Perfumer & Flavorist

ScentFest SF Makes a Big First Impression

More than 4,000 fragrance lovers, 100+ niche brands and a who’s who of perfumery converged in San Francisco for the inaugural ScentFest SF, signaling the growing appetite—and cultural momentum—behind independent and niche fragrance.

From Piña Colada to Electric Daisy: The New Faces of Gourmand Scents and Flavors

Effects that expand the boundaries of flavor and fragrance creation.

Research suggests that odors below the threshold of conscious detection can still shape perception, influence behavior and alter emotional responses.

The Invisible Influence: Why Subthreshold Odors Deserve More Attention

Seemingly innocuous components can elevate a product, but they have the potential to tarnish it too.

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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

Consumers' proactive approach to health is unlocking vast market opportunities, but it comes with a dramatic twist for product formulators. For decades, flavor was an uncompromisable king; however, today's health-conscious public is opening the door to distinct sensory trade-offs.

The Sweet Compromise: How the Longevity Boom Is Rewriting the Rules of Flavor Development

The work identified molecular weight, size, shape and polarity as the dominant drivers separating weak from powerful odorants—findings that align with long-established mass-transport principles governing volatility, sorption and receptor access.

AI Takes on Odor Strength: New Study Maps the Molecular Drivers of Fragrance Impact

By combining capabilities in skin science, microbiome research and functional health ingredients, the division is designed to help customers create “inside-out” and holistic care solutions.

Inside-Out Care: Symrise Launches Division Linking Beauty, Wellness and Biotics

People describe 'vanilla' the same way whether they're smelling it or tasting it. Most AI flavor models are trained on exactly this kind of descriptive data—language that collapses two distinct neurological experiences into a single word. The models don't know the difference. Neither, in most cases, do the datasets.

Mapping the Global Senses (Part 3 of 3): Flavors Meet the Machines

Between June 30 and July 13, 2026, I travelled almost 4,000 km through Assam and Nagaland—by train, car, rickshaw, motorcycle and bicycle, and many more on foot—for my Ph.D. research, “Designing Transformative Tourism Experiences: Agarwood, Territory and Heritage in Assam (India).”

Sanchi, the Wood of Transformation

In this field report from Assam, India, author David Hidalgo explores the journey from a larva moving through a living Aquilaria tree to an oud oil valued at as much as $80,000 per liter and inviting questions about what the fragrance market ultimately calls oud.

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Amandolide: Musky, Powdery Depth with Earthy-Mossy Appeal

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Seatolide: Musky, Powdery Powerhouse with Ambrette Appeal

'Leipzig and Miltitz have set new standards in the history of our industry,' vom Ende said. 'Tapping into this potential and developing it further using modern tools is one of the most exciting tasks I can imagine.'

Marc vom Ende Joins Bell’s Leipzig Perfumery Team

The company also plans to explore AI as a complementary tool for formulation and decision-making.

Pr Oct ' Phy Prop

Phenethyl Propionate: A Floral-Fruity Lift

In her new role, Cruz will lead executive coordination and member outreach, while taking on a larger role in event operations and management.

Fragrance Creators Association Promotes Emily Cruz to Manager, Executive Operations and Events

Cruz joined FCA in 2023 as coordinator of executive communications and has played a key role in the association's event activity.

Descriptions of individual molecules may provide useful information about how those molecules will contribute to the perceived similarity or difference between mixtures.

Monell Researchers Help Build a New AI Framework for Predicting How Smells Mix

Can a machine understand whether two complex smells will be perceived as similar?

Sclareol is an important intermediate used to produce amber fragrance ingredients, including dsm-firmenich's Ambrox Super. dsm-firmenich says it holds patents and proprietary know-how covering sclareol production and related derivatives, and is seeking to protect those rights as biotech-based production becomes increasingly important to the fragrance industry.

dsm-firmenich Files China Patent Case Over Biotech Sclareol Production

Sclareol is an important intermediate used to produce amber fragrance ingredients, including Ambrox Super.

The company said the timing reflects the completion of the dsm-firmenich merger and the establishment of its strategic direction, while allowing Leysen to devote more time to his other corporate and nonprofit roles.

dsm-firmenich Proposes Richard Ridinger as New Chairman

The timing reflects the completion of the dsm-firmenich merger and the establishment of its strategic direction.

The company expects the early return of its Gucci Beauty license to Kering to create a sales and profit step-down in FY28, but said it is developing measures to moderate the impact. These include accelerating core brands, expanding newer portfolio additions such as Marc Jacobs Beauty makeup and fragrances from Swarovski, Etro and Marni, and implementing a significant fixed-cost reduction program.

Coty Returns to Sales Growth in Q4 as Fragrance, Cosmetics and Americas Lead; Names Soraya Benchikh CFO

Coty said FY27 will focus on strengthening its core business, simplifying the portfolio and improving consumer engagement.

Luxury fragrance was particularly strong, with double-digit growth across the portfolio led by Le Labo, Tom Ford and Kilian Paris.

Estée Lauder’s Fiscal 2026 Results: Fragrance Leads a Broader Beauty Recovery

"Our One ELC operating model is increasingly enabling the entire organization to move at speed and with discipline.”