The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has formally closed its antitrust investigation into Symrise, according to a letter sent to the company dated February 5, 2026. The decision concludes an inquiry that had examined potential anti-competitive conduct in the fragrance sector.
In its communication, the DoJ confirmed that it found no evidence of unlawful practices by Symrise. The company welcomed the decision, reiterating that it had consistently maintained it did not participate in any unlawful agreements with competitors in the fragrance business.
Symrise stated that it had strongly argued from the outset that it should not have been included in the investigation and that the actions taken by the authorities were unjustified. The company emphasized its continued commitment to ethical business conduct and full regulatory compliance.
The investigation into Symrise formed part of a broader scrutiny of the global fragrance industry initiated by competition authorities in 2023. Several major industry players, including Givaudan, Firmenich (now merged with DSM), and International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), were also investigated on suspicion of anti-competitive agreements. Symrise indicated that it expects similar investigations by other authorities to be discontinued in due course.