L’Oréal and Cosmo have joined forces in a groundbreaking collaboration to advance a water-free, environmentally conscious method for extracting botanical fragrance molecules. This innovative technology, exclusively accessed by L’Oréal from Cosmo International Fragrances, marks a significant stride towards sustainability in the fine perfumery industry.
Cosmo International Fragrances, in its pursuit of eco-friendly solutions for natural fine perfumery ingredients, has introduced a patent-pending extraction process. This waterless, low-energy method preserves the integrity of fragrance molecules, unveiling the authentic scent of each ingredient. The process utilizes air-powered extraction, foregoing the need for heating, cooling, or chemical solvents traditionally used in scent extraction. This allows flowers and other natural ingredients to maintain their integrity, enabling recycling and re-use in subsequent extractions, thereby minimizing waste.
L’Oréal Groupe’s exclusive access to this Green Sciences-based extraction process is anticipated to broaden the horizons of fragrance creation. The collaboration aims to expand the fragrance-maker’s library to include “100% natural and pure scent extracts,” offering consumers an unparalleled olfactive experience.
Barbara Lavernos, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at L’Oréal, emphasized the significance of the Green Sciences extraction process, stating, “Through this process, we can experience the olfactive power of flowers authentically, as if walking in a garden, field, or forest.”
The initial focus of this partnership involves the development of a new tuberose floral extract for a fine fragrance set to launch in 2024. Cyril Chapuy, President of L’Oréal Luxe, expressed the ambition to elevate fine fragrance crafting by providing unprecedented olfactive authenticity, allowing natural ingredients to express their full olfactive identity.
The collaboration aligns with the growing trend in the fragrance market towards low environmental footprint methods for obtaining new and unique accords. Cyril Chapuy emphasized L’Oréal’s commitment to sustainability throughout the fragrance value chain, stating, “From ingredient sourcing to refill adoption, we are innovating at every step to reduce our impact and shift towards a more responsible fragrance model.”
As a major focus of current research and innovation in perfumery, the development of environmentally friendly extraction methods continues to evolve. This collaboration between L’Oréal and Cosmo exemplifies a commitment to pioneering sustainable practices in the fragrance industry.