Italian/French fashion icon, Emanuel Ungaro, rocketed to fame in the 1960s as a “Space Age” designer, sharing the futuristic spotlight with Pierre Cardin, Paco Rabanne and André Courrèges.
The brand also has a long history in fragrances, debuting its original juice in 1977. Chanel acquired the brand’s fragrance license in 1983 and “loaned” its star perfumer, Jacques Polge, to Ungaro to develop its signature fragrance – Diva.
Salvatore Ferragamo took over Ungaro’s fragrance business in 1996 and more than 65 fragrances and flankers have been released to date, including two in collaboration with Avon in 2008 – U by Ungaro for Her and For Him.
Emanuel Ungaro retired from his eponymous brand in 2005, selling the business to tech entrepreneur, Asim Abdallah, for US$84 million.
Inter Parfums, who signed new fragrance licenses with Donna Karan and Salvatore Ferragamo earlier this year, has inked a 10-year exclusive global licensing agreement with Emanuel Ungaro for the creation and development of new fragrances, home fragrances, cosmetics and travel amenities.
The maker of Jimmy Choo, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Spade, Oscar de la Renta and Montblanc fragrances has a strong track record in reviving vintage brands and has spring boarded Lanvin and Rochas back into contention. Inter Parfums has benefited strongly from the upsurge in fragrance sales worldwide this year and has revised its guidance for 2021 to a record US$840 million.
Jean Madar, chairman and CEO of Inter Parfums, is confident of a new era for Ungaro fragrances. “Ungaro is a legendary name and synonymous with creativity, colours, signature cuts and patterns representing a best in class example of Italian creativity and craftsmanship with French luxury and execution.
“Today, the brand is best known and most prized internationally, and such a presence will remain our sales focus as we continue to produce and distribute the brand’s legacy scents, notably Diva. In 2023, we plan to unveil a new fragrance incorporating disruptive design, driven by creativity, sustainability and authenticity.”