Fragrance Creators Convenes Membership for California Advocacy

The Fragrance Creators Association (FCA) convened with California legislators and state regulators this week for two days of in-depth dialogue on the science, safety and cultural significance of fragrance.

FCA leadership and 11 representatives from nine member companies participated in 22 meetings, including sessions with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), with a shared goal of building deeper mutual understanding on ingredient safety, biodegradability, transparency and innovation.

“These meetings were about building the kind of collaborative relationship with California policymakers that leads to thoughtful, science-based policy — policy that protects consumers and gives the industry room to keep innovating for the people we serve,” said Sarah Erickson André, vice president, government affairs & general counsel at FCA. “We are grateful to our member company representatives, many of whom navigated significant weather-related travel disruptions to be here and advocate on behalf of the fragrance value chain.”

A New Generation Valuing Ingredient Intregrity

Fragrance is deeply tied to personal well-being, self-expression and cultural connection, from the scents that evoke memory and elevate mood to the fragrances that are critical inputs in cleaning, sanitizing and malodor reduction products. That connection is resonating especially strongly with younger consumers: in the US, mass-market fragrance surged 15% in 2025 with Gen Z and Millennial consumers driving much of that momentum, officials said. Globally, the fragrance market was valued at $84.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $143 billion by 2035, officials said. FCA underscored with policymakers that the regulatory choices California make today will directly shape product availability, safety and performance for the next generation of consumers.

A central focus of FCA’s conversations focused on education and helping policymakers understand how fragrance ingredients are evaluated for safety, how formulations are developed, and why a science-based, risk-informed approach best serves consumers and the environment alike. FCA’s nearly 70-member organizations, from independent and global fragrance houses to niche and multinational brands, are investing to meet the expectations of a new generation that values transparency, sustainability and ingredient integrity, while advancing biodegradability research, expanding ingredient education, and developing more high-performance formulations. The sector contributes over $25 billion to the US economy, supports over 200,000 jobs and is a top three purchase driver of the over $1 trillion non-food consumer products market.