This Month in Fragrance: July 2019
Here is a selection of recent fragrance news:
Fragrance tech
In partnership with IBM, flavors and fragrance maker Symrise has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform called Philyra that draws on an abundance of information and learns from real-time consumer preferences to help perfumers create new fragrances faster. “AI algorithms like Philyra, by essence, are constantly learning – from industry trends, regional preferences and existing combinations. With this wealth of information, the professionals utilize the potential of big data to explore wider routes for creation,” explains Claire Viola, vice president of digital strategy fragrance at Symrise, in a media release about the company’s new technology.
“We see great potential in this new technology,” Viola tells the press. “The fragrance market is highly competitive,” she says, “and companies are searching for novelty and speed to differentiate themselves. Philyra works today on alcoholic fragrances, yet it can be extended to other scented product categories such as deodorants, skincare or detergents.”
Throughout June Philyra was in Berlin, working with shoppers at the BIKINI shopping mall and senior perfumer Marc vom Ende to create a new fragrance for the city.
Acquisition deal
Near the end of July, Givaudan announced that it will be acquiring the multinational perfume house Drom. The deal is set to close in Q3 of this year. And commenting on the deal in a company press release, Maurizio Volpi, president of Givaudan’s fragrance division has this to say: “Drom is a much-respected international fragrance house that has developed a strong customer base, in particular with local and regional customers, thanks to their creativity and excellent service levels. The complementary nature of both businesses will further enhance our capabilities in serving customers across all segments and geographies.” Read more here on Cosmetics Design-Europe.
Packaging plan
Albéa recently published a first sustainability report, which includes a plan to achieve a circular packaging strategy—that is a strategy where no material goes to waste. The plan consists of 5 priorities: reduce the amount of packaging material used, reuse the material that is used, recycle as much as possible, use post-consumer recycled materials, and take advantages of new bio-based material options.
Albéa’ CSR manager Adue Charbonneaux authored a section of the Responsible Packaging report and points to the company’s “spiral fragrance pump as well as refillable compacts and lipsticks,” as the sorts of reusable packaging options luxury customers can select from. Read more here on Cosmetics Design.
Design approach
In July, “the SC Johnson-owned soap brand method [became] the first personal care brand to license art work from Minted, a design platform that uses data to sell art and graphic design by independent creative professionals worldwide,” as Cosmetics Design reported. The limited-edition collection created out of the Minted collaboration isn’t solely about packaging. The team at method also blended new scents to correspond with each design.
Display time
At the Indie Beauty Innovators awards event in Las Vegas, Nevada, last month, ICMAD recognized Raw Spirit Inc and the brand’s Wild Spirit Discovery Set with their 2019 Fragrance award. Read a bit more about the brand here on Cosmetics Design, and about the 2019 IBI awards here on Cosmetics Design.
And at this year’s Project Beauty Expo event, the discovery show created by and for women of color, fragrance brands like Bailly will be on display for media, influencers, and consumers. Read more about PBE, which takes place in LA this September, here on Cosmetics Design.
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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.
