Fragrance fuels Croda and Symrise 2025 financials

As 2025 full-year financial reports roll in, Croda International and Symrise have reported strong financial performances, showcasing resilience and strategic growth in the competitive personal care industry. 

Croda International’s 2025 full-year financial results show consistent growth across its business segments. Group sales at constant currency were up 6.6%, with consumer care and life sciences as the main drivers, both up 8%. Adjusted operating profit was up by 7.9% at constant currency, and adjusted operating margin was 17.4%, up .2% from 2024.

Simultaneously, global F&F supplier Symrise reported a steady organic sales growth and solid profitability improvement in its 2025 full-year report. The company achieved its highest profitability in a decade and exceeded cost-savings and efficiency-gains targets while outperforming the market through the execution of its ONE Symrise Strategy and ONE SYM Transformation.

Croda’s care

Croda’s Consumer Care sales grew by 8%. The segment is divided into Beauty Actives (+6%), Beauty Care (+4%), and Home Care (+2%). It was driven by the double-digit growth in Fragrance & Flavor (+15%).

Fragrance & Flavor’s (F&F) rapid growth reflects the increasing demand for perfumery ingredients used in fragrance, skin care, and body care formulations.

To drive more consistent sales growth, Croda refocused its innovation efforts by reallocating its R&D resources. New & Protected Products sales were also up 5%, with patented sales up 9% and new ingredient sales up 10%. 

Croda says that its customer satisfaction and value were on the rise in 2025. The average pipeline value for customer co-creation projects was reported at 12% growth, while the customer net promoter score was +43 (up from +32 in 2024).

The group focused on investment returns by reinvigorating its beauty segment and centering innovation in Beauty Care. Furthermore, it internationalized Beauty Actives’ potential by delivering benefits to masstige brands.

Croda looks ahead

Croda’s financial report outlines its projections and plans for the next three years and expresses confidence in delivering further improvements in the company’s financial performance.

Based on current market conditions, the group projects organic sales growth of 3%–6% over 2026-2028. It expects higher profitability for the full year 2028, with an adjusted operating margin above 20% (17.4% in 2025).

The group projects that cash flow will grow, with a free cash flow-to-sales ratio above 12% in FY 2028, up from 9.5% in 2025, and that Return on Invested Capital will rise by 1.8% by 2028 (to >10% from 8.2% in 2025).

For 2026 in particular, it projects organic sales growth within the 3%–6% range. The company expects Q1 2026 to be more aligned with the previous year’s growth rates than Q1 2025, which posted a strong 9%.

“Our business model and higher-growth portfolio have underpinned progress with Consumer Care and Life Sciences, both growing sales, adjusted margins, and profits. Our efforts to drive more consistent growth and transform the business are beginning to deliver results, and while there is much more to do, our confidence in realising further improvements in performance is highlighted by the three-year financial framework we have set out today,” says Steve Foots, chief executive officer.

Fragrance with Symrise

Symrise reported overall sales growth of 2.8%, group sales of €4.929 million (US$5.732 million), and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.9%, up 120 bps year-on-year.

Organic sales growth was driven by the Scent & Care segment, cashing in at 3.2% while Taste, Nutrition & Health reported 2.6% organic sales growth. Scent & Care’s growth was bolstered by strong momentum in Fragrance, the company reports.