Blue California rebrands as Sensegen: Rollouts of flavor, fragrance and personal care in pipeline

16 Feb 2022 --- Biotechnology solutions provider Blue California Flavors and Fragrances has rebranded as Sensegen after an 18-month incubation period. The company’s new market focus is evolving into the three pillars of “taste, smell and beauty,” with innovative launches set to debut in each of these categories. 

“We’re charting our course in clean and sustainable taste, smell and beauty in a new and exciting way,” remarks Kathy Oglesby, chief value creation officer. “Under one roof, perfumers, flavorists, biologists and chemists are working together, inspired by nature and disciplined by science.”

What’s new in the innovation pipeline?
Sensegen’s Creative Center houses the technology for flavor, fragrance, cosmetic and personal care creation. It is operated by the supplier’s analytical chemistry, applications development and sensory science teams.

The fermentation and bioconversion processes of innovation partner, Conagen, produce optically active molecules that are “precisely what nature makes.”

Plantarome M is the first biotech source of musk, a strategic option for the market.The partnership recently made strides toward the commercialization of fermentation-derived nicotinamide mononucleotide. This high-purity, nature-based metabolic component has caught the attention of health-conscious consumers for supporting energy and longevity.

Other launches in Sensegen’s food ingredients pipeline include dihydroquercetin, which was deemed Generally Recognized As Safe in various foods and beverages on the US market. 

The company has also previously collaborated with other industry specialists on bitter blocking technology and high-purity rosmarinic acid, a preservation solution.

Beauty sector R&D
Sensegen’s most recent innovations in the beauty space include plant-based musk – a replacement for one of the fragrance industry's favorite types of materials. 

Plantarome M is the first biotech source of musk, a highly strategic option for the market with natural animal sources unethical to harvest and plant sources that are too costly for mainstream use. 

Other musk offerings are synthetic, many of which have already been banned in major markets or are limited in concentration due to safety concerns.

Sensegen details that another advantage of biotechnology-based ingredients is that they can “sidestep wobbles” in supply chains caused by poor weather, seasonality and inconsistent plant harvest quality without resorting to synthetic substitutes.

“We’re driving the pipeline of taste, smell, and beauty into the 21st century with the guidance of nature and science, driven by the ‘savoir faire’ of the fragrance, flavor, and cosmetic industries,” concludes Oglesby.

Naturality reigns 
Consumers are seeking to buy clean and sustainable products and are increasingly expecting a shift in formulations from synthetic to natural. 

In a 2020 World Economic Forum (WEF) survey, it appears evident that many are willing to participate actively in building back a better world alongside the brands they choose.

WEF surveyed 21,000 people and 28 countries, reporting that 86% want to see more sustainable and equitable products in the post-pandemic market.

Sensegen’s new market focus is evolving into three pillars:

• Taste (Food and Beverages)

The company’s portfolio of “true-to-nature” liquid flavors will be expanded in 2022 to include powders and new delivery formats, specifically targeting sweet flavors and plant-based offerings. 

• Smell (Air Care, Home Care, Fabric Care, Personal Care and Fine Fragrance)

New captives form the basis for the growing collection of Sensegen’s “the new naturals” for fragranced consumer products. New fragrances will be designed to “fill a white space” for naturals in the fragrance market.

• Beauty (Personal Care, Hair and Skin Care and Cosmetics) 

 The company reveals it is currently developing a line of clean, novel and proprietary offerings, while improving the natural and sustainable qualities of existing offerings in the beauty space.

“Sensegen is committed to supporting brands to meet consumers’ expectations of reducing the environmental footprint of their products and inspiring repeat purchases,” comments Oglesby. 

“We are 100% focused on true-to-nature, sustainable and clean ingredients made possible by biotechnology.”

“The beauty of biotech in ingredient creation is monumental. It is significantly more sustainable than agriculturally derived and petroleum-based ingredients,” she adds.

By Benjamin Ferrer