Flavor | Perfumer & Flavorist

Rather than simply replicating traditional alcoholic drinks, flavor development is increasingly focused on creating layered, contemporary profiles that deliver complexity, refreshment and sensory depth without relying on alcohol itself.

The New Rules of Flavor in Low- and No-Alcohol Drinks

RTD and spirits-style applications are being reinvented with layered, contemporary profiles.

For flavorists and product developers working across milk, cheese, yogurt and plant-based alternatives, navigating this landscape requires balancing strict functional demands with a non-negotiable prerequisite: taste remains the primary driver of consumer purchase decisions.

Formulating the Future of Dairy: 4 Essential Mandates for Product Developers and Flavorists

PLUS: New Dairy Flavor (and Fragrance) Tools.

Canned cocktails are just one manifestation of the shakeup reinventing RTD beverage alcohol.

From Spritz to Sizzle: Flavor-Forward Innovation Reshapes the RTD Alcohol Boom [Forward Thinking]

Flavor-forward innovation is shaping the RTD landscape, spanning spritzes, tea cocktails, nostalgic hard sodas, elevated RTS formats, tequila drinks, and next-gen beer and flavored malt beverages.

Read the latest issue

Most healthier-formulation projects fail not on nutrition but on sensory outcome, because the ingredients being reduced were doing far more sensory work than their labels suggest.

The Reformulation Paradox: Making Food Healthier Without Losing the Taste

Bringing more than three decades of global leadership experience in the food, beverage and health sectors, Shewchuk will oversee Kalsec's global commercial strategy, customer experience and growth initiatives across the Americas, EMEA and APAC.

Kalsec Names Greg Shewchuk Chief Commercial Officer to Drive Global Growth

The EFEO 2027 board gathered with various other attendees.

[PHOTOS] EFEO Meeting Report: Essential Oils Industry Rallies Ahead of 2029 Regulatory Deadline

'[R]etaining this next generation will depend on continuing to position flavor science as a field where individuals can combine scientific excellence with creativity and real-world impact, shaping how consumers experience food in ways that improve both health and sustainability,' says John Savage, IOFI president and president and CEO of Taste at Kerry.

Leading Through Change: Kerry's John Savage on IOFI, the Future of Flavor and More

By combining Arzeda's protein engineering platform with Mane's manufacturing footprint and flavor expertise, the companies aim to deliver a scalable, cost-competitive natural sweetening solution for food and beverage manufacturers seeking to reduce sugar without compromising taste.

Mane Locks Up Exclusive Global Rights to AI-Powered Reb M

Mane will oversee production, formulation, application development and global commercialization of ViaLeaf Reb M.

The deal establishes FlavorSum's new West Coast Innovation Center in Brea, California, expands its North American manufacturing footprint and adds powdered flavor capabilities to complement its existing strengths in beverages, bakery, dairy, sports nutrition, gummies and better-for-you applications.

FlavorSum Expands Again, Acquires S&S Flavors to Add West Coast Innovation Hub and Powdered Flavor Expertise

FlavorSum continues to broaden its technical expertise, geographic reach and application capabilities.

For decades, the flavor and fragrance industry has operated within a relatively stable classification system. Ingredients were broadly categorized as natural extracts, fermentation-derived materials or synthetically produced molecules. These distinctions were largely sufficient when production routes were clearly separated and molecular identity aligned closely with manufacturing method. However, these boundaries are becoming increasingly difficult to define.

When the Molecule Is the Same, but the Label Isn't: How 'Natural' Keeps Its Edge

How maturing biocatalytic production routes are reshaping long-standing distinctions between “synthetic” and “natural” aroma ingredients in the flavor and fragrance industry.

The company provides 100% natural, additive-free raw materials for the flavor, fragrance and food industries, including tonka beans, copaiba balsam, cinchona bark, Perú balsam, styrax, sesame seeds and mung beans.

Avilan Earns EcoVadis Platinum Medal, Elevating Sustainability Credentials

Avilan said it will continue investing in initiatives designed to reduce environmental impact, strengthen ethical supply chains and create long-term value for customers.

A €5,000 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award will also recognize an outstanding final-year doctoral researcher. The winner will present their work at the annual Savory Flavor & Food Industry Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, connecting with potential employers and industry leaders.

Flavor’s Next Generation: Giract Opens 17th Annual European Ph.D. Flavor Research Awards

The 2026/2027 edition will award six €3,000 bursaries to first-year Ph.D. students conducting research in flavor science, technology, chemistry and related fields.

'Looking ahead, Takasago’s 'Technology for the Future' will drive innovation and strengthen our position in the flavor industry,' says Satoshi Masumura, chairman and CEO of Takasago.

Beyond Taste Q&A: How Takasago Is Redefining Flavor Innovation Through Technology and Sustainability

From AI to upcycled ingredients: Takasago's approach to reinventing how the world tastes.

A May 2026 forecast from De Monchy predicts a further 12.9% reduction in the Brazilian orange crop, marking the sixth consecutive small harvest heavily impacted by greening.

Navigating Feedstock Shocks, Climate Disruption and Regulatory Fragmentation in Global Aroma Chemicals

Naphtha shortages, citrus disease, and geopolitical turmoil collide to reshape aroma chemical sourcing.

CEO Mike Size is expanding the company’s supplier alliance strategy to accelerate innovation, shorten lead times and bring next-generation ingredients to market faster.

From Supplier to Strategic Partner: Inside Penta’s Growth Playbook with Greg Robertson and Mike Size

How one ingredient supplier is transforming itself into a strategic powerhouse through supply chain innovation and customer integration.

ClearIQ is a natural flavor technology that helps improve taste, enhance mouthfeel, support sugar reduction and clean up challenging flavor profiles without adding unwanted flavor of its own.

Can Mushroom Mycelia Fix the Biggest Taste Problems in Functional Foods? MycoTechnology Explains.

Improving taste, enhancing mouthfeel, supporting sugar reduction and cleaning up challenging flavor profiles is within reach.

In practical terms, businesses are looking for flavorists, application scientists, sensory specialists and formulation experts who can work with stevia variants, Reb M, thaumatin, sweet proteins, sweetness enhancers, bitterness blockers, masking systems, fibers, fats and texturants to rebuild a complete product experience.

Five Specialist Skills Driving Real Hiring Activity in Flavor and Fragrance

Pet food, fragrance compliance and texture innovation are reshaping F&F hiring priorities right now.

Flavor is now engineered as an integrated, multi-sensory system where taste, mouthfeel, and texture function as a unified matrix.

The New Era of Flavor Leadership

Executives are aggressively redefining how flavor innovation drives commercial value in a volatile market.

Across the board, consumers are looking for multi-sensorial experiences. So much of life is consumed via screens now that people crave fully engaging, elevated sensory experiences whenever possible. We are not only considering taste, but also texture, mouthfeel, color, aroma and more.

Sensient’s Flavor Playbook for a Rapidly Evolving Food Industry