FRAGRANCES
How a pandemic has changed the way consumers
explore fragrance
Together with Fragrance Oils, Chemgrit Cosmetics continually monitors all sectors to identify the latest themes, fragrance trends and ingredients influencing new product development. While very few aspects of life have been untouched by COVID-19, in this article both companies explore how the ongoing pandemic has impacted the fragrance industry.
W
HILE SALES FIGURES in fine
escape and reclaim a sense of calm in their homes.
fragrance felt the effect of
For many, fragrances have helped with both –
lockdown lifestyles, scents still
emerging as a key player in boosting one’s mood
provided a glimmer of hope for the wider
and countering the stresses of the pandemic.
personal care market. Having changed the face of beauty, personal care and fragrance as we
FRAGRANCE GETS FUNCTIONAL
know it, a closer look into all of these sectors
Certainly, for many of us, the experiences of
shows that fragrance has weathered the storm
this year have changed our lifestyles and even
better than others.
how we think of fragrance. Nowadays, the
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened
concept of wellbeing and health is present in
appreciation for fragrance, having remained a core
all categories – home care, beauty and body
aspect of consumer’s day-to-day lives. Amidst
care – and fine fragrance is no exception. As
the often-overwhelming news cycle and period
our enthusiasm on the intricacies of wellbeing
of instability, people have sought new ways to
grow, consumers are quickly learning that
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QUARTER 3 2021 // P&C AFRICA
scent is an exceptional resource when they need a hit of happy. Off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to prioritise one’s mental wellbeing has strengthened rapidly, and we want more from fragrance than ever before. We want a real emotive impact from the scents with which we surround ourselves, and so the functional fragrance trend is poised on the cusp of a boom. Cognitive function and the olfactory system are closely linked. The sense of smell is essentially the highway to the brain, and one of the fastest ways to impact one’s emotional state. While consumers are no stranger to trends such as
