Paris October 25 2018 - In the third quarter, the revenue of French fragrance design and distribution group Interparfums grew 3.4% to reach €118.5 million, driven by the Coach and Jimmy Choo perfume licenses.

Considering the "very good results” posted by Coach fragrances, which were "ahead" of the group’s forecasts, the revenue target of €430 million in 2018 "could be slightly exceeded", said the CEO of Interparfums, Philippe Benacin, cited in a press release  on Thursday.

In the first nine months of the year, total sales for Interparfums reached €337.2 million, up by 4.1% on a yearly basis, and by 8.2% at constant exchange rates.

In the last quarter, the group’s top performers were the licensed fragrances by New York leather goods label Coach, whose sales increased by 42% on a yearly basis, up to €22.5 million.

Since the start of the year, sales for Coach fragrances have risen by a stunning 90%, "a remarkable growth rate, especially in the USA,” wrote Interparfums in the press release.

Jimmy Choo fragrances also performed well in the last quarter (+21% on a yearly basis, reaching €29 million), thanks to the launch of the Jimmy Choo Fever line in summer, limiting the brand’s shortfall since the start of the year to -9%.

In the absence of a major launch this year, Interparfum’s leading licensed brand Montblanc lost 15% in the third quarter, generating a revenue of €26.9 million, and lost 5% in the first nine months of the year.

Sales for Rochas, a fragrance brand owned by Interparfums, also slumped in the third quarter (-12.7%, down to €6.9 million). Since January, Rochas has lost 12%, despite the fact that the brand’s international footprint is expanding, and Rochas is now available in about 20 countries.

"The outlook for 2019 is positive, with a series of launches for Montblanc, Lanvin and Jimmy Choo, and [Interparfums’] growth rate is set to accelerate,” said Philippe Benacin.