L’Oréal is investing in new 'green science' extraction methods and signature fragrance palettes in a move to cement its reputation as a luxury perfume powerhouse.
The French beauty conglomerate gave Cosmetics Business an insight into the research taking place within its in-house olfactive department during its The Art & Science of Fragrance event at Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France, earlier this month.
Hosted by L’Oréal’s Luxe Division – which has licensing deals to develop fragrances for 10 luxury brands, including Maison Margiela, Viktor & Rolf and YSL – it revealed the secret sauce to its perfume-making recipe and innovation set to come.
It is a timely move for the group when L’Oréal’s Luxe has been named the global leader in sales for luxury beauty – surpassing rival Estée Lauder Companies – with revenue surging 4.5% to €14.92bn in 2023.
Meanwhile, fragrance boasted the fastest-growing sales of all L’Oréal product categories during this time.
It is an unprecedented moment in perfumery
Premiumisation is said to be behind the luxury fragrance category’s surge as consumers increasingly value and seek out high-quality perfumes, especially exclusive lines like Armani's Privé, Maison Margiela's Replica and Le Vestiaire by Yves Saint Laurent Beauté.
“Scent is a fantastic lever for premiumisation – for elevation of all categories of products,” Karine Lebret, Global Vice President Scent Science & Fragrance Design at L'Oréal Groupe, told Cosmetics Business.
“Consumers today are now educated enough to choose the quality of ingredients before the code or the name of a perfume.
“And it is a new era in perfumery – in terms of palette and ingredients.”
One of the Luxe Division’s fragrance manufacturing plants in Aulnay-Sous-Bois, France, produces, on average, 100,000 finished units per week to keep up with demand.
L'Oréal's exclusive green science-based extraction machine Osmobloom
Taking ingredients to the next level
Advancements in green sciences – the application of eco-friendly thinking to scientific disciplines – will play an important role in the Luxe Division’s ongoing mission to ensure its “juices” are “technically superior” to
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