Interparfums, Inc. reported flat third-quarter net sales of $430 million, as strong performances from Coach and Montblanc fragrances helped offset weakness in its US-based operations. For the first nine months of 2026, sales increased 1% to $1.115 billion, from $1.102 billion in the same period last year.
The fragrance group's European-based operations delivered the strongest regional performance in the third quarter, with sales rising 4% to $306 million, compared with $295 million a year earlier. US-based operations declined 7% to $127 million, against $137 million in the prior-year quarter.
For the nine months ended September 30, European-based sales increased 1% to $789 million, while U.S.-based sales rose 3% to $336 million.
Coach and Montblanc Lead Growth
Coach was the standout performer, with fragrance sales surging 23% in the third quarter and increasing 15% for the first nine months. Growth was supported by established women's and men's fragrance lines and two line extensions launched earlier this year.
Montblanc also returned to growth, with fragrance sales rising 12% in the third quarter following flat sales in the second quarter. Nine-month sales increased 8%, driven by Montblanc Legend Elixir, launched in the first quarter, and Montblanc Explorer Infinite, introduced in the third.
Jimmy Choo delivered more modest growth, with fragrance sales up 1% in the third quarter and 5% year to date. The I Want Choo and Jimmy Choo Man franchises continued to perform well, supported by recent extensions, including I Want Choo Midnight, launched in the third quarter.
Lacoste also returned to growth, with third-quarter fragrance sales increasing 4%, driven by Original Intense, the latest women's addition to the Original franchise. However, sales remained down 9% for the first nine months, reflecting a difficult first half, a strong prior-year comparison and softer conditions in Eastern Europe.
U.S. Portfolio Delivers Mixed Results
Among the U.S.-based operations, Guess fragrances recorded growth of 3% in the third quarter and 7% over the first nine months. Performance was supported by the Iconic franchise, alongside extensions to the Amore and Seductive lines.
Roberto Cavalli also continued to grow, with fragrance sales increasing 4% in the third quarter and 6% year to date. The Serpentine launch from 2025 continued to contribute, alongside new extensions introduced in 2026 and the brand's partnership with Kiko Milano. Growth came despite challenging economic conditions in the Middle East, its largest market, and tough year-on-year comparisons.
Donna Karan/DKNY fragrance sales, meanwhile, fell 9% in the third quarter following double-digit growth in the second quarter. Interparfums attributed the decline to the timing of product innovation and delayed giftset shipments. Despite the setback, sales for the first nine months remained up 4%.
Ferragamo was the weakest performer among the highlighted brands, with fragrance sales declining 22% in the third quarter. The company attributed the drop primarily to the timing of product innovation and challenging market conditions in Europe, the brand's core region. Nine-month sales were down 2%.
Supply Chain and Geopolitical Pressures
Interparfums said supply-chain disruptions delayed giftset shipments for selected brands, pushing approximately $10 million in sales into the fourth quarter. Excluding the delayed shipments, third-quarter sales from its US-based operations would have been flat rather than down 7%. On the same adjusted basis, nine-month sales growth would have reached 6%, compared with the reported 3%.
The ongoing war in the Middle East also weighed on performance, representing an estimated 1% headwind to third-quarter sales and a 2% impact over the first nine months.
Foreign exchange movements provided mixed effects. The average dollar-euro exchange rate generated a 0.4% foreign exchange loss in the third quarter, while the first nine months benefited from a 1.5% gain.
Outlook: Holiday Season and 2027 Launches
Chairman and CEO Jean Madar said the company remained encouraged by its business trajectory despite challenging market conditions, pointing to the strength of key brands and the potential contribution of new launches and brand additions.
Interparfums is preparing for the 2026 holiday season and a series of launches planned for 2027. The recovery in Coach and Montblanc, alongside the return to growth at Lacoste, offers positive momentum, although the contrasting performances across the portfolio underline the importance of continued product innovation and regional diversification.
The company's next major test will be converting delayed fourth-quarter shipments into sales while sustaining momentum across its leading fragrance franchises.
