Working with Flavor and Fragrance Suppliers
What to know to be prepared for working with flavor and fragrance suppliers
Flavor and fragrance suppliers are used for a variety of products in every facet of your life. From household products to cold beverages, the flavor industry is widespread. There is a lot more to selecting the appropriate flavor or fragrance for a specific product than just what smells or tastes good. Flavor and fragrance companies use a significant amount of science when matching flavors to each product.When considering hiring flavor manufacturers, there is a lot you should know about working with flavor and fragrance suppliers. Certain suppliers of flavor will be better suited for your products than others. Some fragrance manufacturers specialize in personal care products, while another flavor manufacturer may be especially skilled in dairy products. Consider the following when choosing flavor and fragrance distributors:
1. Speak to many flavor and fragrance companies about your products to see which one would be better suited for your business.
2. Choose one product line to work on at a time with your flavor suppliers.
3. Request prototypes from the fragrance supplier before accepting a work agreement.
4. Remember that they are experts in the flavor industry.
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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
- 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.
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