2021 End of Year Letter from Fragrance Creators President & CEO

Dear Fragrance Creators Members,

It feels like just yesterday it was mid-February. Where did the time go? Perhaps when we find purpose in our work—even in the face of unprecedented challenge—time flies. Time also flies when we are driven by forces for good—responsible industry stewards, like you, who have empowered the association to continue to deliver measurable good for people and the planet.

As 2021 comes to a close, I find myself grateful for your support and the opportunities to expand my relationships with our members. I see how we are all rowing in the same direction: Advancing responsible industry growth and longevity and ensuring the critical coordination needed for the fragrance industry at-large to play a real role in solving social and environmental challenges of our time.

As we look toward 2022 and beyond, in advance of publishing our 2021 Impact Report, I wanted to share with you some of our successes and advancements from this year.

Fragrance Creators Solidified Our Best-in-Class Scientific & Technical Capabilities. This year, with record engagement from you, we have been recognized by U.S. and Canadian government authorities and industry stakeholders as the qualified, trustworthy advocate for sound, science-based regulation and legislation.

Our scientific programs, technical committees, and task forces leverage the expertise of over a thousand member scientists from a variety of disciplines—135 toxicologists, 225 chemists, 220 regulatory scientists, 250 experts in quality assurance and control, 120 sustainability specialists, and more in field of environmental and human safety, research and development, regulatory affairs, worker safety, product stewardship, and other specialized capabilities.

Diverse Membership and Inclusive Perspectives. An association’s strength and representation is predicated on its membership. Here at Fragrance Creators, our 50+ member companies range from:

• Large multinational to small/medium fragrance manufacturers and distributors—from the largest fragrance compounder in the world, to the smallest
  • Veteran owned/operated fragrance manufacturers
  • Perfumer-owned fragrance design studio
  • Women-owned fragrance distributor
  • Family-owned fragrance technology company
  • And more. . .
• Representing large multinationals to small finished goods companies—from the largest consumer products company in the world to single sole proprietor
• And a host of supporting firms from media to software to transportation and more!

This diversity in membership opens up pathways to ensure fair marketplace competition, opportunity for all responsible companies, and a real voice as we endeavor to advance sustainable chemistries and technologies, fragrance education, and more. By including perspectives from across the fragrance value chain, we ensure that everyone has a voice to shape the future of our industry.

Add to that, our political footprint that spans 29 states and 78 Congressional districts. Over the course of 2021, Fragrance Creators had over 150 touchpoints with Members of Congress and their staff to discuss key issues of importance to the fragrance industry, including new chemical approvals to advance a sustainable U.S. economy, cosmetics modernization, tax reform, and supply chain challenges.

Caring for the Consumer. We believe the fragrance industry has an obligation ensure consumers have access to high quality, understandable fragrance education. Because you saw that Fragrance Creators had an important role to play, sometimes fierce competitors came together to build a consumer tool that effectively communicates and reduces the risk of confusion: The Fragrance Conservatory. In 2021 we added 200 more ingredients bringing our total up to 250, and have a pathway to 550 in 2022.

Essential, Timely Compliance Tools. Regulatory and legislative matters move quickly, and Fragrance Creators prides itself in our ability to quickly communicate need-to-know information to our members. This year, we built upon our work by creating, refining, and expanding our compliance tools and member webinars. We remain highly responsive to address members’ fast evolving needs.

Key Takeaway from 2021. When our government and industry stakeholders, NGOs, and the public want to know about fragrance or where the fragrance industry stands on an issue, they turn to the Fragrance Creators Association. They also trust that we will take initiative and be proactive in helping our members deliver meaningful value to economy, political discourse, and social, and environmental challenges of our time. 

The association—your association—has become a fragrance value chain imperative this half decade. We look forward to working with our Co-Chairs, Bob Weinstein (Robertet) and Cynthia Reichard (Arylessence), Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, and YOU to—together—deliver even more in 2022 and beyond.

From me and from the entire Fragrance Creators team—we express our gratitude for you. It is an honor to work for such a values-driven membership. We wish you and your loved ones a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. 

Most warmly,

Farah and team