Sales: $255 million

Parlux Fragrances, Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and international distributor of prestige designer, lifestyle and celebrity fragrances. In business since 1987, the company holds licenses to manufacture and distribute the fragrance brands of Vince Camuto, Kenneth Cole, Jason Wu, Tommy Bahama, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Norell, Sean John and Pierre Cardin. The full-service organization provides expertise in brand development, marketing and manufacturing across all beauty categories. Parlux Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parlux Holdings, Inc., an independent national, vertically integrated wholesale distributor of fragrances and related products.

Earlier this year, Parlux teamed with Better World Fragrance House, which was founded by Drake, to launch five home fragrances. The move marked Parlux entry into the lifestyle fragrance category.

Sales: $148 million (estimated) for the year ended March 31, 2010

Nicole Miller Frenzy is the newest scent from the American fashion designer.

The beauty market was hard hit by The Great Recession, and fragrance houses may have taken the biggest blow. Parlux’s sales took a dip, falling 2% to an estimated $148 million in its most recently completed fiscal year.

Parlux says it has taken a step “upward” from distributing exclusively to department stores to having a presence in the specialty retail segment with the introductions of both Josie Natori and Nicole Miller.

These brands are considered both “artistic and commercial successes”—no easy feat in today’s marketplace, according to the Fort Lauderdale, FL fragrance firm.

Looking for more commercial successes, Parlux recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement with The Camuto Group to develop a signature fragrance, due out in fall 2011, under the company’s heritage line, Vince Camuto.

Parlux’s new chief executive officer Fred Purches, who took over after the resignation of Neil J. Katz in January, told Happi he was “very optimistic” about the Camuto deal. “I think we are ahead of the curve with this.”

Sales: $151 million. Net loss: $4.2 million for the year ended March 31, 2009.

Sales declined less than 2% in the recently concluded fiscal year, but the company declared a net loss after posting a profit of $5 million the previous year.

Parlux Fragrances, Inc. is ranked among the top 50 volume fragrance and beauty companies worldwide, according to the company. Specializing in prestigious high-end consumer products, the company’s strategy is to build world-class luxury brands, increasing its presence and market share globally. High visibility in-house advertising campaigns, aggressive new product development, selective new licenses and business acquisitions and the full exploitation of existing brands through Parlux’s distribution network in more than 90 countries all significantly contribute to the company’s prosperity.

Sales of Paris Hilton brands accounted for 55% of sales, followed by Guess? (30%) and Jessica Simpson (13%).

Commenting on the recently concluded fiscal year, Neil Katz, chairman and chief executive officer, noted that a poor fourth quarter was a drag on results. However, the company invested heavily in building its U.S. department store business, which increased by 63% for the year.

This year, Parlux will launch fragrances under its Queen Latifah, Marc Ecko, Josie Natori and Nicole Miller licenses.

Sales: $153 million. Net income: $5 million for the year ended March 31, 2008.

Celebrity fragrances make good scents—pun intended—for this company. Sales from continuing operations were up 14% to $153.6 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, according to Parlux. Income from continuing operations was $5 million compared to a loss of $27 million in the prior year. Net income was $5 million, up 8% from the prior year.

The company achieved a $51 million improvement in income from continuing operations before income taxes, on a year to year basis “which underscores our success in restructuring our operations and refocusing our business,” said Neil Katz, chairman and chief executive officer. “We have reduced our operating costs by 33% by centralizing warehousing/distribution in New Jersey, and moving all corporate management and administrative activities into new office facilities in south Florida.”

In other cost-saving moves, Parlux reduced inventories by 35%, reduced G&A by 39% (ex- cluding non-cash share-based compensation charges of $244,662 in 2008 and $18,946,950 in 2007), and re-duced advertising by 22%, while concurrently increasing sales by 14%.

“Most significantly,” Mr. Katz continued, “the company had over $21 million in cash on hand at year end, and our $35 million bank line was not utilized. These funds will be available to support the launch of new licenses, specifically Jessica Simpson, Nicole Miller, Natori and Queen Latifah, and to fully support our ongoing base business of Paris Hilton and Guess. Additionally, we will be launching a new Paris Hilton fragrance this fall, as well as a new Guess men’s fragrance in the spring of 2009.”