The consumer goods giant is continuing its strategic investment across its global capabilities with opening of a new fragrance hub in Mumbai, India. The new facility is strengthening Unilever’s global network of fragrance innovation capabilities across key growth markets.
The new Unilever Fragrance House (UFH) hub in Mumbai represents the latest milestone in Unilever’s EUR 100 million global investment to advance in-house, digitally enabled fragrance creation capabilities, accelerating innovation and supporting premiumisation across the portfolio.
According to the group, India is one of the world’s most dynamic fragrance markets, with rapidly evolving consumer preferences and increasing demand for premium products and experiences. The new lab reinforces India’s role not only as a priority high-growth market but also as a global centre of R&D excellence, for both local and global audiences.
“Fragrance is one of the most powerful ways we create desire for our brands,” says Jane Maciver, incoming Head of Unilever Fragrance House. “It shapes first impressions, influences product preference and helps turn everyday routines into memorable experiences. The new India hub strengthens our ability to combine science, creativity and digital technology to create fragrances that are locally relevant, globally scalable and developed faster than ever before.”
AI, neuroscience and insights
Located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Powai in Mumbai, the 400 square metre lab is a fully integrated fragrance creation, application and evaluation facility, combining proprietary creation software, real-time evaluation data capture and advanced compounding technologies.
According to Unilever, it will enable teams to design, test and refine fragrances end-to-end, using AI, digital modelling, robotics and real-time data analytics to speed up developments.
“India is one of the most exciting growth markets in the world, with rapidly evolving consumer tastes and growing demand for premium fragrance experiences,” says Vibhav Sanzgiri, Unilever’s Chief R&D Officer, India. “This new capability helps us stay closer to our consumers, move faster from insight to innovation and create fragrances that make our brands more distinctive, desirable and relevant.”
