ICATS

What ICATS does

ICATS is the predecessor entity to the IFEAT Academy, the professional education platform of the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades (IFEAT), a membership organization founded in 1995 and incorporated in England and Wales. For over thirty years, ICATS provided distance-learning materials for Continuing Professional Development in the aroma trades, covering creative, technical, flavour, fragrance, scientific, business, finance, and marketing roles. The current IFEAT Academy operates as a self-paced online distance-learning platform delivering a 120-credit Level 6 Full Diploma (11 units, 1,200 hours of study) plus individual CPD units, a Fragrance Bundle, and a Flavour Bundle. All coursework is delivered through IFEAT's bespoke interactive platform, with content authored by industry experts and academics and endorsed by IFEAT, IFRA UK, the British Society of Perfumers, the American Society of Perfumer, the British Society of Flavourists, the UK Flavour Association, Perfumer & Flavorist+, and the University of Reading.

The platform serves individual working professionals in the flavour and fragrance industry globally, with flexible no-fixed-start-date enrollment and assignment-based assessment (no exams). Revenue is generated through Diploma tuition (IFEAT members £800; non-members £1,000), individual unit CPD fees, bundle purchases, and a pay-as-you-go billing model that allows students to be invoiced per unit as they progress, with two years to complete the full Diploma from enrolment. Employer sponsorship of student enrolments is encouraged. Distribution is exclusively direct via the IFEAT website, with marketing supported by IFEAT's annual conferences, study tours, the IFEATWORLD quarterly magazine, and organic social presence on Facebook, Vimeo, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The company is operationally small and headquartered at 6th Floor, King's House, 9-10 Haymarket, London. It does not disclose headcount, revenue, or enrollment figures. Without disclosed financials, growth metrics, or AI/technology infrastructure investment, the entity is best understood as a stable, niche accreditation-anchored education platform rather than a venture-scale business.

Name

ICATS

Legal name

The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades Limited

Website

https://icats.education

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IFEAT Academy is the online distance-learning platform of the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades, offering a Level 6 Full Diploma and individual CPD units for working professionals in the global flavour and fragrance industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Professional Education (Aroma Trades)

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA)

Keywords

• Professional distance learning
• Aroma trades education
• Flavour and fragrance training
• Continuing professional development
• Specialist online diploma

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Revenue from Full Diploma tuition, individual unit fees (CPD), and bundle purchases. Pay-as-you-go option available where students are invoiced per unit as they progress.
2. Membership Fees: IFEAT membership provides access to member rates for courses and other services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ICATS, succeeded by IFEAT Academy, provides asynchronous remote professional education for the aroma trades industry through a 120-credit Level 6 Full Diploma, individual CPD units, and themed Fragrance and Flavour Bundles. Coursework is delivered via a bespoke interactive platform and covers both flavour and fragrance aspects, from foundation chemistry through to regulatory compliance and creation/evaluation techniques. All coursework is assignment-based with no exams, allowing working professionals to complete studies at their own pace within a two-year window.

Product overview

IFEAT Academy is a professional education platform offering a comprehensive suite of online courses for the Aroma Trades industry. The platform provides a Full Diploma (120 credits, Level 6, 1,200 hours of study) and individual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units. Course bundles are available for Fragrance and Flavour specializations. All coursework is delivered through IFEAT's bespoke interactive platform, featuring 14 course units covering chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, anatomy, sensory science, history, chemical processes for naturals and synthetics, materials for perfumers and flavourists, creation and evaluation techniques, and regulatory compliance. IFEAT Academy succeeded ICATS, which provided distance-learning materials for over 30 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFEAT Full Diploma A 120-credit Level 6 Diploma consisting of 11 units totalling 1,200 hours of study, covering both flavour and fragrance aspects of the aroma trades. Delivered remotely through IFEAT's bespoke interactive distance learning platform; targeted at working professionals in the essential oils and aroma trades industry.
• IFEAT Professional Development / CPD Units Individual course units available through the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) pathway, allowing students to earn an IFEAT Certificate (60 credits) or Advanced Certificate based on completed units. Suited for professionals who prefer modular, pay-as-you-go progression.
• Fragrance Bundle A bundled package of course units focused specifically on perfumery, including naturally derived materials and synthetic materials for the perfumer. Aimed at fragrance professionals seeking a structured, themed curriculum.
• Flavour Bundle A bundled package of course units focused on flavour creation, including naturally derived materials and synthetic materials for the flavourist. Aimed at flavour professionals seeking a structured, themed curriculum.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACHS (Australian Complementary Health Services)minorOthersIFEAT Academy Friends collaborator providing complementary health education resources and support for students in the Australian region.
• CCH ContinentalminorOthersIFEAT Academy Friends collaborator providing educational resources for complementary health professionals.
• IFRA UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Fragrance Association UK endorses the IFEAT Academy courses, providing industry validation and ensuring curriculum aligns with regulatory standards.
• The British Society of PerfumerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body for perfumers endorses IFEAT Academy programs, validating the quality and relevance of fragrance-focused curriculum.
• The American Society of PerfumercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading US perfumery professional body endorses IFEAT Academy, providing North American industry validation.
• The British Society of FlavouristscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional flavourists organization endorses IFEAT Academy flavour curriculum, ensuring industry-relevant training.
• The UK Flavour AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK flavour industry trade association endorses IFEAT Academy courses for regulatory compliance and industry standards.
• Perfumer & Flavorist+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry publication/media partner endorses IFEAT Academy, providing visibility and credibility in the flavour and fragrance industry.
• University of ReadingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution providing endorsement through the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, ensuring academic rigor and credit-level recognition.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Givaudan Perfumery School: Corporate-internal perfumery training programme run by one of the world's largest fragrance houses. Comparable as a structured curriculum teaching perfumery craft, though captive rather than open-enrolment.
• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT): US-based professional society for food scientists offering credentials, short courses and continuing education. Comparable as a membership-driven organisation delivering industry-recognised food/flavour credentials to working professionals.
• Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM): International scientific body generating safety and regulatory data on fragrance materials, with industry education as part of its mission. Comparable as a globally recognised aroma-trade institution providing authoritative educational content.

Direct peers

• Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC): International professional society for cosmetic and fragrance scientists offering continuing education, certificate programmes and chapter-led training. Overlaps with IFEAT Academy in delivering specialist industry-credentialed CPD.
• Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA): US trade association for the flavour industry that runs webinars, short courses and educational programmes for flavour professionals. Closely comparable to IFEAT in serving a flavour-focused industry membership with education as a core service.
• ISIPCA (Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et de l'Aromatique alimentaire): French specialised higher-education institution offering diploma and master's-level training in perfumery, cosmetics and aroma science. Directly comparable to IFEAT Academy as a dedicated aroma-trades professional school with academic recognition.

Regional players

• Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA): UK trade association for the cosmetics and perfumery industry that provides training, regulatory guidance and educational resources. Comparable as a UK-based industry body offering specialist professional training in adjacent fragrance categories.

Emerging players

• Monell Chemical Senses Center: US-based independent research institute focused on taste and smell, with professional training and outreach programmes. Overlaps with IFEAT Academy in aroma/flavour education and industry scientific training.
• Wageningen University — Flavour & Fragrance Science: European academic programme offering MSc-level training in flavour and fragrance science. Comparable as a higher-education pathway serving the same global aroma-trade talent pool, though at a higher academic tier.
• University of Reading — Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences: Academic department that already endorses IFEAT Academy and offers food/flavour science degrees. Comparable as a source of credit-bearing aroma-trade education and a potential articulation partner or competitor for diploma-level content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/ifeat
• Facebookfacebook.com/IFEAT.ORG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icats
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifeat77

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ICATS