Marty the Mighty Nose – smelly poems required!

Do you know a child aged 7-11 who loves writing and exploring their sense of smell? Get those nostrils in training, for The Fragrance Foundation‘s Marty the Mighty Nose Awards are once again open for smell-inspired poetic entries!

Kids tend to be far more naturally connected to their sense of smell than most adults, and the annual competition invites Key Stage Two pupils to explore this sense even more, by taking ‘…an aromatic approach to creative writing, as we invite them to write their own smell-inspired poems for the chance to win prizes for themselves and for their schools.’

The Fragrance Foundation say: ‘Whether it is inviting children to develop their use of simile and metaphor in English by writing smell-inspired poems or learning about history through the stinky aromas of the past (Ancient Egyptian Mummification anyone?), structured activities incorporating fragrance and smell can truly support and inspire pupils of all abilities.’

Marty the Mighty Nose entries can be made by schools, or by individual parents and guardians, and details of the competition and how to submit an entry are explained, below. Poems are judged and awarded prizes individually, but there’s also a Best Class prize to the highest overall scoring class, so the more who join in, the merrier Marty will be.

The Fragrance Foundation encourage pupils to write poems inspired by the sense of smell (the whiffy socks of an older brother has been a previous winner’s poetic theme!) and these are then read and chosen by a distinguished panel of judges each year, with this year’s Head Judge being Nicky Cox MBE, Editor of young person’s newspaper First News, who are this year supporting the awards.

Entering Marty The Mighty Nose Awards is easydownload the entry pack here. The deadline for submissions is the 14th December 2018, and entries can be sent online or through the post.

Here’s one of last year’s winning entries, to get you inspired…

Smelly Seasons
Suncream and salty air,
Summer smells are here,
Candyfloss and doughnuts,
Sweet smells at the pier.
Lavender and Wisteria,
Spring flowers in bloom,
Bluebell and lilac,
All smelling of sweet perfume.
Fireworks, pumpkin soup,
And smoky burning leaves,
Toasted sweet marshmallows,
Fill the autumn’s breeze.
Frost morning air,
Cloves, cinnamon and pine,
Pretty burning candles,
Christmas is my favourite time!

– Bella Barlow
Shiplake C.E Primary School

We always wonder if the talented children who enter the awards with their smell-inspired poems could well be the noses behind future fragrances – or the journalists writing about them –  either way, we can’t wait to read the results, so get those kids’ noses in training…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

WIN! Signed bottle of Ruth Mastenbroek’s Firedance

We were thrilled to hear that Ruth Mastenbroek‘s Firedance perfume has been selected as a finalist for this year’s prestigious Fragrance Foundation Awards. And Ruth very kindly popped in to sign a full-size bottle of Firedance for one of our lucky V.I.P’s to win!

Scroll down for the entry form, below – closing date is 31st May 2018…

‘A story of celebration… rejoicing in each moment of contentment in life. In Firedance, Ruth presents a scorching, modern interpretation of the classic rose perfume, as exotic leather dances in surprise harmony with the main character – smouldering Damask rose. Set against a warming backdrop of oudh and patchouli, a shining amber note radiates from the skin in this memorably intimate and sexy perfume.’

Do not be scared of that ‘oudh’ word, either – this is a stunningly sophisticated interpretation, and no wonder it’s up for an award. We know you’ll adore it.

Terms & Conditions: No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Closing date for entry will be 31/05/2018. After this date no further entries to the prize draw will be accepted.

Good luck!

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We've looked through thousands of your #smellfies… did YOURS win a prize? Check out some of our fragrant faves!

Just a couple of years agao,  we had the idea to celebrate the long-established National Fragrance Day by getting people to post selfies with their favourite fragrances, and calling them a #smellfie.
The idea was to celebrate the importance of fragrance by putting a face to what can sometimes be a closed industry, and more than that, to see YOU – the people who actually buy the perfumes – hear why they love them, what they really mean.
This year our #smellfie competition became an international perfume phenomenon – with people all over the world who joined in our campaign. And what a diverse group you were… with some dressing in specially made outfits or painting their faces to match their favourite scents; pets, children and family members getting involved and celebs including Richard E Grant and even Little Mix (gawd bless ’em!) all joining in.
We’re not ashamed to say we all got a bit teary at Perfume Society Towers when the #smellfie photos kept on pouring in.
Just search for the hashtag #smellfie on Instagram to see how many brilliant entries we had to choose from!
But we’d made a rod for own backs by saying we’d choose some favourites to award prizes to, didn’t we? And, though it has caused us much anguish having to choose at all, choose we must. So here are our finalists…


@jadainga99 is our overall (geddit?) winner who cleaned up (okay, we’ll stop now) and will receive a full year’s print subscription to our award-winning magazine, The Scented Letter, worth £80. Congrats!
The following five winners all receive a signed copy of The Perfume Bible


So adorable, and we’d love to snuggle up with this perfume, too…

A veritable halo of scent from a fellow fragrance obsessive who just couldn’t pick one fave (we feel ya!)

Truly impressive makeup skills employed for this pretty in pink pic…

We were blown away with the elegant creativity of this paper-doll loving perfumista!

Beautifully shot, great selection, so much to love right here…

❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you SO much to everyone who took part – it means so much – we so loved seeing you share your favourite fragrances with us. And we simply cannot wait for next year’s #smellfie extravaganza. Let’s make sure it’s the most scent-sational year yet! ❤❤❤❤❤

Written by Suzy Nightingale