PlanetCaps™: Transforming Personal Care Routines with Biodegradable Fragrance Technology

Interview with Jade Petitprés,
Junior Marketing Manager, Fragrance & Beauty Global F&B S&T, Givaudan

What is PlanetCaps™?  

Launched by Givaudan in 2021, PlanetCaps™ is the world’s first high-performing biodegradable fragrance encapsulation technology. 

These microscopic capsules protect fragrance oils and release them precisely when needed, offering long-lasting freshness, and improving product experiences. In Fabric Care, capsules deliver fragrance even days or weeks after washing, providing consumers with lasting sensory satisfaction.

Since November 2025, PlanetCaps™ technology has expanded its application into Personal Care products. By combining technical performance with environmentally responsible design, PlanetCaps™ allows brands to deliver freshness and fragrance longevity while reducing environmental impact, reinforcing consumer trust and brand loyalty.

What inspired the development of PlanetCaps™ for personal care?

PlanetCaps™ for Personal Care grew from the success of our PlanetCaps™ fragrance capsules in Fabric Care. That technology set a benchmark for sustainability and performance when it first launched 5 years ago, proving that performant scent delivery can align with environmental goals. 

Naturally, the next step was to extend the application of this innovation to Personal Care by completing the required regulatory and performance validations for body care and haircare, where fragrance enriches daily routines and moments of wellbeing.

It expresses Givaudan’s dedication to pioneering sustainable fragrance solutions that deliver genuine delight to consumers, transforming self-care rituals into sensory experiences.

How does it differ from previous generations of fragrance encapsulation? 

Before PlanetCaps™, we had already introduced a formaldehyde‑free solution for personal care: our ScentiCaps™ Bodyguard. This technology shows great performance, but our R&D teams wanted to go further to ensure that our capsule offering remains aligned with the latest expectations for clean beauty.  

PlanetCaps™ is readily biodegradable, bio‑sourced, and microplastic‑free, with no compromise on quality or performance. When activated by natural body movement, the capsule releases bursts of fragrance throughout daily activities, delivering long‑lasting freshness and a sense of confidence. It also helps protect from unwanted odors, prolonging that clean and uplifted feeling for hours.

What sustainability credentials does it offer?

Sustainability is at the heart of PlanetCaps™.

The capsule is readily biodegradable according to OECD 301F test method, with biodegradability greater than 60% within 28 days and further degradation thereafter. 

PlanetCaps™ S is also bio-sourced [as described in ISO 16128], as it contains more than 60% renewable carbon material. The capsule shell is naturally derived, using components such as marine proteins and fruit pectin, chosen for both performance and renewability. 

PlanetCaps™ is compliant with ECHA’s proposed microplastic restrictions, allowing Givaudan to offer a microplastic-free solution ahead of the 2029 regulations.

By combining long-lasting sensorial impact with environmentally responsible design, PlanetCaps™ contributes to the industry’s transition toward biodegradable, circular materials and safer product formats. 

This achievement represents another significant step in
Givaudan’s broader sustainability ambitions, bringing innovative fragrance experiences that are compatible with a more sustainable lifestyle.

How can PlanetCaps™ be integrated into personal care formulations?   

PlanetCaps™ S is supplied as an easy-to-pour aqueous suspension, designed for straightforward handling and seamless integration into most industrial manufacturing processes. It can be processed using all common types of pumps and standard dosing equipment, ensuring ease of use at both pilot and large-scale production levels.

The technology is suitable for a wide range of personal care applications, including body lotions, roll-on deodorants, hair masks, combing creams, and conditioners, allowing formulators to incorporate long-lasting fragrance performance and ensuring consistent olfactive signature across product formats.   

To support global customers efficiently, PlanetCaps™ S is produced at multiple Givaudan manufacturing sites worldwide, ensuring reliable supply, consistent quality, and timely delivery to regional markets.

How do consumers experience the technology?   

PlanetCaps™ release fragrance precisely when consumers need it, triggered by movement or touch keeping them feeling fresh throughout the day. Whether during a morning run, a busy workday, or simply when touching hair, the capsules deliver fragrance in measured bursts that are noticeable but never overpowering, providing long-lasting cleanliness, comfort, and protection against unwanted odors.

Beyond the immediate sensory pleasure, PlanetCaps™ contributes to emotional well-being. The consistent feeling of freshness helps consumers feel more confident in social and professional interactions, allowing them to move through the world with ease and self-assurance. Also knowing that the technology is biodegradable and leaves no lasting environmental footprint reinforces a sense of responsible pleasure.

What are the next steps for sustainable fragrance technologies at Givaudan?

Building on PlanetCaps™ in Personal Care, Givaudan is advancing the next generation of sustainable fragrance technologies exploring improvements such as higher potency, lower dosage requirements, and improved resistance across various product bases. With consumers increasingly seeking fully vegan and biodegradable solutions, our teams are already working on the next generation of capsule systems that combine these features while remaining compliant with future ECHA standards.

Continuous improvement of performance is a key focus – ensuring fragrance technologies fit evolving lifestyles and regional needs while supporting product developers across categories. We plan to expand PlanetCaps™ principles to new or unexplored applications, offering capsule technologies that bring long‑lasting freshness and confidence to emerging wellness formats.

Ultimately, each advancement reinforces Givaudan’s purpose: shaping a sustainable future for fragrance where technical excellence, emotional connection, and respect for nature coexist seamlessly. PlanetCaps™ embodies this transition toward responsible innovation—empowering brands and consumers to experience fragrance as a source of both joy and sustainability.

www.givaudan.com/fragrance-beauty/technologies-and-captives