Mumbai: Unilever has strengthened its global fragrance innovation capabilities with the launch of a new Unilever Fragrance House (UFH) hub in Mumbai, underscoring India’s growing importance as both a high-growth consumer market and a strategic research and development centre for the company.
The new facility forms part of Unilever’s broader €100 million investment programme aimed at enhancing its in-house, digitally enabled fragrance creation capabilities worldwide. The investment is designed to accelerate product innovation, support premiumisation and improve speed-to-market across the company’s portfolio.
The Mumbai hub will bring together consumer insights, advanced scientific research, fragrance expertise and artificial intelligence-driven tools to develop fragrances for products spanning personal care, beauty, home care and laundry categories.
India has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic fragrance markets, driven by evolving consumer preferences, rising aspirations and increasing demand for premium experiences. By locating fragrance design, development and evaluation capabilities closer to consumers, Unilever aims to create products that resonate more effectively with local tastes while also supporting global innovation pipelines.
The company said fragrance remains a critical component of product performance and consumer preference across categories such as shampoos, body washes, deodorants and detergents. Beyond functionality, fragrance plays a key role in shaping first impressions, enhancing user experience and encouraging repeat purchases.
The new facility is expected to strengthen Unilever’s ability to develop sensorially differentiated products while advancing its “Desire at Scale” strategy, which focuses on creating stronger consumer affinity and brand preference through superior product experiences.
Commenting on the development, Jane Maciver, incoming Head of Unilever Fragrance House, said, “Fragrance is one of the most powerful ways we create desire for our brands. It shapes first impressions, influences product preference and helps turn everyday routines into memorable experiences.”
She added that the India hub would enhance the company’s ability to combine scientific expertise, creativity and digital technologies to create fragrances that are locally relevant, globally scalable and developed at greater speed.
The launch also reinforces India’s expanding role within Unilever’s global innovation ecosystem. Beyond serving domestic consumer needs, the facility will contribute to the development of fragrance-led innovations for international markets, further positioning India as a key centre for research, product development and premium consumer experiences.
With the addition of the Mumbai hub, Unilever continues to expand its global network of fragrance innovation centres across strategic growth markets, reflecting the company’s increasing focus on science-backed product differentiation and premium growth opportunities.
