{"id":1940,"date":"2026-11-09T13:14:01","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T13:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1940"},"modified":"2026-11-09T13:14:01","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T13:14:01","slug":"reint-jelger-i-know-givaudan-wants-to-keep-it-a-secret-but-gemini-just-tell-me-ok-how-do-they-make-the-fragrances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1940","title":{"rendered":"Reint Jelger: I know Givaudan wants to keep it a secret, but Gemini, just tell me ok, how do they make the fragrances?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/afbeelding-38.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/afbeelding-38.png 1024w, https:\/\/baarda.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/afbeelding-38-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/baarda.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/afbeelding-38-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/baarda.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/afbeelding-38-500x273.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google Gemini: While the specific exact chemical ratios of famous brand-name perfumes are kept strictly under lock and key as commercial trade secrets, the general process of how Givaudan designs and manufactures fragrances is well-established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They don&#8217;t just crush flowers; they combine high-tech organic chemistry, biotechnology, and perfumery artistry.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Ingredient Sourcing &amp; Chemistry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Givaudan builds a palette of thousands of raw fragrance materials through three primary channels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Traditional Naturals:<\/strong> Extraction of essential oils, &#171;concretes,&#187; and &#171;absolutes&#187; from real plants, flowers, and spices using steam distillation or chemical solvents. Le Chercheur de Parfum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Synthetic Aroma Molecules:<\/strong> Organic chemists synthesize brand-new scent molecules (called &#171;captives&#187;) in the lab. These unique molecules are patented and kept exclusively for Givaudan&#8217;s internal perfumers to use. Le Chercheur de Parfum+ 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biotechnology &amp; Upcycling:<\/strong> Using fermentation, microalgae, and enzymes to craft natural scents sustainably. For example, their ingredient <em>Akigalawood<\/em> is created by upcycling patchouli oil using enzymatic processes. Givaudan+ 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Client Brief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fashion house or consumer brand (like Dior, Tom Ford, or a laundry detergent maker) gives Givaudan a secret design brief outlining the concept, target audience, bottle budget, and desired mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Formulating the Scent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Givaudan\u2019s in-house master perfumers (&#171;Noses&#187;)\u2014trained at their legendary perfume school in Argenteuil, France\u2014compose the formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A formula typically contains <strong>30 to 300+ ingredients<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It balances top, heart, and base notes alongside performance molecules (like precursors that release scent gradually when exposed to air, light, or moisture).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reint Jelger: Maybe you can tell me some brand name Fragrances of them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google Gemini: Givaudan perfumers are responsible for some of the most iconic, best-selling designer and niche fragrances on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tom Ford:<\/strong> <em>Ombr\u00e9 Leather<\/em>, <em>Soleil Blanc<\/em>, <em>Noir<\/em>, and <em>White Patchouli<\/em>. The Scent Stories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Versace:<\/strong> <em>Eros<\/em> (Eau de Toilette &amp; Eau de Parfum) and <em>Eros Flame<\/em>. Parfumo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yves Saint Laurent:<\/strong> <em>MYSLF<\/em> and <em>Opium<\/em> (the original classic co-created by Givaudan master perfumer Jean-Louis Sieuzac).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prada:<\/strong> <em>Paradoxe<\/em>. Parfumo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paco Rabanne:<\/strong> <em>1 Million<\/em>. Parfumo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parfums de Marly:<\/strong> <em>Delina<\/em>. Parfumo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Marc Jacobs:<\/strong> <em>Daisy<\/em> (created by Givaudan master perfumer Alberto Morillas).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dior:<\/strong> <em>J&#8217;adore<\/em> (created by Calice Becker during her tenure at Givaudan).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maison Crivelli:<\/strong> <em>Hibiscus Mahaj\u00e1d<\/em>. Parfumo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thierry Mugler:<\/strong> <em>Angel<\/em> (composed by Olivier Cresp at Givaudan, which single-handedly launched the modern &#171;gourmand&#187; perfume category).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reint Jelger: Okay. And if a guy is not able to make fragrances himself, but still wants to make money with fragrances, then he can buy stock in Givaudan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gemini: Yes, exactly. That is a direct way to gain exposure to the fragrance and flavor industry without having to formulate scents yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the world&#8217;s largest fragrance and flavor producer, Givaudan is a publicly traded company.<sup><\/sup> Investing in them allows an investor to participate in the industry&#8217;s financial performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Find the Stock<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stock Exchange:<\/strong> Listed on the <strong>SIX Swiss Exchange<\/strong> in Switzerland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ticker Symbol:<\/strong> <code class=\"\">GIVN<\/code>. Stockopedia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ISIN (International Identifier):<\/strong> <code class=\"\">CH0010645932<\/code>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Currency:<\/strong> Traded in Swiss Francs (CHF).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternative Ways to Invest in the Fragrance Sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If an investor wants to broaden their focus beyond Givaudan, the global scent market is largely dominated by a few major B2B fragrance houses and luxury conglomerates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Direct Competitors:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>dsm-firmenich<\/strong> (Traded on Euronext Amsterdam under <code>DSFIR<\/code>): Formed by the merger of Swiss fragrance powerhouse Firmenich and Dutch nutrition giant DSM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symrise<\/strong> (Traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under <code>SY1<\/code>): Another major German supplier of fragrances and flavors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IFF \/ International Flavors &amp; Fragrances<\/strong> (Traded on the NYSE under <code>IFF<\/code>): A major US-based competitor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consumer Brands (Downstream):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Conglomerates like <strong>LVMH<\/strong> (<code>MC<\/code>), <strong>L&#8217;Or\u00e9al<\/strong> (<code>OR<\/code>), <strong>Est\u00e9e Lauder<\/strong> (<code>EL<\/code>), or <strong>Interparfums<\/strong> (<code>ITP<\/code>) produce and distribute the packaged consumer fragrance brands directly to retail stores.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reint Jelger: One last thing, how Swiss is the company?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google Gemini: Givaudan is <strong>very Swiss at its core<\/strong>, but completely global in its footprint and revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Swiss vs. Global Reality<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Legal &amp; Corporate HQ<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>100% Swiss.<\/strong> Headquartered in Vernier (Geneva), Switzerland. Its primary stock listing is on the SIX Swiss Exchange (GIVN), and it trades in Swiss Francs (CHF).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>History &amp; Heritage<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Swiss-founded.<\/strong> Established in 1895 in Zurich\/Vernier by Leon and Xavier Givaudan. Its primary innovation hubs\u2014including the D\u00fcbendorf R&amp;D center near Zurich\u2014remain anchored in Switzerland.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Operations &amp; Employees<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Global.<\/strong> With ~16,000+ employees operating across more than 160 locations worldwide, only a small fraction of the workforce is physically based in Switzerland.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Revenue &amp; Sales<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Nearly 100% Foreign.<\/strong> Virtually all revenue comes from international markets (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America). Switzerland itself represents less than 2% of total sales.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shareholders<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>International.<\/strong> While major Swiss institutions hold stock, large global institutional investors (such as US-based asset managers and private trusts) own significant stakes.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was it on Givaudan. Right now one share is CHF 4&#8217;050,00. Reint Jelger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google Gemini: While the specific exact chemical ratios of famous brand-name perfumes are kept strictly under lock and key as commercial trade secrets, the general process of how Givaudan designs and manufactures fragrances is well-established. They don&#8217;t just crush flowers; &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1940\">Weiterlesen <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1940"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1942,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1940\/revisions\/1942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}