As fragrance increasingly moves beyond sensory appeal into functional well-being, Givaudan is bringing neuroscience deeper into the creative process with the launch of HarmoniScentz, a new patent-pending fragrance design technology intended to help consumers better manage acute stress.
The technology translates five years of physiological and psychological research into actionable design guidelines for perfumers, providing a scientific framework for developing stress-management fragrances without restricting olfactive creativity. Its potential applications span fine fragrance, personal care, air care and fabric care.
The research involved testing a broad range of fragrances with more than 300 participants. A central component is OrbiScanz, Givaudan's proprietary wearable biometric platform, which captures multiple physiological signals in real time during validated acute stress protocols. Researchers combine these measurements with psychological data and advanced modeling to identify patterns in how fragrance may influence the body's response to stress.
"Stress can develop within seconds, which makes it particularly challenging to study," said Simon Ellwood, head of health and well-being, Fragrance & Beauty at Givaudan. "OrbiScanz gives our research teams a multidimensional view of physiological responses as they happen. Combining these signals with psychological data and advanced modeling allows us to uncover patterns that would otherwise be difficult to identify and translate them into insights that our perfumers can use."
The launch builds on Givaudan's broader exploration of fragrance as a tool for emotional and social well-being. In August, the company introduced its Message in a Bottle program, which examined social belonging as an emerging driver of fragrance choice. Drawing on consumer research, the initiative explored how scent could communicate presence, openness and connection amid declining face-to-face social interaction and growing concerns about loneliness.
That program identified social belonging as a relevant consumer motivation for 43% of women and 46% of men globally, with particular resonance among Gen Z. Its creative framework explored four themes: human connection, nature's elemental forces, tactile neo-animality and the shared language of food culture.
HarmoniScentz takes the conversation from the broader emotional and social role of fragrance into a more targeted physiological application. The opportunity is significant: Givaudan cites Gallup's Global Emotions 2025 research, which found that 39% of people worldwide experienced stress during much of the previous day.
"With HarmoniScentz, we are taking this expertise into the complex field of acute stress," said Jeremy Compton, global head of science and technology, Fragrances at Givaudan.
The company's consumer research across the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and India also points to growing interest in fragrance for stress management, particularly among millennials and Gen Z.
