Givaudan to acquire US-based fragrance house

Givaudan will acquire Belle Aire Creations, a US-based fragrance house known for its creative expertise and strong regional customer relationships.

Belle Aire Creations was founded in 1982 by Illinois entrepreneurs, Don Conover Sr., an expert in perfumery, and brothers Richard and Charles David, who shared a vision to make high-quality fragrance development with more agility. By establishing the company in the Midwest, they created a central hub that could serve a broad and diverse range of customers across the country.

Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan, said: "The acquisition of Belle Aire Creations represents an exciting milestone for Givaudan as we continue our journey to deliver long term sustainable growth. Their strong customer partnerships and entrepreneurial spirit align perfectly with our vision and values."

Maurizio Volpi, President Fragrance & Beauty at Givaudan, added: "With Belle Aire Creations, we will further strengthen our offering for local and regional customers in North America where we know there is still significant potential. This acquisition will allow us to combine our global creative resources with Belle Aire Creations’ deep regional expertise to deliver winning solutions for our customers. As part of this integration, Stacey David will keep the leadership of Belle Aire Creations, building on her outstanding track record and drive for growth in the critical segment of local and regional customers that will be strongly beneficial to Givaudan.”

Stacey David, CEO of Belle Aire Creations, said: “This is a transformative moment for Belle Aire Creations. With shared values, complementary strengths, and a united vision, we’re not just building on our legacy – we’re creating something truly extraordinary. Together, we’ll amplify our impact, bring even greater creativity to our customers, and expand the opportunities we deliver as we shape the future of fragrance. We’re beyond proud of our remarkable team, our incredible community, and the loyal customers who’ve been at the heart of our journey. The best is yet to come.”

While the terms of the deal will not be disclosed, Belle Aire Creations’ business would have represented about CHF 65 million of incremental sales to Givaudan’s results in 2024 on a proforma basis. Givaudan plans to fund the transaction from existing resources and subject to the applicable regulatory processes, the transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025 or early in 2026.