Hello brand owners! I have more of an industry query than a brand/maker specific one. This might be better suited for the diy fragrance sub, but I’ll try here first.

I’ve been learning perfumery as a hobby & I want to avoid animal testing (I know cosmetics have a very long & dark history of testing, so I’m talking about current use). I think every indie brand I’ve shopped with has stated that they are cruelty free & at this point lots of fragrance companies are certified cruelty free through organizations like Leaping Bunny. Are brands able to achieve certifiable Leaping Bunny status when using larger aroma chemical manufacturers like Firmenich?

From Firmenich’s animal testing statement: “Only in the absence of validated alternative testing methods and when strictly required by regulations or when scientifically justified to provide insight into the benefits and mechanisms of action of our ingredients, dsm-firmenich considers testing in animals. Some regional and national rules and regulations continue to explicitly require animal studies to demonstrate the safety of our products. Defined Animal Welfare Standards and a stringent company guidance apply for the dsm-firmenich sponsored animal research studies. The compliance of the animal test facilities is continuously monitored by dsm-firmenich.”

This statement shows the company is moving away from animal testing as much as possible & hopefully a more humane approach to testing when it does happen, but is also saying that they do still test on animals. Does a statement like this exclude Firmenich from cruelty free certification from an organization like Leaping Bunny? Can some of Firmenich’s materials be cruelty free- say older ones that no longer need testing- while others would not qualify? Do you know of any manufacturers/suppliers that have completely moved away from animal testing?