What Gattefossé does

Gattefossé is a privately held French specialty ingredients manufacturer founded in 1880 and headquartered in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, operating across two complementary divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care. The Pharmaceuticals division designs and produces 57 lipid-based excipients — including glycerides (Compritol®, Precirol®), polyoxylglycerides (Gelucire®, Labrasol®, Labrafil®), medium-chain triglycerides (Labrafac™), and solvents (Transcutol®) — that address solubility, bioavailability, sustained-release, lubrication, and permeation challenges across oral, topical, rectal, vaginal, and parenteral drug delivery routes for human pharma, animal health, and nutraceutical applications. The Personal Care division produces 53 natural cosmetic ingredients spanning actives (Silkaress™, Noxifense™, EnergINius®, Eyeglorius™, Gatuline® range, Solastemis®, EleVastin™, Cytobiol™) and functional ingredients (Emulium® emulsifiers, Definicire®, Cocoate™ BG MB), drawing on plant chemistry extraction technologies including NADES (natural deep eutectic solvents) and a 30-year sensory analysis discipline.

The company monetizes through a B2B enterprise sales model, selling specialty ingredients on a quote-based pricing basis to pharmaceutical and personal care manufacturers across 90 countries. Revenue is generated through one-time ingredient sales (the dominant model) complemented by technical support and formulation development services provided via four Technical Centers of Excellence (France, USA, China, India). Distribution runs through 12 wholly-owned affiliates plus regional distributors (e.g., Leith Sourcing in the US), with marketing supplemented by 39 pharmaceutical and 20 personal care webinar recordings, 202 scientific publications, a 119-formulation prototype library, and participation in major industry trade shows. Strategic differentiation rests on regulatory depth (DMFs, Bundling Reviews, EXCiPACT, EFfCI GMP, GRAS, RSPO Mass Balance), a new Lufkin, Texas manufacturing plant (operational July 2024, triple-certified March 2025), and an active product launch cadence targeting the natural, bio-based cosmetics trend.

Name

Gattefossé

Legal name

GATTEFOSSE SAS

Website

https://gattefosse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Gattefossé is a French specialty ingredients manufacturer, founded in 1880, that designs lipid-based pharmaceutical excipients and natural cosmetic actives/functional ingredients for pharmaceutical, personal care, nutraceutical, and animal health customers across 90 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Ingredients (Pharmaceutical Excipients & Cosmetic Actives)

NAICS

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fats, Oils & Lipid Ingredients (Specialty Oils, MCTs, Structured Lipids) (CRADAOAL), Encapsulation & Emulsified Delivery Systems (Spray-dried emulsions, Lipid microencapsulation) (AFAJACAL), Emulsifiers & Stabilizer Systems (Lecithin, Mono/Diglycerides, Blends) (CRADAOAE)

Keywords

• Lipid-based excipients
• Pharmaceutical drug delivery
• Natural cosmetic ingredients
• Specialty chemistry ingredients
• Cosmetics formulation materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Priest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Excipients: Gattefossé designs, manufactures, and markets lipid-based pharmaceutical excipients for oral, topical, rectal, vaginal, and parenteral drug delivery. Products include solubilizers, surfactants, co-surfactants, lubricants, sustained-release agents, permeation enhancers, and suppository bases under brand names such as Compritol®, Gelucire®, Labrasol®, Labrafac™, Labrafil®, Transcutol®, Suppocire®, and Ovucire®.
2. Cosmetic Ingredients: Gattefossé produces and markets natural cosmetic ingredients including active ingredients (bioactives such as Silkaress™, Noxifense™, EnergINius®, Eyeglorius™, Gatuline® range, Solastemis®, EleVastin™, Cytobiol™) and functional ingredients (emollients, texturants, opacifiers, emulsifiers under brands such as Emulium®, Definicire®, Cocoate™ BG MB).
3. Technical Support and Formulation Development Services: Gattefossé provides personalized technical support including excipient screening, in-vitro lipolysis testing, formulation development, and regulatory documentation (DMFs, Bundling Reviews, Letters of Authorization) as part of its customer engagement model.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Gattefossé designs, produces, and markets high-quality pharmaceutical excipients and natural cosmetic ingredients for business customers. The pharmaceuticals division offers 57 lipid-based excipients (glycerides, polyoxylglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, solvents) for oral, topical, rectal, vaginal, and parenteral drug delivery, including SEDDS/SMEDDS systems for bioavailability enhancement. The personal care division provides 53 natural cosmetic ingredients—actives (Silkaress™, Noxifense™, Eyeglorius™, Gatuline® range) and functional ingredients (emollients, emulsifiers, texturants)—supported by four Technical Centers of Excellence for formulation development and regulatory documentation.

Product overview

Gattefossé operates two complementary divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care. The Pharmaceuticals division offers 57 lipid-based excipient products for drug delivery across oral, topical, rectal, vaginal, and parenteral routes, including solubilizers, surfactants, lubricants, and sustained release agents. The Personal Care division provides natural cosmetic ingredients including active ingredients (like Silkaress™ bioinspired from silk) and functional ingredients (like Emulium® emulsifiers) for skincare, haircare, makeup, and sun care applications. Both divisions are supported by four Technical Centers of Excellence providing formulation development and regulatory support. The company serves 90 countries through 12 subsidiaries with expertise in lipid chemistry and plant chemistry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gattefossé Personal Care: Cosmetic ingredients and formulations division focusing on natural performing actives and functional ingredients
• Gattefossé Pharmaceuticals
• Gattefossé Foundation

Products and services

• Compritol® 888 ATO Glyceryl dibehenate used as a lubricant for tablets and hard capsules, and as a sustained release agent at higher percentages for once-daily dosing in pharmaceutical formulations.
• Compritol® E ATO High-melting point glyceryl dibehenate functioning as a lubricant and sustained-release matrix former in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations, with GRAS status and RSPO Mass Balance certification.
• Compritol® HD5 ATO Behenoyl polyoxyl-8 glycerides offering multiple functionalities in pharmaceutical formulations.
• Labrasol® ALF Caprylocaproyl polyoxyl-8 glycerides, a nonionic water-dispersible surfactant that self-emulsifies into a microemulsion (SMEDDS) for oral bioavailability enhancement of poorly-soluble APIs.
• Labrafil® M 2125 CS Linoleoyl polyoxyl-6 glycerides, a liquid nonionic water-dispersible surfactant that self-emulsifies into an emulsion (SEDDS) for solubilizing poorly-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients.
• Lauroglycol™ FCC Nonionic water-insoluble surfactant used as a co-surfactant in oral SEDDS/SMEDDS formulations and in topical dosage forms, contributing skin penetration enhancement.
• Transcutol® P Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether registered as a high-purity solvent and powerful solubilizer with skin penetration enhancement properties for topical pharmaceutical dosage forms.
• Labrafac™ N MB Medium-chain triglycerides functioning as an oily vehicle and solubilizer for lipophilic actives in pharmaceutical and dietary supplement formulations, certified RSPO Mass Balance, Kosher, HACCP.
• Ovucire® WL 3264 Hard fat pessary base with emulsifier that improves dispersibility and wettability of hydrophobic APIs and melts at vaginal temperature for vaginal drug delivery.
• Ovucire® 3460 Hard fat pessary base for vaginal drug delivery with enhanced spreadability, good mechanical resistance, and excellent mucosal tolerance.
• Monosteol™ Lipidic vehicle used as a consistency agent in topical pharmaceutical formulations, preventing phase separation and oil droplet coalescence.
• Labrasol® Nonionic oil-in-water surfactant used as a solubilizer in topical pharmaceutical formulations, capable of forming light foams.
• Plurol® Oleique CC 497 Nonionic water-insoluble surfactant used as a co-surfactant in oral SEDDS/SMEDDS formulations and in topical pharmaceutical formulations.
• Transcutol® V Powerful solvent designed for veterinary injectable formulations with documented stability and safety.
• Geleol™ N MB Glyceryl palmitostearate providing viscosity modulation and sustained release of active ingredients in dietary supplement formulations, with GRAS, E 471, FCC, HACCP, RSPO Mass Balance and Kosher certifications.
• Silkaress™ Bioinspired cosmetic active ingredient modeled on silkworm cocoon protective properties. Derived from compounds found in white mulberry leaves that silkworms convert into silk, Silkaress™ supports skin adaptation by enhancing epidermal barrier reinforcement and stress response mechanisms against environmental instability. Launched April 2026.
• Noxifense™ Cosmetic active ingredient addressing skin sensitivity through the mechanism of oxi-inflammation.
• Eyeglorius™ Lipophilic cosmetic active dedicated to eye contour care, reducing dark circles and puffiness over time. Launched April 2024.
• Emulium® Kappa MB Natural water-in-oil emulsifier trademark for natural emulsions in personal care skincare formulations.
• Inspiration 2026 Haute Couture formula collection 2026 formula collection of personal care prototypes inspired by iconic fabrics, providing cosmetic formulation runway material for brand owners and formulators. Launched February 2026.
• Inspiration 2025 Guilty Pleasures formula collection 2025 formula collection of personal care prototypes titled 'Guilty Pleasures', inspired by familiar treats transformed into beauty care formulations for personal care customers. Launched February 2025.
• Technical Centers of Excellence Four Technical Centers of Excellence (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Paramus, Shanghai, Mumbai) delivering formulation development, excipient screening, in-vitro lipolysis testing, characterization, and regulatory support (DMFs, Bundling Reviews, Letters of Authorization) to pharmaceutical and personal care customers.
• Suppocire® Range Family of hard fat suppository bases marketed under the Suppocire® trademark for rectal and vaginal pharmaceutical drug delivery applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14% reduction in water consumption per ton produced within two years through the Poseidon water management program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmbiotiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGattefossé and Ambiotis have entered a scientific collaboration to explore the role of pro-resolving lipids in skin aging. This collaboration, announced in June 2025, combines Gattefossé's expertise in cosmetic formulation and lipid chemistry with Ambiotis' specialization in lipid biology to study a previously underexplored mechanism in skin health. The partnership aims to develop innovative cosmetic solutions based on an integrative approach to skin aging.
• Leith SourcingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeith Sourcing is a distributor of Gattefossé products in Osseo, MN, USA. The distributor relationship extends Gattefossé's market reach in the North American region.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IOI Oleo: Malaysian-headquartered oleo chemicals specialist producing medium-chain triglycerides, glycerol esters, and specialty lipid ingredients for personal care, nutrition, and pharma applications; directly comparable in lipid-based specialty ingredients for nutraceuticals and cosmetics.
• Croda International: UK-listed global specialty ingredients company with deep expertise in lipid chemistry, natural actives, and pharmaceutical excipients serving personal care, life sciences, and industrial markets. Most direct comparable to Gattefossé across both pharma excipients and natural cosmetic ingredients.
• Lubrizol Life Science (Berkshire Hathaway): US-based specialty chemicals business producing personal care ingredients (emollients, emulsifiers, actives) and pharmaceutical excipients/APIs; directly competes with Gattefossé in lipid-based and natural-origin specialty ingredients.
• Seppic (Air Liquide): French specialty ingredients subsidiary of Air Liquide producing pharmaceutical excipients, cosmetic actives, and functional ingredients; very direct competitor to Gattefossé in lipid-based surfactants, emulsifiers, and natural cosmetic actives.
• Stearinerie Dubois: French specialty manufacturer of lipid-based ingredients (esters, butters, oils) for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; smaller regional French direct peer with overlapping lipid chemistry capabilities and similar customer base in France and Europe.

Broad incumbents

• dsm-firmenich: Merged Dutch-Swiss specialty nutrition, health, and beauty ingredients major combining DSM's personal care and nutritional lipids with Firmenich's flavors and fragrances; competes with Gattefossé in natural cosmetic actives and nutraceutical excipients.
• Symrise: German flavors, fragrances, and cosmetic ingredients major with a Diana Foods-adjacent portfolio of natural cosmetic actives, botanical extracts, and functional ingredients; competes with Gattefossé in personal care and nutraceutical categories.
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals major with a leading pharmaceutical excipients business (including lipid-based and silica carriers) and a personal care ingredients portfolio; competes with Gattefossé in pharma drug delivery and specialty additives.
• Givaudan: Swiss global leader in flavors and fragrances with an expanding Active Beauty business offering natural cosmetic actives and botanical extracts; competes with Gattefossé Personal Care in bioactives and sensory-driven ingredients.
• BASF (Care Chemicals & Nutrition): World's largest chemical company with a Care Chemicals division producing cosmetic ingredients, emollients, surfactants, and UV filters along with pharmaceutical excipients; broad incumbent competing across Gattefossé's pharmaceutical and personal care portfolios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUTYQ7BQ4odr5tvtsiReMlg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gattefosse
• Xx.com/gattefossegroup

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gattefossé