Exhibit 99.1


            E COM VENTURES, INC. SIGNS A LETTER OF INTENT TO ACQUIRE
                    FRAGRANCE RETAILER, SCENTS OF WORTH, INC.


SUNRISE,  FLORIDA  September 17, 2003. E COM VENTURES,  INC. ("ECOM V") (NASDAQ:
ECMV)  announced  today  that it has  signed a  non-binding  letter of intent to
acquire all of the outstanding  capital stock of Scents of Worth,  Inc. ("Scents
of  Worth"),  a retailer of fine  fragrances,  with gross  sales  exceeding  $70
million  during its last  fiscal  year,  and having  over 3,000  kiosks in major
national retailers,  such as, Kmart,  Burlington,  Loehmanns and Filenes. ECOM V
will not be acquiring the accounts  receivable  of Scents of Worth,  Inc. in the
acquisition.  Glenn  and  Stephen  Nussdorf  (the  "Nussdorfs")  together  own a
majority   interest  in  the  parent  of  Scents  of  Worth  and   together  own
approximately 16% of ECOM V's outstanding common stock.

Ilia  Lekach,  Chairman  and CEO of ECOM V, the  parent of  fragrance  retailer,
Perfumania,  Inc ("Perfumania"),  commented,  "This is a terrific opportunity to
continue growth as a major player in the US fragrance industry.  The acquisition
of Scents of Worth will enhance our  relationship  with  suppliers  and provides
economies of scale for our fixed  expenses.  We expect the  acquisition  to have
financial, operational and strategic benefits for our company."

Michael Katz, Executive Vice-President of Scents of Worth, said, "We are excited
by the opportunity to create one of the largest fragrance  retailers in the U.S.
with the marketing,  merchandising,  and  operational  expertise of the combined
entity."

The letter of intent is not  binding on the  parties  and is subject to numerous
conditions,  including the negotiation and execution of a definitive acquisition
agreement,  the completion of due diligence, the absence of any material adverse
change in ECOM V's or Scents of Worth's business,  assets or prospects,  and the
approval of the transaction by the independent members of the Board of Directors
of ECOM V.  Due to the  upcoming  Holiday  season,  and the  time  necessary  to
complete due diligence and the  preparation of the final  acquisition  documents
and to satisfy closing  conditions,  an anticipated closing date is set for late
February 2004, although no assurance can be given.

ECOM V also announced today in a separate press release that it has entered into
a letter of intent to acquire  certain of the  assets of  fragrance  wholesaler,
Quality King Fragrance, Inc. ("QKF"), an affiliate of Scents of Worth.

In connection  with the evaluation of the Scents of Worth and QKF  acquisitions,
ECOM V, the  Nussdorfs,  Scents of Worth,  QKF and the parent of Scents of Worth
and QKF have entered into an agreement not to disclose information  exchanged in
connection with that evaluation and not to use confidential  information  except
for  purposes  of that  evaluation.  In  addition,  ECOM V has agreed to pay the



Nussdorfs and the Nussdorfs  have agreed to pay ECOM V a fee of  $1,000,000,  if
ECOM V or the  Nussdorfs,  respectively,  agree to any  proposal  received on or
before February 28, 2004 regarding a transaction  with a third party involving a
sale by ECOM V, Scents of Worth or QKF of their  fragrance  businesses  or which
would prevent, prohibit or interfere with the possible acquisitions or result in
material  changes  to the  fragrance  businesses  of  ECOM  V or  the  fragrance
businesses of Scents of Worth or QKF, respectively,  or their respective values,
financial conditions or prospects.

ECOM  V,  through  its  subsidiary,   Perfumania,  is  a  retailer  of  prestige
fragrances.

This press release includes information presented which contains forward-looking
information,  including  statements regarding the benefits of the acquisition of
Scents of Worth and the  anticipated  closing  date of such  acquisition.  These
comments  constitute  forward-looking  statements  (within  the  meaning  of the
Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995),  which involve  significant
risks  and  uncertainties.   Actual  results  may  differ  materially  from  the
information  discussed in these  forward-looking  statements.  Among the factors
that could cause actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially
from  those  described  or  implied in the  forward-looking  statements  are the
ability to satisfy the conditions contained in the letter of intent, the ability
to  complete  the  acquisition,  on a  timely  basis,  or at  all,  and  if  the
acquisition is completed, the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the
acquisition,  general  economic  conditions,  future  trends in sales,  ECOM V's
ability to introduce new products in a  cost-effective  manner and other factors
included in E COM V's  filings  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.
Readers  are  cautioned  not to place undue  reliance  on these  forward-looking
statements,  which  speak  only as of the date  thereof.  ECOM V  undertakes  no
obligation   to  publicly   release  the  result  of  any   revisions  to  these
forward-looking  statements that may be made to reflect events or  circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


Perfumania  is a trademark  of  Perfumania,  Inc. All other  trademarks  are the
property of their respective owners.


FOR:       E COM VENTURES, INC.
CONTACT:   Ilia Lekach 954-335-9160
           Mark Young 954-335-9030



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