Fragrance Creators Convenes First Fragrance Salon at the White House

The Fragrance Creators Association (FCA) convened the first fragrance salon held at the White House, bringing the voice of America’s fragrance industry directly to senior executive branch officials.

More than 200 guests, including senior White House officials and leaders from across the Administration, experienced a curated showcase led by FCA to show attendees what it delivers to the business and the human experience. Across the two-day program, FCA’s Capitol Hill perfumery event — themed the “Scent of Innovation” — drew more than 350 attendees, bringing the fragrance innovation directly to lawmakers and their staff and deepening relationships on both sides of the aisle, officials said.

“Fragrance is one of America’s most innovation-intensive industries, and we believe it is our responsibility to lead the way towards a future where chemistry can accelerate the economy and deliver better for the public and the environment,” said Farah Ahmed, president & CEO of FCA. “Our members came to Washington to drive results — and to show that when industry and government work together, with greener chemistries, AI-enabled formulation, and a science-based partnership with regulators, the United States can lead the world in both public health and wellbeing and economic growth. Today, the industry lives at the frontier of molecular innovation — where a single new ingredient can open an entire olfactory territory that did not exist a decade ago.”

Industry leaders stressed fragrance is an $80-billion-plus American economic engine that supports jobs, innovation, public health and wellbeing. More than helping consumers smell of their most confidence selves, officials said the category is also a leader in newer, greener chemistries and advanced pro-environmental technologies including breakthrough science that protects biodiversity.

Trade Wins

This week’s fly-in builds on a solid track record. FCA recently secured tariff exclusions for 48 of 51 fragrance-related import classifications under a 2026 Section 232 proclamation — one of several trade wins that together have protected an estimated $2 billion in fragrance trade and the jobs that depend on it. FCA is also reportedly the sole sector of the chemical economy that has built an EPA-supported framework for responsible, low-risk, low-exposure innovation — a model for how science-based collaboration with regulators brings safe products to market faster. From federal agencies to state capitals, with strong vision and mobilization, FCA has reframed the fragrance industry as essential and a leader in innovation and established the relationships, coalitions, and influence infrastructure to deliver measurable value across the entire fragrance value chain.

As policymakers work to address challenges in current TSCA implementation, the fragrance industry stands ready to spritz its aid.

“Other countries are moving fast, and a modern pathway for American-led innovation won’t just keep us from falling behind; it will put US companies — and the people they employ — out front,” concluded Ahmed.