Top 12 Fragrance and Perfume Investors in Benelux
Top 12 Fragrance and Perfume Investors in Benelux
The fragrance and perfume industry in Benelux is vibrant and evolving, marked by a mix of established brands and innovative startups. Companies create offerings ranging from luxury perfumes to niche scent products, catering to changing consumer preferences for personalization and sustainability. Insights reveal a growing trend towards eco-conscious choices, with natural ingredients gaining traction. The industry is increasingly focusing on digital transformation, utilizing e-commerce platforms and social media to reach broader audiences. Moreover, the appeal of artisanal scents, combined with a robust beauty market, positions Benelux as an exciting hub for fragrance innovation and investment opportunities.
The investors in this list comprise a variety of entities, from venture capitalists to corporate giants. Headquartered in key cities like Amsterdam and Brussels, these firms boast sizes ranging from small teams to large organizations with thousands of employees. Established between 1904 and 2022, they've collectively engaged in over 100 investment rounds in 2024 alone, indicating a strong interest in the fragrance and perfume sector. Their capital infusion reflects commitment to innovation and market expansion, revealing a dynamic investment environment.
Top 12 Fragrance and Perfume Investors in Benelux
1. Coty
- Website: coty.com
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Founded year: 1904
- Headcount: 10001+
- LinkedIn: coty
Coty Inc. is a prominent beauty company founded in 1904, headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It specializes in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of a diverse range of beauty products, including fragrances, cosmetics, and skin care. Coty serves both consumers and beauty professionals, emphasizing innovative solutions that celebrate diverse beauty. The company has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its portfolio in the fragrance sector, including the acquisition of Bourjois in 2014, which is known for its fragrance offerings. In 2019, Coty acquired Kylie Cosmetics, a brand that also includes fragrance products. Additionally, Coty entered into a partnership to acquire a 60% stake in Younique, further expanding its reach in the beauty and fragrance market. With a strong focus on sustainability and inclusivity, Coty operates globally and continues to be a significant player in the fragrance industry.
2. Azelis
- Website: azelis.com
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
- Founded year: 2001
- Headcount: 1001-5000
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: azelis
Azelis is a corporate investor based in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 2001. As a specialty chemical distributor and innovation service provider, Azelis caters to over 63,000 customers across various sectors, including life sciences and industrial markets. In recent years, Azelis has expanded its footprint in the fragrance and perfume industry through strategic acquisitions. Notably, they acquired a majority stake in Ashapura Aromas Private Limited, a leading distributor in the flavors and fragrances market in India, enhancing their presence in the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, they acquired Vigon International, a specialty distributor and manufacturer of ingredients for the flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics markets. These transactions underscore Azelis's commitment to strengthening its capabilities and offerings in the fragrance sector, making them a significant player in this industry.
3. Verlinvest
- Website: verlinvest.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- Founded year: 1995
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: verlinvest
Verlinvest is a venture capital firm based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1995. The firm specializes in high-growth consumer brands across various sectors, including food, beverage, health, and technology. They provide long-term capital and strategic advisory services to help brands scale and innovate. Notably, Verlinvest has invested in Juicy Chemistry, an organic skin and personal care brand, which raised $6.3 million in a Series A funding round led by Verlinvest. This investment aims to strengthen the company's position in the clean and organic beauty segment, which often includes fragrance products. Additionally, they participated in the funding round for Revea, a company focused on beauty technology, indicating their engagement in the beauty and personal care market. Their diverse portfolio reflects a commitment to consumer needs and sustainable practices, making them a significant player in the beauty investment landscape.
4. Vendis Capital
- Website: vendiscapital.com
- Type: Private Equity
- Headquarters: Machelen, Flanders, Belgium
- Founded year: 2009
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 3
- LinkedIn: vendis-capital
Vendis Capital is a private equity investment firm based in Machelen, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in consumer scale-ups, providing capital and strategic support to help businesses grow internationally and implement effective digitalization strategies. Vendis Capital partners with entrepreneurs to enhance their market presence and achieve sustainable growth. Notably, they have acquired a majority stake in Skins Cosmetics, a Dutch luxury niche beauty retailer with a presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, and South Africa, which indicates their commitment to the beauty sector. Additionally, they participated in a funding round for Pink Gellac, a brand that operates within the beauty industry, further showcasing their interest in consumer brands that may include fragrance and perfume products.
5. Prosus Group
- Website: prosus.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Founded year: 2019
- Headcount: 10001+
- Number of deals in 2024: 21
- LinkedIn: prosus-group
Prosus Group is a global technology investor and operator based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2019. The firm focuses on enhancing everyday life through technology across various sectors, including online classifieds, food delivery, payments, and education technology. In the beauty sector, Prosus has made significant investments, such as a $10 million Series B funding for Beauty Haul and participation in a $150 million Series D funding round for The Good Glamm Group, which is involved in beauty and personal care products. These investments highlight Prosus's commitment to fostering innovation and growth in the beauty industry, which often includes fragrance and perfume products.
6. Exor N.V.
- Website: exor.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Founded year: 2009
- Headcount: 11-50
- Number of deals in 2024: 26
- LinkedIn: exor_2
Exor N.V. is a holding company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2009. It operates across various sectors including automotive, healthcare, and media, and manages a diverse portfolio of companies such as Ferrari, Stellantis, and Philips. Exor focuses on enhancing value through strategic investments and operational support. Notably, Exor has made a significant investment in Christian Louboutin, acquiring a 24% stake for approximately $643 million. This investment aims to enhance Louboutin's brand presence, particularly in China, and highlights Exor's interest in the luxury market, which includes fragrances. Additionally, Exor has participated in various funding rounds for other companies, although these are less relevant to the fragrance sector.
7. Sgh
- Website: sghcapital.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Luxembourg
- Founded year: 2015
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 3
- LinkedIn: sghcapital
SGH Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2015, based in Luxembourg, that specializes in investing in early and mid-stage disruptive companies across various sectors, including fintech and blockchain. They provide capital and strategic support to innovative businesses primarily in the US and western Europe, helping them to grow and succeed in competitive markets. Notably, SGH Capital has participated in funding rounds for Scentbird, a New York-based startup that offers a subscription service for fragrances. They invested $2.8 million in a funding round announced on March 30, 2016, and previously contributed to a $1 million seed round for Scentbird on August 12, 2015. These transactions highlight SGH Capital's engagement in the fragrance and perfume industry, showcasing their interest in supporting innovative companies within this sector.
8. European Innovation Council (EIC)
- Website: eic.ec.europa.eu
- Type: Corporate
- Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- Founded year: 1958
- Headcount: 201-500
- Number of deals in 2024: 57
- LinkedIn: european-innovation-council-eic
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. Among its notable transactions, the EIC has invested in NanoScent, a company that raised significant funding through a Series A round and convertible notes, focusing on scent technology, which is pertinent to the fragrance and perfume industry. Additionally, the EIC has provided grants to NanoScent, further demonstrating its commitment to fostering innovation in sectors that include fragrance technology. This involvement highlights the EIC's role in supporting advancements that can impact the fragrance and perfume market.
9. V3 Ventures
- Website: v3.ventures
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- Founded year: 2022
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 9
- LinkedIn: v3-venture
V3 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 2022. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage consumer businesses across various sectors, including wellness, food, and lifestyle. V3 Ventures aims to support founders by providing capital and strategic guidance to help them build strong brands and achieve growth. Notably, they participated in the funding round for Revea, which raised $6 million to expand its mobile experience and manufacturing capabilities. This involvement in a beauty-related company highlights their interest in sectors that may include fragrance and perfume products, aligning with their broader investment strategy.
10. Borski Fund
- Website: borskifund.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Founded year: 2019
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 3
- LinkedIn: borskifund
Borski Fund is a venture capital fund based in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2019. The fund focuses on investing in companies led by women or that cater to women, aiming to reduce the gender gap in venture capital. They provide financial support and business advisory services to female entrepreneurs, leveraging their extensive network and experience to help these businesses grow and succeed. Notably, Borski Fund led a €3.2 million seed investment in Parfumado Group, an online platform for discovering perfumes and beauty products. This investment, announced on September 8, 2022, is aimed at accelerating Parfumado's international expansion, strategic collaborations, and product innovation, highlighting Borski Fund's active role in the fragrance and perfume industry.
11. dsm-firmenich
- Website: dsm-firmenich.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
- Headcount: 10001+
- Number of deals in 2024: 3
- LinkedIn: dsmfirmenich
dsm-firmenich is a for-profit company based in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands, operating primarily in the nutrition, health, and beauty sectors. The company provides a diverse array of products, including fragrances, nutritional supplements, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, dsm-firmenich serves various industries, offering innovative solutions aimed at enhancing product offerings and addressing sustainability challenges. One notable transaction in their portfolio is the investment in Isobionics, which raised an undisclosed amount in a venture round on March 24, 2014. This investment aligns with their interest in fragrance and flavor innovations, further solidifying their role in the fragrance and perfume industry.
12. imec.xpand
- Website: imecxpand.com
- Type: Venture Capital
- Headquarters: Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Founded year: 2017
- Headcount: 1-10
- Number of deals in 2024: 5
- LinkedIn: imec.xpand
imec.xpand is a venture capital fund based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 2017. The fund specializes in providing investment and operational support to early-stage deep tech companies, particularly in the semiconductor and nanotechnology sectors. imec.xpand aims to foster innovation by leveraging imec's expertise and infrastructure to help startups navigate their development and market challenges. One notable transaction is their co-lead investment in MouSensor, Inc., which raised $3.3M in seed funding to develop a platform that digitizes the sense of smell. This investment highlights imec.xpand's interest in technologies that intersect with sensory experiences, making them a potential player in the fragrance and perfume industry.
Fragrance and Perfume Insights: Key Investors in Benelux
| Investor | Headquarter | Size | Founded | Deals 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coty | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | 10001+ | 1904 | 0 |
| Azelis | Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium | 1001-5000 | 2001 | 5 |
| Verlinvest | Brussels, Brussels, Belgium | 11-50 | 1995 | 5 |
| Vendis Capital | Machelen, Flanders, Belgium | 11-50 | 2009 | 3 |
| Prosus Group | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | 10001+ | 2019 | 21 |
| Exor N.V. | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | 11-50 | 2009 | 26 |
| Sgh | Luxembourg | 1-10 | 2015 | 3 |
| European Innovation Council (EIC) | Brussels, Brussels, Belgium | 201-500 | 1958 | 57 |
| V3 Ventures | Brussels, Brussels, Belgium | 1-10 | 2022 | 9 |
| Borski Fund | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | 1-10 | 2019 | 3 |
| dsm-firmenich | Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands | 10001+ | 3 | |
| imec.xpand | Leuven, Flanders, Belgium | 1-10 | 2017 | 5 |
Want to find more investors focusing on the fragrance and perfume industry?
If you want to find more investors that are active in the fragrance and perfumeindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.With Inven, you'll also get to know:
- Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
- Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
- Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
- ...and much more!
.jpg)
Trusted by 800+ companies
