different focus – choose the one that best represents how your perfume is created and what it aims to express. You are responsible for selecting the correct category. If a submission does not match its category, it may be put on hold for clarification or rejected if the mismatch is significant. All categories are judged with the same goal: to recognize clarity, quality, and integrity in perfumery.
Category “Conceptual”
This category focuses on idea and artistic expression. It looks at how a concept is translated into scent, and how clearly that idea can be experienced through the fragrance itself.
We value perfumes where the concept and composition are closely connected, where the idea is not only described but truly expressed through the olfactory experience. Original thinking and a willingness to take creative risks are important, as well as a structure that supports and strengthens the idea. At the same time, a strong concept must also be executed with technical skill and balance.
This category is evaluated as olfactory art. The story behind a fragrance can support the work, but it is not enough on its own — the scent must carry the idea.
Category “Hantverk” (Swedish for “Craft”)
This category focuses on craft and the making process behind the perfume. It is about how the fragrance is created, with an emphasis on hands-on work and technical skill.
To qualify, at least three parts of the process must be carried out manually by the creator or a small team. This can include steps such as formula weighing, compounding, maceration, filtration, bottling, or labelling.
We value careful craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of materials. The structure of the perfume should feel balanced and well built, and the work should reflect a clear personal style or signature.
This category is about process rather than aesthetic style. Small-scale, hands-on production is central to the evaluation.
Category “Independent”
This category focuses on professional quality and brand identity, and is open to independently owned perfume brands.
To qualify, the brand must be independently owned and not controlled by a larger corporation. The perfume must also be legally sellable in its intended market and follow all relevant regulations.
We look for strong technical execution and a clear sense of direction. The fragrance should feel refined, complete, and consistent with the identity of the brand. At the same time, it should maintain creativity while reaching a market-ready level of quality.
This category is evaluated based on the perfume itself. Marketing does not influence scoring, and technical quality remains essential throughout.
Category “Natural”
This category focuses on working with natural materials and evaluates perfumes created exclusively from ingredients derived from nature.
Allowed materials include essential oils, absolutes, CO₂ extracts, resins and balsams, tinctures, hydrolats, naturally derived isolates, and fermentation-derived materials from natural sources. Ethically sourced animal-derived materials may also be used.
Synthetic aroma chemicals, nature-identical synthetics, reconstructed molecules, and synthetic musks or fixatives are not permitted. The use of natural civet and natural deer musk is also not allowed.
We look for perfumes that demonstrate a strong and stable structure without relying on synthetic support. The quality of the materials should be high, and the fragrance should develop smoothly over time. Creative and thoughtful use of natural ingredients is highly valued.
Working with natural materials comes with challenges, but these do not excuse instability or imbalance. All submissions must comply with relevant safety regulations.
Safety and responsibility
You confirm that your perfume is safe for skin use and complies with relevant regulations in its market. We may request proof if needed. The use of natural civet and natural deer musk is not permitted.
Fair participation
To maintain integrity, do not attempt to identify your submission during judging, do not influence judges or the process, and provide accurate and honest information. Failure to follow these principles may result in disqualification.
Contact
Stockholm Olfactive Group is the data controller responsible for processing personal data submitted through this application form.
Stockholm Olfactive Group
Forvägen 17
145 51 Norsborg
Sweden