Azelis acquires French fine perfumery distributor BLH to broaden fragrance portfolio

23 Oct 2023 --- Belgium-based chemical distributor Azelis has acquired BLH, a flavor and fragrance (F&F) distributor specializing in the French fine perfumery market. This acquisition is set to bolster Azelis’s presence in the EMEA region.

“Becoming part of the Azelis family is a great opportunity for BLH, as our portfolio is complementary with the expertise in natural essential oils of Azelis,” says Nicolas Bécot, CEO at BLH.

Founded in 1983 and based in Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, France, BHL offers a portfolio of specialty ingredients and market expertise in fine perfumery. Nicolas Bécot currently leads the company. It employs 42 specialists at its laboratory and serves 400 customers.

“We are both established players in the Grasse region of France and understand what is required to succeed in this market. Together, we will deliver a broad portfolio, deeply rooted expertise and a dedicated service to customers. In addition, we will benefit from Azelis’ strong digital backbone and continuous commitment to sustainability and innovation.”

Growing presence in the fragrance market
This most recent acquisition comes after Azelis’ 2021 acquisition of the French Quimdis, a distributor of ingredients for personal care and other industries. The same year, Azelis completed its purchase of Vigon International, a US-based distributor and manufacturer of ingredients for F&F. 

Last year, the company acquired the majority of Ashapura Aromas shares, an Indian distributor of F&F and Catalite Thailand, a personal and home care chemical company.

In a similar expansion into the European market, Azelis established a partnership with Tate & Lyle, a provider of soluble fibers, starches and stevia.

“We are pleased with the strategic acquisition of BLH SAS, two years after Quimdis, representing another significant milestone for Azelis in the F&F industry. This move strengthens our lateral value chain in the segment and our presence in France and the EMEA region,” says Benoit Fritz, managing director of Azelis France.

As part of its personal care segment, Azelis specializes in decorative cosmetics, skin care, fragrances, hair care, oral care, bath and body, sun care, functional ingredients, fragrance ingredients and organic and COSMOS (soil certification) specialties.

By Milana Nikolova