Givaudan backs Microcaps to advance fragrance encapsulation

Givaudan has announced an equity investment and strategic collaboration with Swiss company Microcaps AG to strengthen its encapsulation capabilities. The move also aims to reinforce its leadership in fragrance innovation and customer-centric solutions. 

The collaboration unites Givaudan’s fragrance formulation expertise with Microcaps’ patented precision microencapsulation technology, especially in the area of non-alcoholic fine fragrance performance. The two promise to generate high-performing fragrances and beauty applications. 

According to Givaudan, encapsulation technology plays a “pivotal” role in enhancing fragrance performance, enabling longer-lasting scents, and improving consumer enjoyment in a range of fine fragrance, beauty, and personal care products. 

Jeremy Compton, global head of Science & Technology Fragrances at Givaudan, says: “Encapsulation is one of the most transformative technologies in our field. By combining Givaudan’s deep expertise in fragrance creation and innovation, and our commitment to collaborate with Microcaps’ breakthrough technologies, we can explore new ways to enhance performance and sustainability for consumers across many fragrance and skin care applications.” 

Microcaps’ encapsulation

Microcaps’ Co-CEOs, Dr. Alessandro Ofner and Michael Hagander, say that the collaboration allows their company to scale its technology and bring scientific precision to a wider market. 

“Working together with Givaudan opens new doors for innovation. Together, we can redefine what high precision encapsulation means for the fragrance and beauty industries.”

Microcaps emerged from ETH Zurich’s Complex Materials Group. It is built on a disruptive microfluidic technology that offers encapsulation solutions for the cosmetic, nutraceutical, and health and life science sectors. 

The private technology firm has a vision to redefine traditional market standards by creating the “world’s first” industrial microfluidic platform. Recently, Microcaps launched PerfumePearls, a patented solution to deliver alcohol-free fragrances.The collaboration targets longer-lasting scents across beauty and personal care. 

Givaudan encapsulation tech

Givaudan has been deepening its expertise in encapsulation science lately. At PCHi 2026 (Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients), we spoke to the beauty multinational about VectorHyal. 

The ingredient’s hyaluronic acid-engineered system is designed to optimize the potential of active ingredients by engaging a combination of encapsulation science and hyaluronic acid engineering to improve ingredient efficacy and stability across cosmetic applications.

The system “answers the typical quest for encapsulation,” Mathias Fleury, the head of category for active ingredients at Givaudan, told us. “Which is to enhance the stability and the performance of encapsulated active ingredients, making them more stable through time, oxidation, light, and so on, while enhancing their performance, for example, by boosting their penetration into the skin.”

Additionally, last year, Givaudan expanded its PlanetCap biodegradable fragrance encapsulation range with the launch of Irresistible Laundry Serum.

The serum was the first integrated solution created for the PlanetCap fragrance capsules. It offers a scent booster, providing fabric with “long-lasting freshness and enhanced sensory performance.” 

Jeroen Lindhout, head of delivery systems fragrances at Givaudan, said that PlanetCaps illustrates how the company’s encapsulation expertise impacts personal care.