The firm is no longer pursuing this investigation. But, per the below form, if you have a comment on this or one of our other investigations or cases, we encourage you to share your experience or thoughts.
FRAGRANCE MANUFACTURERS INVESTIGATED FOR PRICE FIXING & MARKET ALLOCATION
On March 7, 2023, the European Commission, in collaboration with the United States Department of Justice and other competition authorities announced investigations involving the following fragrance houses:
- International Flavors & Fragrances (United States)
- Firmenich (Switzerland)
- Givaudan (Switzerland)
- Symrise (Germany)
Authorities indicate that the fragrance houses potentially coordinated price increases, allocated markets, and limited the sale of certain fragrances and ingredients.
The companies under investigation are the four biggest worldwide manufacturers of fragrances and fragrance ingredients, accounting for more than half of the global market. These houses focus on creating unique blends of fragrance compounds and sell them to consumer-oriented businesses.
Their customers include cosmetic industry clients, such as perfume and toiletries manufacturers and the household products industry, including manufacturers of soaps, air fresheners, and various household cleaning solutions.
Publicly available information shows that the four fragrance manufacturers’ prices—and profits—have been increasing in recent years, in some cases dramatically. This is consistent with a classic illegal price-fixing scheme. Businesses that purchase fragrances to make soap, personal care lotions and creams, candles, perfumes, room sprays, diffusers, or other scented or flavored products would likely have paid any allegedly unlawful price increases.