An international perfumery show InterCHARM-99, held in the Sokolniki exhibition center recently, featured exhibits presented by more than 200 companies from 24 countries of the world. Russian perfumeries boast cheap prices and almost as much choice as their Western competitors. The show attracted such crowds of visitors, it was often impossible to weave a way through exhibits. Organizers of the show, representatives of famous perfumeries, Messe Dusseldorf International, Cosmopress, IRW and COLIPA, said they were impressed with the progress made by Russian perfumeries and the development of Russia's perfumery market.

Some problems, however, still remain. COLIPA CEO Robert Vanhove recalled how he presented a Russian-made set of fragrances to his wife. She could not use them for one simple reason - all the descriptions were in Russian. So for the moment, Western perfumeries do not have to fear Russian competitors, at least outside Russia.