News | Perfumer & Flavorist

Overall, this year’s Esxence signaled a category at a crossroads: expanding rapidly in scale and creativity, but increasingly challenged by oversaturation and the need to sustain meaning in an overcrowded fragrance landscape.

Esxence 2026: “Sensing the World” Signals a New Era of Scale, Storytelling, and Scent Saturation in Artistic Perfumery

Brands leaned heavily into immersive activation strategies to drive engagement.

From Soil to Scent: Indesso’s Responsible Patchouli Journey

From Soil to Scent: Indesso’s Responsible Patchouli Journey

At Indesso, patchouli sourcing is guided by three pillars: traceability, environmental stewardship, and social empowerment. Together, these ensure that every drop delivers not only olfactory richness, but also integrity.

More than 200 guests attended the White House event, while FCA's Capitol Hill activation, themed 'The Scent of Innovation,' attracted more than 350 lawmakers, staffers and industry representatives.

FCA Brings Fragrance Innovation to the White House in Landmark Policy Push

FCA used the event to advocate for science-based regulatory frameworks that can accelerate the commercialization of new fragrance technologies.

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Webinar: Understanding GRAS, Navigating the Future of Food Ingredients

Webinar: Understanding GRAS, Navigating the Future of Food Ingredients

Hosted by the Fragrance Alliance Network and organized by museum scent consultants Liam R. Findlay (AromaPrime; pictured) and Sofia Collette Ehrich (The Olfactory Contractor), the event will feature six presentations and an expert panel examining how scent can enhance historical interpretation, deepen emotional engagement, and create more memorable visitor experiences.

Using Smells in Museums Event Highlights Growing Role of Scent in Cultural Storytelling

The new Mumbai hub reflects the strategic importance of fragrance to Unilever's premiumization agenda.

As Beauty Becomes the Focus, Unilever Invests in AI-Powered Fragrance Innovation in India

The American Society of Perfumers (ASP) will present its prestigious Lambert Service Award to Paula Kundu at the World Perfumery Congress 2026, recognizing her leadership, volunteerism, and long-standing contributions to the global fragrance community.

ASP to Honor Paula Kundu with 2026 Lambert Service Award at World Perfumery Congress

From left: Luzi CEO Roland Altenburger and board member Iris Altenburger, Ph.D.

Luzi Marks 100 Years With Exclusive Rose Variety Developed Over Three Years With Meilland

Rose 1926 combines fresh blooming rose notes with facets of passion fruit, pear, peach and Earl Grey tea.

Robertet plans to leverage the upgraded network to advance Industry 4.0 initiatives, including real-time data integration across manufacturing, logistics, ERP and business intelligence systems, while ensuring the quality and traceability standards required in global ingredient production.

Robertet Powers AI-Driven Fragrance Innovation With Global Network Overhaul

The enhanced connectivity will also support Robertet's AI-driven innovation efforts, including NaturIA.

The deal marks both Samyang Group’s first acquisition of a Japanese company and its first overseas operating base secured through M&A in the food sector.

Samyang Makes Bold F&F Play With $285M Acquisition of Japan’s Soda Aromatic

The deal marks both Samyang Group’s first acquisition of a Japanese company and its first overseas operating base secured through M&A in the food sector.

Elevating the Taste Experience with BioSymphony™

Elevating the Taste Experience with BioSymphony™

Designed to meet growing consumer demand for natural, clean-label ingredients, BioSymphony™ is an innovative portfolio of natural flavors crafted directly from nature’s finest ingredients.

By exiting large-scale food ingredients manufacturing, IFF is stepping away from lower-margin, more commoditized adjacency and concentrating capital and R&D firepower into areas where differentiation is driven by biology, chemistry and formulation science rather than volume scale.

IFF Sells Food Ingredients Business, Sharpening Focus on Taste, Scent & Biosciences as Portfolio Resets Around Higher-Margin Growth

IFF is stepping away from lower-margin, more commoditized adjacency and concentrating on areas where differentiation is driven by biology, chemistry and formulation science.

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Bath & Body Works Keeps Winning the 'Little Luxury' Economy

Consumers may be trading down on big-ticket discretionary purchases, but many are still spending on emotionally rewarding, accessible luxuries.

Unilever’s New Haven announcement reads as both a long-term innovation play and a clear strategic signal: the company wants to be viewed increasingly as a science-led beauty and well-being company rather than a traditional packaged foods conglomerate.

Unilever Bets Big on Beauty Science With $270M Innovation Hub as Food Divestiture Questions Swirl

Unilever said proximity to academic institutions and scientific talent was central to the decision.

Scope 3 pressure is reshaping the future of flavor and fragrance—and the companies that move first will define the next era of sustainable innovation.

BASF Webinar: The New Carbon Playbook for Flavor & Fragrance

This is a must-attend session for understanding how climate targets are becoming competitive advantage.

A technical role is centered on personal output and problem-solving. A management role is centered on people. It requires setting direction, giving feedback, managing performance and creating an environment where others can succeed.

From Bench to Boss: Why Technical Experts Struggle in Management Roles

If someone is excellent at their job, managing people is the natural next step. It often isn’t.

Patina sees its long-term vision as building a “Pantone for scent”—a universal system of primary scent building blocks that can be used to construct any fragrance or flavor on demand.

Patina Raises $2M to Build a “Pantone for Scent” Using AI-Driven Molecular Design

Patina envisions a future where scent and flavor can be designed on demand, allowing perfumers and brands to compose fragrances with the same precision as digital media.

ELC will refocus on its ongoing initiatives following the end of talks with Puig.

What Happened with Estée Lauder-Puig?

Despite the setback, Estée Lauder remains open to future acquisitions that satisfy its financial requirements.

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NJ FoodTech 2026 to Spotlight AI, Alternative Proteins, Nutrition Innovation and Food Industry Investment Trends

Programming will include panels and discussions covering venture investment trends, regulatory compliance and food safety.