Unilever opens India fragrance hub to enhance global capabilities

By Alessandro Carrara | Published: 4-Jun-2026
Research & Development Finance

The new Unilever Fragrance House in Mumbai, India, forms part of the British conglomerate’s €100 million global investment to advance its in-house fragrance creation capabilities

Unilever has opened a new fragrance hub in Mumbai, India, as part of a strategic investment in the British consumer giant’s global capabilities.

The new Unilever Fragrance House (UFH), located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Powai, will combine consumer insight, advanced science and artificial intelligence (AI) to create premium products.

The investment is said to reflect the Dove-owner’s focus on building brands that combine “science, aesthetics and sensorial superiority”.

Have you launched an innovative product, brand or campaign in the past 12 months? Then you could be in with a chance of winning at this year's new and improved Pure Beauty Awards 2026. Click here for more information.

It also represents the latest milestone in Unilever’s €100m global investment to advance its in-house fragrance creation capabilities and support product premiumisation.

“Fragrance is one of the most powerful ways we create desire for our brands,” said Jane Maciver, incoming Head of Unilever Fragrance House.

“It shapes first impressions, influences product preference and helps turn everyday routines into memorable experiences.

“The new India hub strengthens our ability to combine science, creativity and digital technology to create fragrances that are locally relevant, globally scalable and developed faster than ever before.

“It is an important step in building the capabilities that will help Unilever deliver desire at scale.”

The 400sqm lab houses a fully integrated fragrance creation, application and evaluation facility, combining proprietary creation software and real-time evaluation data capture.

It is said to enable teams to design, test and refine fragrances end-to-end, as well as collaborate with other Unilever fragrance hubs globally, with the other two buildings located in the UK and US.

The space also allows Unilever to simulate local market conditions in real time to create fragrances that are designed to meet local consumer expectations.

Vibhav Sanzgiri, Chief R&D Officer, India, added: “India is one of the most exciting growth markets in the world, with rapidly evolving consumer tastes and growing demand for premium fragrance experiences.

“This new capability helps us stay closer to our consumers, move faster from insight to innovation, and create fragrances that make our brands more distinctive, desirable and relevant.”

Unilever’s new fragrance hub has opened during a time of massive investment in India from the beauty industry in 2026.

Global brands have set their sights on the country, including make-up giant Charlotte Tilbury, which opened its first-ever flagship boutique in partnership with Indian beauty retailer Nykaa.

Unilever has also invested in perfume brand Secret Alchemist and skin care brand SkinInspired in January.

Estée Lauder Companies also acquired skin care businesses Forest Essentials in March as part of a “long-term commitment to India”.

Plus, L’Oréal India is allegedly in talks to take a majority stake in beauty company Innovist.

Related content: 

See more

You may also like

Manufacturing

Unilever invests $270 million in new Global Innovation Centre to speed up beauty R&D

Read more
The consumer goods giant’s new artificial intelligence-led innovation hub in Connecticut, US, is set to open in 2029, housing new technologies which Unilever claims will drive scale and speed-to-market for its beauty brands

Trending Articles

  1. LVMH names former Lancôme executive President of Sephora Collection Sylvia Tournery, former Global Deputy General Manager of L’Oréal-owned Lancôme, has been appointed President of LVMH’s Sephora Collection to drive its ‘next phase of growth’
  2. Puig mulled ‘arrangement’ with Kering before Estée Lauder Companies merger talks Puig had explored a potential ‘long-term licensing arrangement’ with Kering that did not come to fruition, which had occurred prior to Estée Lauder Companies proposing a merger with the Spanish giant, which was recently terminated
  3. Waldencast offloads Obagi Medical for $460 million to focus on Milk Makeup The deal with Bridgepoint follows a strategic review of Waldencast’s business, leaving it with a stronger balance sheet to grow Milk Makeup
  4. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    Is Superdrug-owner AS Watson gearing up for a $30 billion dual IPO? The owner of beauty retailers Superdrug and The Perfume Shop would allegedly raise around $2 billion by floating on stock exchange firms in London, UK, and Hong Kong, China
  5. IFF to sell food ingredients business for $4.3 billion The deal with private equity firm CVC for its food division will see the flavours and fragrance company focus on the core parts of its business instead, including scent

Upcoming event

Anti-Ageing Skin Care Conference

23-24 June 2026 | London, UK See all

You may also like

Manufacturing

Unilever invests $270 million in new Global Innovation Centre to speed up beauty R&D

The consumer goods giant’s new artificial intelligence-led innovation hub in Connecticut, US, is set to open in 2029, housing new technologies which Unilever claims will drive scale and speed-to-market for its beauty brands
Distribution

Unilever completes £150 million investment in Port Sunlight to ‘strengthen’ UK supply chain

The British consumer goods giant has finalised a £150 million investment into its UK strategic hub Port Sunlight, including manufacturing upgrades across its home care operations and a new advanced automated distribution centre
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Research & Development

How Unilever is using AI to become the ‘superior’ beauty player in 2026

Unilever has been quick to onboard artificial intelligence (AI) into its Research and Development (R&D) team. Jason Harcup, Chief R&D Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing, provides a deep dive into how AI is giving an edge to the British conglomerate in the cutthroat beauty industry
Finance

Unilever reports stable Q1 in first update since food division divestment

Volume growth was led by Unilever’s Power Brands, a group of 30 core companies, including Dove, Vaseline and Sunsilk, that contribute 75% of sales for the British consumer goods goliath
Skin Care

Analysis: Is Unilever right to pin all its hopes on beauty?

After completing a staggering $44.8 billion deal to sell its food business, Unilever is betting all of its chips on beauty, personal care and wellness. But is this the right move for the conglomerate, and what does its future hold?
Hair Care

K18 appoints Shark Beauty’s Kleona Mack as CMO

Mack joins the Unilever-owned biotech hair care brand with multiple years experience in beauty marketing, including previous roles with Glossier, L’Oréal and Shark Beauty
Finance

Unilever to buy US supplement brand Grüns as it doubles down on wellbeing

The British consumer goods company is acquiring the American green supplements brand to enhance its beauty and wellbeing offering in the US market, with the deal expected to close later this year
Subscribe now