About us

We are an association of creators grounded in safety and passionate about making our world a better place through the power of scent.

Fragrance Creators Association represents the majority of fragrance manufacturing and use in the U.S. and Canada. Our diverse 60 member companies—ranging from small, family-owned businesses to multinational corporations—create and manufacture fragrances for home care, personal care, fine fragrance, and industrial and institutional products. They also market finished products containing fragrance as well as supply fragrance ingredients, including natural extracts and other raw materials that are used in perfumery and fragrance mixtures.  The fragrance industry is an important economic contributor, providing a myriad of jobs and investments in research and technology, while also promoting small business and farming communities in the United States and around the world.

We represent the scientists, perfumers, researchers, farmers, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and the many others who make up the fragrance community.

We use and enjoy fragranced products every day, so we know how fragrances inspire and bring comfort, make us feel confident and unique, and remind us of all of the moments that make life special.

We think differently.

We are a modern, open-minded, and forward-thinking and doing organization that believes in actively listening to and engaging with all voices to enhance lives through fragrance.  We are committed to educating everyone about the sound science and safety that are foundational to fragrance, while also elevating the creativity artistry and innovation that are the core of our community.  We welcome you to engage and learn more about who we are and how fragrance brings delight.


Our Mission

To serve as responsible stewards of the fragrance industry through meaningful advocacy, education, and member support.

Industry Vision

To grow the olfactory culture through increased knowledge, appreciation, access, and use of fragrances created in a responsible and sustainable way.

Association Mission

To be the best trade association possible in order to meet member and industry needs.

Our values

Devoted

We aspire to contribute to our members' success every day.

Transparent

We believe that inclusivity and sharing information and knowledge is the basis for positive growth.

Passionate

We care passionately about our work and our members' business and we celebrate their accomplishments as we do our own.

Collaborative

We understand that true industry representation happens when every voice is heard and respected, so we continully collaborate with multiple stakeholders to drive positive impacts for the public.

Trustworthy

Building trust is the cornerstone of all we do. We are committed to doing the right thing - always.

Our Staff & Leadership

Staff

Farah K. Ahmed

President & CEO

Favorite scent: Jasmine — its soulful, complex, and mysterious scent captures nature’s romance and poetry. Simply enchanting.

Fragrance Creators Association is a fast-paced, compassionate, and results-driven association. I work with an incredible staff team, Board of Directors, and active membership, who help lead the association’s efforts to advocate for science-based policies and to increase public knowledge, appreciation, access, and use of fragrances created in a responsible way.

Since I joined the organization in 2016, we have successfully built trust and credibility for the U.S. fragrance industry and are now directly driving fragrance policy. We have also strengthened relationships across industry sectors and with lawmakers through improving communication and education on the health and wellness benefits of fragrance as well as the value of fragrance in supporting jobs, the economy, creative artistry, and sustainability efforts.

I am the Editor-in-Chief of Fragrance Notes—www.fragrancenotes.org—the fragrance industry’s first-ever quarterly magazine.

Previously, I served as Chair, Strategic Industry Categories, for the Personal Care Products Council. I also was appointed by the Organization for International Standardization (ISO) as Convenor of the Cosmetic Marketing Group. In 2010, I was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential South Asian Women in Marketing, Media, and Entertainment by Korn/Ferry International. I am a Co-Founder and Board Member of SAMMA, South Asians in Media Marketing and Entertainment.

I graduated from the University of Virginia, School of Law, and previously served as an Associate at the law firm of Kelley Drye Collier Shannon, and as Assistant General Counsel at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.  After earning my Bachelor’s Degree in physiology and biochemistry from Niagara University, I completed post-graduate research at Harvard Medical School.

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Sarah Erickson André

Vice President, Government Affairs & General Counsel

I have over two decades of legal and regulatory experience, and bring a wealth of expertise in navigating complex legal and regulatory challenges—skills that will be critical in advancing FCA’s advocacy efforts and protecting its members in an evolving industry landscape.

I have spent much of my career as a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, where I advised a broad spectrum of clients, including foreign sovereigns, cultural institutions, corporations, and universities, on litigation involving intellectual property, contract disputes, regulatory issues, and other high-stakes matters. I have a deep understanding of intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright disputes, aligns with the needs of the fragrance industry as it faces increasing regulatory pressures globally. My legal expertise has earned me numerous accolades, including being named 2022 Best Lawyers’ Los Angeles “Lawyer of the Year” for Art Law, as well as recognition in Best Lawyers in America from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, I was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Southern California Super Lawyers and as a “Top Women Attorneys Rising Star” by Los Angeles Magazine.

I am a proven advocate with a strong track record of consensus-building. I have successfully led litigation and appellate teams, delivering results in high-pressure situations. This ability to manage complex cases while building strategic, multi-jurisdictional approaches will be invaluable in helping FCA navigate regulatory and legislative challenges at the state and federal levels. My leadership roles at Nixon Peabody required me to coordinate large teams, meet tight deadlines, and manage business-critical litigation—all crucial skills for guiding FCA’s government affairs and legal strategy.

I earned my J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where I served as Managing Editor of the Virginia Journal of Social Policy and the Law. After law school, I clerked for the Honorable Gary A. Feess (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) and the Honorable Harry Pregerson (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit). I also served as a full-time faculty member at UCLA School of Law, teaching Legal Research & Writing and Pre-trial Litigation.

My extensive legal and regulatory background, combined with my advocacy and leadership skills, make me exceptionally well-positioned to guide FCA through the legal and regulatory challenges facing the fragrance industry today.

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Board of Directors

Cynthia Reichard

Chair

“I love the smell of Tabac Absolute. It has a warmth and complexity that communicates the essence of nature in a manner that portrays both its earthiness and elegance. One whiff simply transports me….to a beautiful place. (You want to smell it now, don’t you?)”

True leadership is NOT comfortable… I believe that only in uncomfortable moments are we likely to step out and search for different and better answers. As an industry advocate, I support leaving our own “echo chamber” and  seeking opportunities to listen and collaborate with stakeholders to implement meaningful programs that are streamlined, less complex, and truly benefit the consumers we all passionately care for.


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Steve Tanner

Chair Emeritus

“Nothing says ‘summer’ to me more than the mouth-watering taste of a juicy Georgia peach.  I find it fascinating that a raw material like  buchu mercaptan, which on its own smells like  a regrettable fruit and sulfur combination, can be used by perfumers in tiny quantities to perfectly  replicate the scent of just-picked liquid sunshine.”

I serve as the President & CEO of Arylessence, Inc., and have been with the company for over 30 years. As Chairman of a family-owned business, I know that good things happen when everyone works together. That is what has made our business growth and success as a company happen, and that is what is making Fragrance Creators Association strong and effective.

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Executive Committee Leadership

Regulatory Science Executive Committee

Xing Han, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.

Chair

Director of Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Arylessence, Inc.

I am a board-certified toxicologist with more than twenty years of experience in the chemical and fragrances and flavors industries supporting R&D, commercial, and customers in the space of product safety and regulatory compliance.

Joining industries’ collective efforts in regulatory advocacy has also been a priority during my career to help achieve common goals of industry stakeholders.

I have a BS degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from Peking University Health Science Center, with postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia. I have over thirty peer-reviewed publications in the areas of toxicology and ecotoxicology which helped advance the in-vitro method development for bioaccumulation assessment and our understanding of toxicokinetics of PFAS.

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Importance and Benefits of Fragrance Committee

Jennifer Nienaber

Chair

Director, R&D Flavors & Fragrances

Fragrance Creators Committee Organization and Information.

Download our Committee Leadership Structure Chart.