From time to time, it is worthwhile to take stock of what we have learned in the flavor and fragrance industry during our 20 years of experience. We have learned that:
l This is a very complex and competitive industry consisting of a great number of manufacturers of essential oils, aroma chemicals, flavor and fragrance blends/compounds, which is not dominated by one or two companies;
l Aroma chemicals are mostly commodity fine chemicals (with, however, some notable exceptions), usually interchangeable for most important uses, sold to specifications for what they contain chemically, but with an added specification for odor;
l Flavor and fragrance compounds are mixtures of chemicals and natural products designed to solve specific customer problems, usually not interchangeable for most important uses;
