Jan 31, 2012

Six “Best New Product Awards” Presented at Ex-Tracts

Six companies were presented with EX•TRACTS® Best New Product Awards today, with Royal Apothic receiving “Best of Show” honors for its Heroes & Aristocrats collection. EX•TRACTS, one of 10 divisions of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Thursday, February 2, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

In addition to the “Best of Show” distinction, EX•TRACTS awards are presented semi-annually in five categories: Bath & Body; Beauty Accessory; Cosmetic & Fragrance; Natural/Organic; and Packaging. Winners and finalists in each category are selected by a panel of editors based on innovative design, creative use of materials/construction and use of new materials/technology.

The winter 2012 EX•TRACTS Best New Products winners and finalists, selected from more than 100 products, are:

BEST OF SHOW:
Royal Apothic (London, England) for its Heroes & Aristocrats collection of sophisticated grooming products for gentlemen, packaged in a vintage constellation print. The collection offers a Mandle (candle for a man), The Scent No. 1 (Eau de Parfum spray), Shave Oil (an ultra fine emollient for shaving) and Ultra Shave (a crème gel made with lactic acid to uniquely exfoliate the skin during a shave). The Scent No. 1 is derived from vetiver, sandalwood, lavender, mandarin, and bourbon and blended to create a clean scent meant to recall the reminiscent masculinity of English soap. Heroes and Aristocrats Shave Oil and Ultra Shave can be used independently or in combination for a proper English shave.

BATH & BODY CATEGORY:
Winner: J.R. Watkins Naturals (Winona, MN) for its Grapefruit Body Oil Mist, an all-natural, easy-absorbing full body fragrance and moisturizing oil. Made of fully sustainable resources, the 100% naturally derived fragrance contains apricot kernel oil and age-defying vitamin E.
Finalist: Cali Cosmetics, Inc. (New York, NY) for its E. Vulcano Body Creme.
Finalist: RICA bath & body (Brooklyn, NY) for its RICA Single Serving Minis.

BEAUTY ACCESSORY CATEGORY:
Winner: OKA b. Footwear (Buford, GA) for its OKA b. Ballet Flat, a stylish, comfortable and eco-friendly ballet flat made of antimicrobial recycled plastic and with an ergonomic foot bed. With a slight lift in the heel and a non-slip sole, the flat’s full arch support comes from reflexology-inspired massage beads. The wear-anywhere flats are packaged in a magnetic box that conveniently collapses flat for easy storage.
Finalist: butter LONDON™ (Seattle, WA) for its 3 Free, color-drenched nail lacquer.
Finalist: Soapwalla Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) for its Lip Locked.

COSMETIC & FRAGRANCE CATEGORY:
Winner: Simpatico (St. Louis, MO) for its Ambergris Solid Perfume, made of beeswax, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. The scent is sweet and musky and rumored to have been a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. As an added benefit, the perfume which is perfectly sized for travel, doubles as a moisturizing salve.
Finalist: Fragrances of Ireland – Inis the Energy of the Sea (Laguna Beach, CA) for its Inis Energy of the Sea Solid Cologne Shell Compact.
Finalist: Votivo (Spartanburg, SC) for its Pink Mimosa Aromatic Collection.

NATURAL/ORGANIC CATEGORY:
Winner: Marula – The Leakey Collection (Newport Beach, CA) for its Marula Oil, a full-body healing and beauty oil made from hand-selected kernels of wild-harvested fruit of marula trees in Kenya.
Finalist: B. Witching Bath Co. (Hawthorne, NJ) for its Organic Muscle Rub.
Finalist: Anjolie Ayurveda (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) for its Anjolie Aromatherapy Body Butters.

PACKAGING CATEGORY:
Winner: ECOYA (Botany Bay, Australia) for its Equality Candle, a 100% soy candle in ribbed, cobalt blue glass with packaging that resembles a history book, as an homage to the historic efforts of current social campaigns for marriage rights in the U.S. All profits from the product will be donated to further the cause for marriage equality.
Finalist: San Francisco Soap Co. (Fall River, MA) for its Geometric Collection of Bath Bars.
Finalist: Ebb & Flow (New York, NY) for its Gift Sets.

“These products excel in design, quality and performance,” said Melissa Engongoro, EX•TRACTS sales manager. “They are indicative of the innovation from EX•TRACTS exhibitors across the board.” The EX•TRACTS Best New Product Award judges were: Jean Warshaw, Beauty Store Business; Patricia Norins, GIFT SHOP; Meredith Schwartz, Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Susan Tucker, Giftware News; and Paulina Kajankova, Insiders Guide to Spas/Spirituality & Health.

EX•TRACTS features 100 exhibitors of cosmetics, perfumes, skincare, bath & body care, beauty accessories, haircare, natural and organic products and well-being lines. The summer 2012 edition will take place Sunday, August 19, through Thursday, August 23, 2012 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Information is available online at www.extractsny.com