Guide to Flavor and Fragrance Suppliers Key Terms

Know the lingo to help you communicate with flavor and fragrance suppliers

By Emily Lugg

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know the difference between suppliers of flavor that are artificial versus natural

Depending on the type of product you offer, you may have different limitations with what types of ingredients can go into your products. Natural and artificial flavor and fragrances can produce the same flavors and aromas but can be different in their components. Although artificial flavors may have some ingredients that are derived from natural products, they also include other chemical compounds and have undergone processing that completes their flavor profile. Natural flavors may include some of the same natural ingredients as in artificial flavors, but they don't have other chemical compounds or have not undergone what may be considered unnatural processing. In essence, the use of natural or artificial flavors and fragrances may come down to any claims or product guidelines you need to consider.

I recommend: FKS allows you to search for natural flavors and flavor chemicals on its website. It may be helpful to refer to the Food and Drug Administration's policy on human consumption to make sure you are clear on the definitions as defined by the FDA.

Know the sweeteners that your flavor and fragrance vendors use

There are many natural sweeteners that you are likely familiar with, such as honey, maple syrup and fruit juice concentrates, that you can use to stay within certain limitations that your product line may have. However, the world of artificial sweeteners is quite large, so it is important to be familiar with them in case the flavor supplier recommends using one in your products. Some of the more common artificial sweeteners are saccharin (Sweet 'n Low) and sucralose (Splenda).

I recommend: Natural Nutrition gives a good breakdown of what natural sweetener options are available and what products they are best suited for. MedicineNet.com describes artificial sweeteners and their effects.

Understand the sensory evaluation terminology that fragrance manufacturers use to evaluate products

Sensory evaluation is the evaluation of consumer products using the five human senses. In sensory terms, these are noted as the flavor, aroma, texture and appearance of any product you create. These attributes are key to making sure your next product launch is a success. You may have your own sensory evaluation department within the research and development area of your company, but the initial evaluation begins with the fragrance and flavor suppliers, so it is important to know whether the notes they are getting from your products will be positive or negative to your consumer.

I recommend: Yuranga Wine Imports gives an example of sensory evaluation terms in relation to different types of wine. Prepared Foods outlines the sensory process and describes how it fits into your product development.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Depending on the size of your company and the number of products you create, you may want to consider sending some of your employees to be trained in the methods of sensory evaluation. Sensory is divided up into both trained and untrained panelists. Sending some of your employees to be trained in sensory would not only allow them to do descriptive analysis on your products but also to learn the tools they would need to administer consumer testing on untrained panelists.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the science behind the fragrance and flavor industry

What is only a scent or a flavor to us, is a complex chemical description to the scientist creating the formula. Flavor and fragrance suppliers are the industry experts in finding the correct chemical balance to provide manufacturers the taste and smell to their products.

I recommend: Companies like Spectra Flavor & Fragrance Research, LLC wonderfully explain the scientific process used by flavor manufacturers and fragrance manufacturers.

Utilize hands on flavor and fragrance suppliers

Companies such as Flavor Knowledge System (FKS), Inc. encourage their consumers to be completely in the know about their products and services. Their Flavor Creator(TM) 3.50 is also now available to help give you a skeleton to start on your flavor creation.

I recommend: FKS is one of the few fragrance and flavor suppliers to offer their clients training to create their own flavors.

Check out one of the newest flavor and fragrance suppliers

Agilex Flavors and Fragrances comes to you as one of the newest flavor and fragrance distributors.

I recommend: Agilex came about after the consolidation of six well known fragrance and flavor suppliers. They have assembled a talented, dynamic group, and they are ready to prove themselves in the industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When shopping around for flavor & fragrance companies, ask about their latest innovations. You might be pleasantly surprised if they have a technology that could blow away your competition.
• •  Don't rule out the little guy. A smaller manufacturer may be just the right fit for your company's need.

Guide to Working with Flavor and Fragrance Suppliers

What to know to be prepared for working with flavor and fragrance suppliers

By Emily Lugg

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate which flavor manufacturer is best suited for your products

Some flavor and fragrance companies specialize in certain types of products. This is an important consideration when choosing a flavor house. Most companies have experience in both flavor and fragrance, but they may have something in particular that they have perfected over the years like covering up a specific off-note or working with an odd texture. Let each company show you their unique talents.

I recommend: Companies like Givaudan work with both flavor and fragrance for consumer products and food and beverages. Firmenich, too, offers services for both fragrances and food and beverage.

Remember what one flavor supplier provides for a product will not work for all products

Each medium has a separate set of obstacles when it comes to flavorings and fragrances. What works in a dairy product will not necessarily work in a water-based product; the same goes for cosmetics and household products. It is important that you understand that headway the fragrance and flavor company makes will not necessarily apply to your whole product line. Work with them to perfect one product at a time.

I recommend: ATDC USA provides a coffee flavor wheel that is representative of the types of information -- specific for each product -- your fragrance and flavor suppliers will take into consideration to achieve certain attributes. Find-Help.com offers insight into the fragrance wheel, which will help you understand the different categories of fragrance that your products may fall into.

Taste or smell prototypes that fragrance & flavor companies produce

You don't want to sign an agreement with your fragrance and flavor supplier until you are sure you are satisfied with the finished product. Flavor manufacturers will produce prototypes for you to show you generally what the finished product will taste or smell like if you purchase their flavor. Because they want to make you, the customer, happy, they will make numerous prototypes until you are sure you are getting what you want. Many times a tasting/smelling session will take place in order to showcase what the company has produced for you. At this time it will ask for your suggestions. For example, is it too sweet? Not sweet enough? To citrus-like? Not enough cinnamon? The company can then modify the flavors it has presented and apply to your base product to give you an idea of what your products will be like when flavored by the fragrance or flavor company.

I recommend: Sensory Analysis Center gives an example of the types of attributes you might note while evaluating your products with the flavor provider. Young's Market Company also has an example of attributes that might be noted during a product evaluation.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It's OK to request prototypes from more then one fragrance and flavor supplier at a time to decide which flavor or fragrance you prefer in your products. Part of a supplier's job is to find innovative ways to deliver flavor or fragrance in your product. Take advantage of this expertise.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find flavor and fragrance suppliers news from online publications

Those looking for updates on flavor manufacturers, flavor suppliers or their counterparts in the fragrance industry have a lot to choose from on the web, from regular 'online magazines' to formal journals with a web presence. Evaluate these pubs and see which ones have the most relevance to a flavor or fragrance business goal.

I recommend: Get the scoop on current R&D practices for top firms, as well as other relevant stories, from Chemical Week. Find more from the Flavor and Fragrance Journal, a formal peer-reviewed publication.

Use directory sites to get a lot of links to relevant sources on flavor and fragrance suppliers

Some larger sites compile links to a variety of flavor and fragrance companies, informational sources and other resources, so that the business reader can find what directly applies to a particular question or concern. This kind of research can often turn up just the kind of inside information a web surfer is looking for, turns up information on what others think about a perfume or product.

I recommend: Find a large directory-type collection of links to flavor and fragrance suppliers resources from Leffingwell & Associates. Another flavor and fragrance directory site is published by International Flavors & Fragrances.

Get more flavor and fragrance suppliers news from blogs

Blogs are another good web source for this kind of market research, where independent voices give insight into what's happening in the industry. You can find out what's happening at fragrance supplier shops and other parts of the field.

I recommend: Get an independent perspective on fragrances at blogs like The Fragrance Man. Get more on flavor & fragrance companies from TalkingPerfume.com.