Shandong Aili Perfume Factory’s Experience at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo
Summary of Shandong Aili Perfume Factory’s Participation in the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo:
Shandong Aili Perfume Factory reviews its 2024 Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo experience in Hong Kong and shares insights into perfume, fragrance and Dubai market opportunities.
After successfully participating in the 136th Canton Fair, Shandong Aili Cosmetics Co., Ltd. attended the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo in Hong Kong from November 13 to 15, 2024.
As a professional perfume manufacturer and fragrance factory in China, this was our first participation in the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo. The three-day event gave us an opportunity to communicate with exhibitors and buyers, understand market conditions, and evaluate the potential of the exhibition for our international perfume and fragrance business.
Although the results were not as strong as we had expected, the experience provided valuable information for our future overseas market strategy.
Following the 136th Canton Fair, Shandong Aili Perfume Factory attended the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo in Hong Kong from November 13 to 15, 2024. The three-day event highlighted several areas where improvements are needed.
1.Unlike the Canton Fair, the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo is an unofficial trade show. It focuses on perfumes, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and cosmetics, but its management and organization were less rigorous.
2.The expo’s overall performance fell short compared to the Canton Fair. Most buyers were from Hong Kong or Guangdong, with few attendees from Southeast Asia or other regions.
3.The expo’s appeal seems to be waning, as many exhibitors expressed dissatisfaction and may not participate again. Despite heavy marketing by the organizers, the results did not meet expectations.
4.Interest in perfume products was notably lower compared to other categories, even among exhibitors from China, Europe, and the Middle East. Many exhibitors plan to attend Dubai’s perfume-focused trade shows instead.
5.This was our first time at the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo, but the outcome was underwhelming, with minimal interest from potential clients. The event felt more like a marketplace for small purchases rather than a platform for international trade.
6.The expo’s approach, prioritizing seller participation over attracting serious buyers, was disappointing. High booth fees, especially for those acquired through intermediaries, added to the challenges for businesses struggling in the current market.
In conclusion, the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo did not deliver the promised benefits and cannot be considered a truly international trade fair. To better expand our perfume export business, we plan to attend Dubai’s international beauty expo next year, as the Middle East is a key market for fragrance products.
How Was the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo Different from the Canton Fair?
One of our first observations was the difference between the Hong Kong Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo and the Canton Fair.
The Canton Fair is a large-scale international trade exhibition with a broad range of industries and a strong focus on import and export business.
The Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo is more specialized in the beauty and cosmetics industry, including perfume, fragrance, skincare, makeup, packaging, and related products.
From our perspective, the organization and management of the Hong Kong exhibition were less rigorous than those of the Canton Fair.
For a perfume factory looking for international wholesale buyers and long-term OEM/ODM customers, the quality and structure of the buyer audience are particularly important.
What Did We Observe About the Buyer Audience?
The overall buyer response was weaker than we expected.
During the three-day exhibition, a large proportion of visitors appeared to come from Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, while the number of buyers from Southeast Asia and other international markets was relatively limited.
This was an important observation for us because our primary objective was to develop international perfume export business.
For an international fragrance manufacturer, an exhibition needs to provide not only visitor traffic but also qualified buyers who have clear purchasing requirements.
The difference between general visitors and professional perfume buyers can have a significant influence on the final business results of an exhibition.
Was the Exhibition Effective for Perfume Products?
Based on our experience, interest in perfume products was relatively limited compared with some other beauty categories.
This was noticeable among exhibitors offering perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and other fragrance products.
Even though perfume is an important part of the international cosmetics and beauty industry, the number of serious buyers who visited perfume booths did not meet our expectations.
This experience reminded us that choosing the right international exhibition is very important for a Chinese perfume manufacturer.
A trade show may have a large number of exhibitors and visitors, but this does not necessarily mean it will generate a large number of qualified perfume buyers.
What Did Exhibitors Say About the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo?
During the exhibition, we also communicated with other exhibitors.
Some exhibitors expressed concerns about the overall business results and indicated that they might consider other international beauty and fragrance exhibitions in the future.
Several companies mentioned that they were considering attending Dubai perfume and beauty exhibitions because of the strong fragrance culture and market demand in the Middle East.
This was particularly interesting to us because the Middle East has already become one of the important markets for our international fragrance business.
Why Was the Exhibition Less Effective for Aili Cosmetics?
For Shandong Aili Cosmetics, this was our first participation in the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo.
We hoped to meet professional importers, distributors, perfume brands, and wholesale buyers who were interested in long-term cooperation.
However, the number of serious potential customers was limited.
Our overall impression was that the exhibition had characteristics of a large marketplace, with some visitors more interested in small-quantity purchases and product browsing than in large-scale commercial cooperation.
For a manufacturer with large-scale perfume production capacity, this type of visitor profile is not always suitable for our primary B2B business model.
Our ideal customers are generally:
- Perfume brands
- Fragrance distributors
- Importers
- Wholesalers
- Retail chains
- E-commerce brands
- Private-label perfume companies
- Cosmetics companies
- Home fragrance brands
These customers normally require stable supply, customized products, competitive pricing, and long-term cooperation.
What Can Perfume Manufacturers Learn from This Exhibition?
The exhibition gave us several useful lessons.
Buyer Quality Is More Important Than Visitor Numbers
A large number of visitors does not automatically mean strong business opportunities.
For a perfume manufacturer, qualified buyers who have clear product requirements are much more valuable than general visitors.
Exhibition Positioning Matters
Different exhibitions attract different types of buyers.
A beauty exhibition may be suitable for some cosmetics companies but may not necessarily be the best platform for a factory specifically seeking large-volume perfume OEM and private-label customers.
International Buyer Coverage Is Important
When developing export markets, we need exhibitions that can connect us with buyers from different countries and regions.
For our international perfume business, we are particularly interested in markets with strong fragrance consumption and established distribution channels.
Why Is Dubai Attractive for Perfume Manufacturers?
Our experience in Hong Kong strengthened our interest in the Dubai perfume market and Middle Eastern fragrance industry.
The Middle East has a deep fragrance culture, and perfume plays an important role in everyday life, personal grooming, hospitality, and social occasions.
The region also has demand across different price segments, from luxury fragrances to mass-market perfumes.
Traditional fragrance products such as attar and perfume oils coexist with modern products such as:
- Eau de Parfum
- Eau de Toilette
- Perfume sprays
- Body mist
- Fragrance oils
- Home fragrance
- Room fragrance
- Reed diffusers
- Aroma diffuser products
For a Chinese perfume and fragrance manufacturer, this diversified demand creates opportunities for both standard products and customized OEM/ODM fragrance projects.
Why Does the Middle East Matter to Aili Cosmetics?
The Middle Eastern market has already become an important part of our international business development.
We have established business relationships with customers in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
Through communication with these customers, we have gained a better understanding of local requirements for fragrance, packaging, bottle design, product positioning, and fragrance intensity.
Therefore, expanding our presence in the Middle East is a natural next step for our international perfume strategy.
Dubai is particularly attractive because of its international business environment and its role as a commercial center connecting different markets.
What Fragrance Products Can Aili Cosmetics Supply?
As a professional perfume factory in China, Shandong Aili Cosmetics focuses on a variety of personal and fragrance products.
Our product development and manufacturing opportunities include:
| Product Category | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Eau de Parfum | Personal fragrance and premium perfume |
| Eau de Toilette | Daily-use fragrance |
| Light Perfume | Fresh and comfortable fragrance |
| Private-Label Perfume | Customized brand development |
| OEM/ODM Fragrance | Customized commercial production |
| Home Fragrance | Indoor scenting |
| Room Fragrance | Homes, offices and commercial spaces |
| Aroma Diffuser | Home and commercial fragrance |
| Reed Diffuser | Decorative home fragrance |
This broader product portfolio allows us to work with different types of fragrance businesses.
What Is Our Future Exhibition Strategy?
After evaluating our experience at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo, we believe that future exhibition participation should focus more strongly on qualified international buyers and target markets.
Rather than attending exhibitions simply because they have a large number of exhibitors, we will pay greater attention to:
- Buyer quality
- International buyer coverage
- Market relevance
- Fragrance industry specialization
- Business matching opportunities
- Exhibition reputation
- Potential for long-term B2B cooperation
For our perfume export business, international beauty and fragrance exhibitions in Dubai and other major Middle Eastern markets may therefore become a more important part of our future development strategy.
How Can Aili Cosmetics Improve Its International Perfume Business?
The Hong Kong exhibition also showed us that international business development requires continuous improvement.
We will continue to improve:
- Perfume product development
- Fragrance formulation
- Packaging design
- Product presentation
- Customer communication
- International marketing
- OEM/ODM services
- Private-label perfume solutions
- Home fragrance products
- International customer follow-up
Our objective is to provide international buyers with more competitive and market-oriented perfume and fragrance products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aili Cosmetics at the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo
1. When did Shandong Aili Cosmetics attend the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo?
Shandong Aili Cosmetics attended the Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo in Hong Kong from November 13 to 15, 2024.
2. Was the Hong Kong exhibition successful for Aili Cosmetics?
The results were below our expectations, particularly in terms of qualified international perfume buyers. However, the exhibition provided valuable insights into buyer quality, exhibition selection, and future international market development.
3. What perfume products were presented at the exhibition?
The company presented perfume and fragrance products, including products related to Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and other fragrance categories.
4. Why was the exhibition less effective than the Canton Fair?
From our experience, the buyer audience was more concentrated in Hong Kong and Guangdong, while the number of international buyers from Southeast Asia and other regions was relatively limited.
5. Does Aili Cosmetics provide perfume OEM and ODM services?
Yes. As a perfume manufacturer in China, Aili Cosmetics can discuss OEM/ODM and private-label perfume projects involving fragrance, packaging, bottles, labels, and other product requirements.
6. Why is Dubai important for the perfume business?
Dubai and the wider Middle East have strong fragrance consumption and an established perfume culture. The region offers opportunities for traditional fragrances as well as modern Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, home fragrance, and aroma diffuser products.
7. Will Aili Cosmetics attend Dubai perfume exhibitions?
Based on our experience in Hong Kong, we see value in exploring international beauty and fragrance exhibitions in Dubai and the wider Middle East as part of our future international business development strategy.
8. What types of international customers does Aili Cosmetics seek?
We mainly look for perfume brands, distributors, importers, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce companies, and private-label fragrance businesses seeking reliable long-term manufacturing partners.
Conclusion
The 2024 Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo in Hong Kong was an important learning experience for Shandong Aili Cosmetics Co., Ltd.
Although the exhibition did not generate as many qualified international perfume leads as we had hoped, it helped us better understand the importance of buyer quality, exhibition positioning, international market coverage, and target-market selection.
For our future perfume export business, we believe that selecting exhibitions in markets with strong fragrance consumption will be increasingly important.
The Middle East, particularly markets connected with Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, offers significant opportunities for perfume and fragrance manufacturers.
As a Chinese perfume factory, Shandong Aili Cosmetics will continue developing Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, private-label perfume, OEM/ODM fragrance, home fragrance, aroma diffuser, and other fragrance products, while actively exploring international markets and building long-term partnerships with global fragrance customers.