Alchemy Ingredients

What Alchemy Ingredients does

Alchemy Ingredients Limited is a U.K.-based specialty ingredients company that develops and supplies naturally-derived functional ingredients to cosmetic and personal care formulators worldwide. Its portfolio spans rheology modifiers (Sclerothix, Sucrathix VX, Clearthix S), emulsifiers (Instathix, HIPEgel Oleo C, Spraymulse, Luxamul), oil gelling agents (Sucragel XL, Sucragel AOF, Sapogel Q, Sucrabase variants), surfactants/bio-surfactants (Sophocoll, Micromulse LB), and specialty additives (Elastoblur, Hydratagel G). The technical core is saponin- and polysaccharide-based green chemistry that delivers differentiated textural outcomes — including sprayable emulsions at high oil loads, high internal phase emulsions above 90% oil, transparent gels, and cold-process manufacturing — enabling formulators to replace synthetic raw materials with COSMOS-, NATRUE-, Vegan-, RSPO-, and Halal-certified alternatives.

The company's go-to-market is a B2B channel-partner model: Alchemy does not sell direct, instead exporting 23+ ingredients through a curated network of regional distributors covering 50+ countries across EMEA, the Americas, APAC, the Middle East, and Oceania. Revenue is generated from one-time ingredient sales to manufacturers and contract formulators, with pricing negotiated by volume and region through the distributor network and supported by an extensive in-house formulations library (100+ prototypes) used to drive technical adoption. Customer mix is concentrated in the cosmetics and personal care manufacturing vertical, with named adoptions including Neal's Yard Remedies and other commercial formulators scaling Sapogel Q-based products.

Alchemy was founded in 2008 (companies house registration 10626359) and operated as a private, bootstrapped UK limited company with headcount in the 11-50 range until December 2025, when it was acquired by Elementis plc (LSE-listed specialty chemicals group) for $22 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis as a bolt-on to expand Elementis's sustainable rheology modifier offering for personal care. Post-acquisition, Alchemy retains its brand identity (trading as "Alchemy by Elementis") and is integrating into Elementis's wider distribution, technical, and R&D infrastructure, with active distributor expansion and certification accruals continuing through 2026.

Name

Alchemy Ingredients

Legal name

Alchemy Ingredients Limited

Website

https://alchemy-ingredients.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alchemy Ingredients Limited is a UK-based specialty ingredients supplier that develops and sells 23+ naturally-derived functional ingredients — rheology modifiers, emulsifiers, oil gelling agents, and surfactants — to cosmetic and personal care formulators worldwide via a distributor network spanning 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cosmetic Ingredients

NAICS

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

Keywords

• Natural cosmetic ingredients
• Rheology modifiers
• Emulsifier systems
• Oil gelling agents
• Personal care formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Functional Ingredient Sales: B2B sales of natural functional ingredients (emulsifiers, thickeners, oil gelling agents, surfactants) to cosmetic and personal care formulators worldwide through distributor network. Revenue generated from ingredient product sales to manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alchemy Ingredients creates problem-solving, natural functional ingredients that replace synthetic raw materials in cosmetic formulations. The company produces a portfolio of 23+ naturally-derived ingredients including emulsifiers, oil gelling agents, water thickeners, surfactants, and texture modifiers sold to cosmetic and personal care manufacturers worldwide through a global distributor network.

Product overview

Alchemy Ingredients is a U.K.-based specialty ingredients company that creates naturally-derived functional ingredients for the cosmetic and personal care industry. Their portfolio consists of 23+ ingredient products primarily focused on rheology modification (thickeners, gelling agents), emulsification (emulsifiers), and surfactant systems. Key product lines include Spraymulse® (low-viscosity emulsifier), Elastoblur® (mattifying ingredient), Luxamul® (cold process emulsifier), Sophocoll® (bio-surfactant), Sapogel® Q (oil gelling agent), and various other thickening and emulsifying ingredients. The company also provides a library of formulation prototypes demonstrating ingredient applications. In December 2025, Alchemy Ingredients was acquired by Elementis, a global specialty chemicals company, for approximately $22 million, to expand Elementis's portfolio with sustainable rheology modifier technologies for personal care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spraymulse® Low-viscosity emulsifier system that creates sprayable, stable emulsions with high oil loads (up to 50% oil). COSMOS Approved, Vegan, 100% Natural Origin. Use level 1-1.25%.
• Elastoblur® Natural mattifying and blurring ingredient for fine lines and wrinkles with 'soft focus' finish. Tapioca starch-based blend with 100% natural origin. NATRUE approved.
• Luxamul® Cold process emulsifier based on Soapberry saponins that creates luxurious cream-gel textures. 100% naturally derived, globally approved, non-palm derived.
• Sophocoll® Collagen-Lipid Bio-Surfactant Complex for strengthening and moisturising skin and hair. 100% naturally derived bio-surfactant blend based on sophorolipid.
• Sapogel® Q 100% natural origin, palm-free oil gelling agent for balm textures. Enables creation of palm-free balm textures without wax using quillaja saponins.
• Micromulse® LB 100% natural origin blend for transparent oil-to-milk liquid Micellar Oils. Liquid blend of polyglyceryl ester and saponins for rinse-off applications.
• Sclerothix® 100% natural water thickener which makes transparent, rich, smooth gels with suspending properties. Xanthan gum, sclerotium gum, and algin blend.
• Instathix® Natural powder blend of emulsifiers, stabilisers and texture modifiers for Oil-in-Gel Emulsions. 4-in-1 multi-functional ingredient with 100% Natural Origin. NATRUE Approved as of February 2026.
• Sucragel® XL Easy to use, 100% natural origin oil thickening agent. Optimised for cold process formulations with built-in stabiliser, ideal for clear gel-to-milk cleansers. Showed stability with up to 30% shea butter across 3-month testing.
• Hydratagel G Ready to use Hyaluronic Acid for viscosity modification and moisturisation. Medium weight sodium hyaluronate (~1500Da) in glycerin base.
• Sucrathix VX Natural rheology modifier for water. Synergistic blend of natural gums producing shear thinning, translucent, low viscosity gel stable to electrolytes and high temperatures.
• HIPEgel® Oleo C COSMOS approved emulsifier for High Internal Phase Emulsions (HIPEs) with oil phase greater than 90%. Creates light, leave-on formulas with 'quick break' effects.
• Clearthix® S Natural viscosity modifier for water based systems. Creates transparent gels with non-sticky after feel.
• Sucragel® CF All-purpose oil gelling agent for cosmetic formulations.
• Sucrabase C 100% natural origin, ready-to-use transparent oily gel base using Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (CCT).
• Sucrabase SF 100% natural origin, ready-to-use transparent oily gel base derived from sunflower oil.
• Sucrabase SF BIO Organically certified, ready-to-use transparent oily gel base derived from sunflower oil.
• Sucragel® AOF BIO Organically certified oil gelling agent and emulsifier for vegetable oil based formulations.
• Microsol Natural Natural alternative to synthetic solubilisers.
• Sucrablend SP V2 100% natural-origin and COSMOS approved temperature stability additive for formulations.
• HIPEgel® Oleo Emulsifier that creates high oil HIPEs (High Internal Phase Emulsions) for ultra-high oil content formulations.
• Sucragel® AP V2 Simple, versatile and cost effective emulsifier and oil gelling solution for any type of oil.
• Sucragel® AOF Creates thick, rich gels for vegetable oil based cosmetic formulations.
• Formulations Library Extensive library of formulation ideas and prototypes created by Alchemy's lab team demonstrating the versatility of their ingredients across skincare, haircare, and personal care applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spraymulse enables stable sprayable emulsions with up to 50% oil at just 1-1.25% use level
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and standard.

• ElementiscoreOthers · 1 December 2025Elementis, a global specialty chemicals company, acquired Alchemy Ingredients in late 2025 for $20.1 million. The acquisition aims to expand Elementis's portfolio with new technologies in sustainable rheology modifier ingredients for the personal care industry. Alchemy is now integrating into the Elementis portfolio while maintaining its ingredient brand.
• Nordmann (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Estonia, Poland)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNordmann distributes Alchemy products across Nordic and Baltic regions plus Poland, supporting both Alchemy and wider Elementis range. Partnership announced May 2026, effective June 2026.
• Rahn (Switzerland, Germany, Austria)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRahn represents Alchemy in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Partnership effective July 2026, strengthening European network.
• Essential Ingredients (Canada)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEssential Ingredients distributes Alchemy products across Canada starting May 2026. Strategic partnership to strengthen North American presence.
• Oqema (Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOqema distributes Alchemy ingredients across Central and Eastern European markets as part of Elementis network alignment.
• IMCD TurkeystandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIMCD distributes Alchemy products in Turkey, with technical training provided to support regional growth.
• Adchem (UAE & Middle East)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdchem handles Alchemy distribution across UAE and Middle East region as part of Elementis network expansion.
• Stera Chemicals (Romania)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStera Chemicals distributes Alchemy ingredients in Romania.
• DKSH (Korea)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDKSH distributes Alchemy ingredients in South Korea. Alchemy exhibiting at in-cosmetics Korea with DKSH.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Elementis plc: Global specialty chemicals company that acquired Alchemy Ingredients in 2025. Operates a personal care specialty ingredients business with rheology modifiers and bentonite-derived additives, sharing both technology overlap and, post-deal, direct corporate linkage.
• Croda International: One of the largest specialty ingredient suppliers to the personal care industry, with an extensive portfolio of emulsifiers, surfactants, and botanical actives. Comparable as a B2B ingredient supplier serving the same cosmetic and personal care formulators as Alchemy, but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Seppic (Air Liquide): Specialty ingredient subsidiary of Air Liquide supplying surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, and botanical actives to personal care and pharmaceutical formulators. Directly comparable B2B ingredient model serving the same cosmetic formulation customer base as Alchemy.
• Evonik Industries (Care Solutions): Global specialty chemicals group whose Care Solutions division supplies specialty surfactants, emulsifiers, and conditioning agents to personal care brands. Comparable in product category (functional cosmetic ingredients) and B2B distribution model, though at much larger scale.
• Lubrizol (Berkshire Hathaway): Specialty chemical company with a dedicated personal care and beauty ingredients portfolio covering rheology modifiers, emulsifiers, and conditioning polymers. Comparable in serving cosmetic formulators with functional ingredients and overlapping in rheology-modifying and emulsifying technology.
• BASF Care Creations: Personal care ingredients division of BASF supplying surfactants, emulsifiers, emollients, and active ingredients to global cosmetic brands. Comparable as a B2B personal care ingredient supplier with overlapping emulsifier and surfactant categories.

Direct peers

• Gattefossé: France-based specialty ingredients maker focused on plant-derived functional ingredients, lipid chemistry, and emulsifiers for cosmetics. Closely comparable to Alchemy as a similarly sized, science-led, naturally-positioned personal care ingredient supplier.
• Inolex: US-headquartered specialty ingredients company focused on natural, sustainable, and certified-clean ingredients for personal care, with a comparable emphasis on replacing synthetic cosmetic raw materials. Comparable in mission and product positioning.
• Koster Keunen: Specialty wax and natural oil derivatives supplier serving cosmetics and personal care, with emphasis on natural and certified wax systems. Overlaps with Alchemy in natural oil gelling and structuring chemistry for balm and stick formulations.
• Hallstar Beauty: Specialty ingredients supplier to the beauty and personal care market offering naturals, emollients, and photoprotection actives. Comparable as a mid-sized specialty ingredients house serving cosmetic formulators with differentiated, naturally-positioned chemistries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AlchemyIngredients
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alchemy-ingredients

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Alchemy Ingredients