Key takeaways on Givaudan investment €60.3m in Grasse
- Givaudan is investing CHF 55 million (€60.3m) to build Campus 52, a new centre of excellence dedicated to natural fragrance ingredients.
- The campus will open in Q1 2028 and will bring together agronomy, innovation, operations, and perfumers under one site.
- The facility will focus on advanced extraction technologies, responsible sourcing, and sustainable ingredient development.
- More than 100 natural perfumery ingredients, including Rose de Mai and jasmine, will be processed at the site.
- The investment strengthens Givaudan’s House of Naturals strategy and supports its 2030 sustainable growth ambitions.
Swiss fragrance and flavours company Givaudan plans to build ‘Campus 52’, its new centre of excellence dedicated to its House of Naturals organisation, which will explore, develop, and produce high‑quality, differentiating natural fragrance ingredients for its perfumers.
Givaudan has invested CHF 55 million (€60.3m) to launch the construction works for Campus 52. Following the acquisition of land in Grasse (the historic town of perfumery,) this represents a strategic commitment to the development of Givaudan’s House of Naturals.
The company expects the new campus to open in Q1 2028.
Campus 52 to unite agronomy, innovation, and perfumery expertise
Built on four pillars – agronomy, innovation, operations, and perfumers – House of Naturals will focus on cutting‑edge extraction technologies and operational excellence to deliver premium ingredients that are supported by Givaudan’s responsible sourcing programme.
Campus 52 will include a production facility and an innovation laboratory and is designed to aid close collaboration between scientists and partners while enhancing perfumers’ inspiration. The site will be surrounded by gardens to “ensure continuity from field to fragrance” and “embody the spirit of sustainable creativity.”
Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan, said Campus 52 represents a return to the company’s roots, where perfumery traditions, know‑how and craftsmanship have flourished for centuries. “This investment is fully aligned with Givaudan’s 2030 strategy, which aims to drive sustainable growth by creating high value‑added fragrance solutions that consumers love,” he said.
“Finest natural ingredients”
From Givaudan’s perspective, the overarching aim of the site is to give customers access to Grasse’s expertise, combined with its global scale and scientific capabilities.
“This Centre of Excellence embodies the very essence of House of Naturals, bringing together innovation, creation, research & development, quality, production, and perfumers under one roof, while remaining closely connected to our Creative Centres around the world,” explained Maxence Billas, Head of House of Naturals at Givaudan.
“All of this is designed to enrich our perfumers’ palette with the finest natural ingredients.”
According to Billas, more than one hundred iconic perfumery ingredients will be processed at the new Centre of Excellence, including iconic rose de mai and jasmine.
“Our goal is simple: to create unique, responsible, and exceptionally high-quality ingredients,” he said.
Billas added that the House of Naturals plans to use a variety of cutting‑edge techniques to develop and produce its ingredients, including plant extraction, expression, distillation, plant fractionation, and biotechnology.
“We also collaborate with numerous external partners through our Open Innovation programs, allowing us to benefit from the latest cutting-edge extraction technologies,” he shared.
