BioHarvest Sciences has signed an exclusive agreement to manufacture a rare fragrance compound for an undisclosed customer in the United Arab Emirates. They are using advanced plant-cell technology to reproduce a scent normally derived from an endangered species. Planned volumes total 20 metric tons across 2027 and 2028.
The compound comes from a plant threatened by overharvesting and habitat loss. BioHarvest declined to name the species or the customer in their announcements. However, they described the scent as among the world’s most valuable fragrance raw materials. Premium grades of this material sell for tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram. Demand is heavily concentrated across the Middle East, Asia and Western luxury perfume markets.
The company’s Botanical Synthesis platform grows plant-derived compounds in bioreactors without cultivating the source plant. BioHarvest says it completed an initial stage of the program in March 2026, creating a stable cell culture for the species. A second-stage contract followed in May. The company reports it has reproduced the sesquiterpenes and chromones responsible for the scent’s slow evaporation and long-lasting base notes. BioHarvest holds a 20% ownership stake in the developed composition.
Limited production is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027, pending final sensory parameters. BioHarvest estimates the contract could generate between $20 million and $30 million once delivered. The fragrance deal follows the company’s broader push into contract manufacturing. This initiative also includes a sweetener partnership with Tate & Lyle and a saffron program with SaffronTech.
The announcement came alongside second-quarter results showing revenue of $8.8 million, up 3.8% year-over-year, and a net loss of $3.7 million. BioHarvest also lowered full-year guidance for its VINIA supplement business. They cited a strategic shift in spending toward expanding their core manufacturing capacity.
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- Source: https://worldbiomarketinsights.com/plant-cell-firm-bioharvest-secures-30-m-fragrance-contract/
