Givaudan
Givaudan is the world's largest flavors and fragrances company, supplying customized fragrance compounds and taste solutions to consumer goods manufacturers including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. It operates two divisions—Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing—across 167 global locations with CHF 7.47 billion in 2025 sales.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1895
- HeadquartersVernier, Switzerland
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Givaudan does
Givaudan SA, headquartered in Vernier, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker: GIVN), is the world's largest flavors and fragrances company with approximately 11% global market share. Founded in 1895 and operating for over 250 years when including predecessor heritage, Givaudan generated CHF 7,472 million in 2025 sales across two divisions: Fragrance & Beauty (CHF 3,830 million) and Taste & Wellbeing (CHF 3,642 million). The company employs approximately 17,500-17,580 staff across 167 locations including 77 production sites globally, with operations spanning Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa.
The company develops customized fragrance and flavor compounds rather than finished consumer products, supplying major consumer goods manufacturers including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and PepsiCo. Core technology platforms include the Scentaurus™ family of fragrance precursors (triggered by oxygen, light, or humidity for long-lasting scent delivery), the Carto AI-powered fragrance design system processing hundreds of thousands of compounds, the Myrissi AI emotion-mapping platform, the ChériScentz™ neuroscience-based fragrance design tool, and a broad active beauty ingredients portfolio (PrimalHyal™, Evernityl™, Silk-iCare™, Neuroglow™). The Taste & Wellbeing division delivers flavors via TasteSolutions®, TasteCollections®, and TasteEssentials®, alongside natural colors (Sense Colour, Everzure™ Galdieria) and texture solutions (Green Banana Powder). R&D spend reached CHF 551 million (7.4% of sales) in 2025, supported by 65 creation and research centres and over 5,000 patents.
Givaudan generates revenue through negotiated B2B contracts with long-term supply relationships, organized by use case: Consumer Products (personal care, fabric care, home care, oral care), Fine Fragrances (luxury/celebrity), Active Beauty (cosmetic actives), and Food & Beverage Manufacturers (snacks, beverages, dairy, savory, sweet goods, supplements, pet food). Distribution is via direct B2B supply through the company's own global manufacturing footprint. Strategic positioning emphasizes sustainability leadership (100% renewable electricity, CDP A for 7 consecutive years, MSCI ESG AAA since 2017), proprietary talent pipelines through the Perfumery and Flavourist Schools, and active M&A (Belle Aire Creations, Vollmens Fragrances, Eurofragance) to deepen regional fragrance presence.
Givaudan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Givaudan
- Legal name
- Givaudan SA
- Website
- https://givaudan.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1895
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Givaudan is the world's largest flavors and fragrances company, supplying customized fragrance compounds and taste solutions to consumer goods manufacturers including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. It operates two divisions—Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing—across 167 global locations with CHF 7.47 billion in 2025 sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Givaudan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fragrances and Flavors
- NAICS
- Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends) (CRADAOAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fine Fragrance (Women’s/Men’s/Unisex) (CRABADAA), Personal Fragrances (Perfume, Cologne, Body Sprays) (CRADANAD)
Keywords
Where Givaudan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vernier
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Givaudan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fragrance & Beauty: Revenue from creating and supplying fragrances for fine fragrances, consumer products (personal care, fabric care, home care, oral care), fragrance ingredients, and Active Beauty cosmetic ingredients. Division generated CHF 3,830 million in 2025 sales with 7.9% like-for-like growth.
- Taste & Wellbeing: Revenue from flavors and taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers including snacks, beverages, savory, sweet goods, dairy, cheese, supplements, and pet food. Division generated CHF 3,642 million in 2025 sales with 2.4% like-for-like growth.
- Product Sales (B2B): Primary revenue stream through long-term supply relationships with consumer goods manufacturers. The company sells customized compounds and ingredients rather than finished consumer products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | B2B Customized Compounds - No public pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Givaudan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Givaudan develops, manufactures, and supplies fragrance compounds, flavor ingredients, and active cosmetic ingredients to consumer goods manufacturers worldwide. The company operates two divisions: Fragrance & Beauty (fine fragrances, consumer product fragrances, Active Beauty cosmetic actives) generating CHF 3,830 million in 2025 sales, and Taste & Wellbeing (food and beverage flavors, wellness and health ingredients) generating CHF 3,642 million in 2025 sales. Customers include Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and PepsiCo, served through long-term B2B supply contracts and co-creation partnerships via 77 production sites globally.
Product overview
Givaudan operates as a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing, organized around two main divisions. The Fragrance & Beauty division encompasses Consumer Products (fragrances for personal care, home care, fabric care, oral care), Fine Fragrances (prestige perfumery), Active Beauty (cosmetic ingredients and wellness solutions), and the Fragrance Ingredients Business. The Taste & Wellbeing division provides flavors and taste solutions through TasteSolutions®, TasteCollections, and TasteEssentials® product lines, complemented by health and wellness solutions including Nutri Essentials, Health Essentials, Wellness Essentials, and reduction solutions (salt, sugar, fat). The core technology platform Scentaurus™ provides fragrance precursor technology with multiple variants (Aquamelon, Vanilla, Melrose, PolyDoux, Clean, Juicy, Berry, Tonkarose) enabling long-lasting fragrance delivery. Active Beauty ingredients include PrimalHyal™ 50 Life, PrimalHyal NeuroYouth, Silk-iCare™, Neuroglow™, and Evernityl™ for skin care applications. The company also offers digital experiences including Garden Makers on Roblox and AI-powered platforms like Carto and Myrissi for fragrance development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scentaurus: Family of fragrance precursor technologies that release fragrance molecules when exposed to natural triggers like oxygen, light, or humidity; includes Scentaurus Aquamelon, PolyDoux, Vanilla, Melrose, Tonkarose, Clean, Juicy, and Berry variants
- Active Beauty
- TasteSolutions
- Naturex
- PlanetCaps
Products and services
- Scentaurus™ A platform of fragrance precursor technologies that release fragrant molecules when exposed to natural triggers (oxygen, light, humidity). Enables long-lasting fragrance delivery in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, and body washes. Sold to consumer goods manufacturers for incorporation into finished products.
- Scentaurus™ Aquamelon First fragrance precursor specifically designed for hair care applications. Oxygen-activated innovation delivering a watery green melon and floral muguet accord with high deposition. Biodegradable per OECD guidelines. Sold to personal care manufacturers.
- Scentaurus™ Vanilla Non-colouring elegant vanilla note fragrance precursor activated by oxygen, delivering wave of freshness and long-lasting powdery, creamy vanilla effect.
- Scentaurus™ Melrose Biodegradable fragrance precursor featuring performant floral fresh rosy signal with powdery anisic undertones, triggered by oxygen. Extends perfumers' palette across categories.
- Scentaurus™ PolyDoux Fruity gourmand fragrance precursor unlocking new creative possibilities for personal care applications like shampoos.
- Scentaurus™ Clean Fragrance precursor that unfolds an aldehydic and fresh note in response to air humidity.
- Scentaurus™ Juicy High-impact fruity juiciness fragrance precursor triggered by oxygen.
- Scentaurus™ Berry Fragrance precursor that releases a powerful and long-lasting floral-fruity rosy note on contact with oxygen.
- Scentaurus™ Tonkarose Light, cleavable fragrance precursor releasing two different odourants when activated by light.
- TasteSolutions® Flavor systems that help food and beverage manufacturers create consistent taste profiles across product categories. Assists in reformulating products to reduce sugar and salt while maintaining flavor, especially in plant-based and health-focused foods. Sold to F&B manufacturers.
- PrimalHyal™ 50 Life Transformational sustainability breakthrough in hyaluronic acid production, creating active cosmetic ingredient with reduced environmental impact. Sold to cosmetic and personal care manufacturers.
- PrimalHyal™ NeuroYouth Active skincare ingredient targeting nerve fibre regeneration and neuronal function related to skin aging. Unveiled at in-cosmetics Global 2026. Sold to skincare brands.
- Evernityl™ Active ingredient from marine macroalgae that combats skin ageing and promotes youthful skin, building on research into skin microbiome and metabolites. Sold to skincare manufacturers.
- Silk-iCare™ Vegan biomimetic silk protein designed to protect and repair the skin. Sold to skincare manufacturers.
- Neuroglow™ Breakthrough active ingredient designed to safely replicate molecular power of the sun for skin benefits. Sold to skincare manufacturers.
- Zensera™ Patent-pending lemon-balm extract that supports cognitive performance under stress. Science-backed, clean label ingredient effective at low dose for beverages and dietary supplements. Sold to supplement and beverage manufacturers.
- Green Banana Powder Clean-label upcycled green banana powder that replaces synthetic texturisers, delivering consistent texture and mouthfeel while adding fibre and nutritional appeal to food applications. Sold to food manufacturers.
- Everzure™ Galdieria Natural vibrant blue colour extracted from microalgae, approved by US FDA for food and beverages. Addresses regulatory pressure and bans on synthetic colours. Sold to food and beverage manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5.1% like-for-like sales growth in 2025, exceeding 4-6% 2030 target range
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Givaudan
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Givaudan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature11 records
Givaudan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NovelabcoreNovelab collaborated with Givaudan's Fine Fragrance Marketing and Digital Innovation teams to develop Garden Makers, an immersive fragrance-inspired experience on Roblox platform, following the success of Guardians of Memories.
- Mars PetcarecoreGivaudan participates in the 2026 Global Pet Food Innovation Program co-run by Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare, now in its third year. The program seeks startups developing alternative proteins, fats, oils, and novel ingredients for sustainable pet food. Selected companies receive $15,000 funding, expert guidance, and potential commercial partnerships.
- Big Idea VenturescoreGivaudan collaborates with Big Idea Ventures as part of the Next Generation Pet Food Program seeking startups for sustainable pet nutrition solutions including low-carbon materials, alternative proteins, fats, oils and novel ingredients.
- PepsiCocorePepsiCo and Givaudan signed a 10-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Statkraft for renewable wind energy from Spain. Givaudan serves as co-buyer alongside PepsiCo and Smurfit Westrock, enabling favorable commercial terms for renewable electricity access. The agreement aims to reduce approximately 32,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually and is part of PepsiCo's pep+ Renew program for supply chain decarbonization.
- StatkraftcoreStatkraft serves as the renewable energy provider for the VPPA with PepsiCo and Givaudan, providing wind energy from a repowered asset in Spain for European decarbonization efforts.
- Smurfit WestrockcoreSmurfit Westrock co-buys renewable energy with Givaudan through the VPPA with Statkraft and PepsiCo for European supply chain decarbonization.
- SE Advisory Services (Schneider Electric)minorSchneider Electric's consulting division helped aggregate renewable electricity demand across the three buyers (PepsiCo, Givaudan, Smurfit Westrock) for the VPPA.
- StatkraftcoreRenewable energy producer providing wind power for the 10-year VPPA supporting European decarbonization across PepsiCo, Givaudan, and Smurfit Westrock operations.
- OriflamecoreSwedish beauty brand Oriflame partnered with Givaudan to launch Top Scents, a collection of affordable niche fragrances featuring seven emerging perfumers selected from Givaudan's Perfumery School in France. First two fragrances (Top Scents Rose Mode and Top Scents Neon Oud) priced at £55/€60.
- Belle Aire CreationscoreGivaudan acquired US-based fragrance company Belle Aire Creations to enhance presence in North America as part of 2030 strategy. Expected to add approximately CHF 65 million in sales in 2024.
- DDW, The Color HousecoreGivaudan completed acquisition of US-based natural colour company DDW, The Color House as part of 2025 strategy. Deal reinforces Givaudan's position as second-largest global player in natural colours, adding approximately USD 140 million in incremental sales.
Scale indicators22 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Givaudan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): IFF is the closest direct peer — a global B2B supplier of flavors, fragrances, and food ingredients serving the same CPG customers. The two companies compete head-to-head in fine fragrance, consumer products fragrance, and food flavors worldwide.
- Symrise: Symrise is a top-tier global F&F peer with the same B2B ingredient supplier model, serving food, beverage, personal care, and fine fragrance customers. Direct overlap in taste, scent, and cosmetic actives makes it one of Givaudan's most comparable competitors.
- DSM-Firmenich: Formed from the merger of DSM and Firmenich in 2023, DSM-Firmenich is a direct F&F peer combining nutrition/health ingredients with perfumery. Operates in the same B2B channels and serves the same multinational CPG customers as Givaudan.
- Mane: Mane is a privately held French F&F house with a global footprint in flavors and fragrances. It competes with Givaudan across fine fragrance, consumer products, and food flavors, particularly in Europe and emerging markets.
- Robertet: Robertet is a long-established French fragrance and flavor house with a strong position in natural ingredients. It directly overlaps with Givaudan's fine fragrance, consumer products, and natural aroma chemicals portfolios.
- Takasago International Corporation: Takasago is a Japanese-headquartered global F&F manufacturer with comparable B2B offerings in flavors and fragrances. It serves overlapping multinational CPG customers and competes directly in Asia Pacific and globally.
Emerging players
- Sensient Technologies: Sensient is a smaller, focused flavors, fragrances, and food colors specialist. While narrower in scale than Givaudan, it competes directly in natural colors (overlapping with Givaudan's DDW acquisition) and select flavor segments.
- Novonesis (Novozymes-Chr. Hansen): Novonesis is a global bio-ingredients leader (enzymes, cultures, probiotics) that overlaps with Givaudan's Active Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing health/wellness adjacencies. Ester Baiget (Novonesis CEO) is proposed as a new Givaudan board member, signaling strategic dialogue.
Broad incumbents
- Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a major taste and nutrition ingredients player with significant overlap in food and beverage flavors. It is a broader food-ingredients incumbent and competes with Givaudan's Taste & Wellbeing division in savory, dairy, and beverage applications.
- BASF (Care Chemicals & Nutrition division): BASF is a broad chemical-industry incumbent supplying personal care ingredients, aroma chemicals, and nutrition products. It overlaps with Givaudan's fragrance ingredients, cosmetic actives, and flavor precursors as a large, diversified supplier with a different scale economics profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Givaudan social profiles
Digital presenceGivaudan compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Givaudan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Givaudan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Givaudan subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Givaudan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Givaudan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A22 records
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Givaudan
What does Givaudan do?
Givaudan develops, manufactures, and supplies fragrance compounds, flavor ingredients, and active cosmetic ingredients to consumer goods manufacturers worldwide. The company operates two divisions: Fragrance & Beauty (fine fragrances, consumer product fragrances, Active Beauty cosmetic actives) generating CHF 3,830 million in 2025 sales, and Taste & Wellbeing (food and beverage flavors, wellness and health ingredients) generating CHF 3,642 million in 2025 sales. Customers include Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and PepsiCo, served through long-term B2B supply contracts and co-creation partnerships via 77 production sites globally.
Is Givaudan a public or private company?
Givaudan is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Givaudan founded?
Givaudan was founded in 1895. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Givaudan based?
Givaudan is headquartered in Vernier, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Givaudan make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fragrance & Beauty is the primary driver. The others are taste & Wellbeing and product Sales (B2B).
Who are Givaudan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), Symrise, DSM-Firmenich, Mane, Robertet and Takasago International Corporation. Emerging players are Sensient Technologies and Novonesis (Novozymes-Chr. Hansen). Broad incumbents are Kerry Group and BASF (Care Chemicals & Nutrition division).
Does Givaudan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Givaudan.
What industry is Givaudan in?
Givaudan's product category is Fragrances and Flavors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAOAO, Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends), with a secondary code of CRABADAA, Fine Fragrance (Women’s/Men’s/Unisex). Its NAICS code is 31193 and its SIC code is 2844.