Vegan, water-based fragrance carrier technology offers greater transparency

IFF, a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, recently introduced AQUASCENT™, a new vegan, water-based carrier for fine fragrance.

“AQUASCENT™ reflects our continued investment in new scent technologies and formats that create compelling fragrance experiences while supporting the industry’s growing focus on sustainability,” said Sabrya Meflah, president of Fine Fragrance for IFF Scent. “This technology illustrates our ambition to set a new standard for how fragrance is created, delivered and experienced.”

AQUASCENT™ is part of IFF's Science of Performance platform, which focuses on solutions that enhance fragrance performance by shaping how scent is delivered and experienced over time. The market for water-based fragrance continues to grow as leading brands launch new water-based products and consumers embrace new scent formats and experiences. IFF web-listening data shows that worldwide Google searches for “water-based perfumes” increased 18% year-to-date, while related TikTok content has generated more than 15 million views.

AQUASCENT™ supports fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems. Achieving this level of fragrance concentration in water-based formulations can be challenging, as fragrance oils can cause products to become cloudy when mixed with water. AQUASCENT™ overcomes this issue while maintaining transparency, enabling brands to create high-performance, visually clear fragrances.

AQUASCENT™ is a water-based fragrance carrier technology that maintains visual clarity while supporting fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems.

As a result, fragrance brands can deliver the lastingness and visual elegance consumers associate with fine fragrance products. Formulated without intentionally added ethanol, preservatives or silicone, the technology features a non-sticky formulation with documented skin-hydrating properties for a comfortable skin feel.

AQUASCENT™ also offers a more resource-efficient approach to transportation. The carrier technology can be supplied as a concentrate alone, allowing fragrance brands to add water during final production rather than transporting it as part of the formula. By reducing the volume and weight of material shipped, this compact format can help lower CO₂ emissions from shipping.

“AQUASCENT™ approaches water-based fragrance as a complete fine fragrance system, balancing olfactive performance and visual clarity and a concentrated format designed for efficient transportation,” said Fatimata Dembele-Kuntzmann, Ph.D., senior technical manager for IFF Scent. “For brands, that means the opportunity to embrace a growing fragrance format without compromising the qualities that define the fine fragrance experience.”