Sustainability is a tables stake issue for many beauty consumers, but it is also used as a differentiator and a mark of elevated quality by fragrance brands, particularly in the field of fragrance materials.
Between 2020-25, there was a 179% growth in launches claiming sustainable sourcing, and a 6943% surge in the use of upcycled ingredients. Narciso Rodriguez Radiante Eau de Parfum, for example, features “cedarwood essential oil ethically sourced from Virginia, upcycled from sawdust and wood shavings created as a by-product in American carpentry mills.”
However, sustainably sourced ingredients don’t have to be sourced from nature. In fact, 25% of US fragrance users are interested in fragrance ingredients made through biotechnology, and 23% believe synthetic fragrance ingredients work just as well as natural ones.
Use of synthetic ingredients can actually amplify both provenance and quality stories, according to Mintel’s Global Director of Beauty & Personal Care Research, Andrew McDougall. “Consumers are demanding products that not only deliver on performance but also prioritise environmental responsibility. A new wave of brands embrace green chemistry and use sustainably sourced botanicals, ensuring that efficacy isn't sacrificed for sustainability.”