4 December 2023
Under the Radar: The company that provides fragrances to Ariana Grande’s R.E.M and Calvin Klein's CK One – DSMFirmenich on the importance of its perfumery business post-merger, role of key Asian markets
Today we’re going to talk about a company formed from the merger of one of the world’s largest privately-owned fragrance & taste companies, Firmenich, as well as, DSM, a company who’s touted as a global, purpose-led leader in nutrition, health and well-being.
Formed in May 2023, the combined entity DSM-firmenich defines itself as an innovator in nutrition, health and beauty, with over 150 years of R&D experience.
The firm boasts a team of close to 30,000 employees across four main business areas, namely: (a) Perfumery and beauty, (b) Taste, Texture and Health, (c) Health, Nutrition and Care and (d) Animal Nutrition and Health.
In particular, the former Firmenich brought in over 4 million consumers it serves in over 100 markets several times a day in the fragrances and flavour markets through items like shampoo, shower gel and fine fragrance, including Ariana Grande’s R.E.M and Calvin Klein's CK One.
But how important will the perfumery business be in the newly merged company financially, and how will this influence the strategy ahead for the perfumery business?
Meanwhile, DSM-firmenich remains big on innovation on the perfume side of things. It had in October unveiled five new natural extracts from its Firgood Technology, but what does this mean for the firm where top and bottom lines are concerned?
On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Levenza Toh, VP, Perfumery, SEA, Japan & Korea at DSM-Firmenich.

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