Abel Odor

Production locations

• Wellington, New Zealand
• The Netherlands

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Frances Shoemack, a former winemaker launched her first fragrance in Amsterdam in 2013, She later convinced Master Perfumer Isaac Sinclair to join her in redefining modern perfumery. 

Isaac, the only Master Perfumer from New Zealand, trained for years to master the chemistry of fragrance, developing his craft in Paris. His deep knowledge of scent and structure helped shape Abel’s signature refined compositions.

French perfumer Dr. Fanny Grau later joined the team, bringing a PhD in chemistry and a passion for fragrance’s therapeutic benefits. She developed Nurture and Pause, scents designed to support emotional wellbeing, and led the creation of Abel’s 100% natural Room Sprays. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Fanny is rewriting the rules, proving that science and nature can coexist beautifully in modern perfumery.

Today, the team mostly works from Wellington, New Zealand.

Ingredients

• Aldehyde c12: Biotech aldehyde note with a fresh, citrusy scent
• Aldehyde c14: Biotech peach note with a fruity, creamy aroma
• Aldehyde c18: Biotech cherry note with a sweet, almond-like scent
• Ambrettolide: Plant-derived musk note with a soft, skin-like warmth
• Ambroxan: Biotech ambergris note with a rich, woody-amber aroma
• Amyris oil: Warm, woody note with subtle balsamic nuances
• Anethol: Biotech star anise note with a sweet, licorice-like aroma
• Angelica root oil: Earthy, herbal note with peppery and musky undertones
• Anisaldehyde: Biotech anise note with a powdery, sweet-spicy scent
• Apricot seed oil: Light, nourishing oil with a subtle nutty aroma
• Basil oil: Fresh, herbal note with a slightly spicy and green aroma
• Bergamot oil: Bright, citrusy note with a fresh and slightly floral character
• Bergamot oil (Bergapten free): Citrus note without photosensitive compounds
• Bezoin Siam absolute: Warm, vanilla-like balsamic resin with a hint of spice
• Cabreuva oil: Soft, woody note with floral and balsamic undertones
• Cade oil: Smoky, leathery note with a deep, resinous character
• Cardamom oil: Spicy, warm note with a sweet, slightly citrusy scent
• Carrot seed oil: Earthy, rooty note with subtle woody and spicy hints
• Cassis absolute: Green, fruity note with a sharp, blackcurrant-like scent
• Cedarwood oil: Dry, woody note with a warm, slightly balsamic undertone
• Chamomile oil: Soft, floral note with soothing, sweet herbal nuances
• Cistus labdanum absolute: Rich, amber-like note with warm resinous depth
• Citronellol: Plant-derived green note with a fresh, rosy citrus aroma
• Cocao upcycled: Deep, chocolatey note with warm, earthy richness
• Coffee extract: Bold, roasted coffee note with warm gourmand facets
• Copaiba balsam: Sweet, woody-resinous note with a honeyed touch
• Cumin oil: Spicy, warm note with a dry, slightly musky scent
• Cypriol oil: Earthy, woody note with smoky, leathery nuances
• Damascenone beta: Plant-derived rose note with rich, fruity depth
• Davana oil: Fruity, herbal note with a slightly boozy, honeyed warmth
• Decalactone gamma: Plant-derived creamy note with a peachy, milky scent
• Eugenol: Plant-derived spicy note with warm, clove-like intensity
• Ethyl methyl butrate 2: Plant-derived berry note with a tangy sweetness
• Frambinon®: Plant-derived raspberry note with a juicy, fresh character
• Ginger extract: Warm, spicy note with a fresh, citrusy undertone
• Grapefruit oil: Bright, citrusy note with a tangy, slightly bitter edge
• Green tea extract: Fresh, slightly grassy note with delicate herbal nuances
• Guaiac wood oil: Smoky, woody note with soft, leathery depth
• Gurjun balsam oil: Woody-balsamic note with warm, resinous richness
• Hay absolute: Warm, dry note with a sweet, coumarin-like aroma
• Heliotrope essential oil: Soft, powdery floral note with almond-vanilla facets
• Hexenol cis‑3: Plant-derived green tea note with crisp, grassy freshness
• Hexenyl butrate cis 3: Plant-derived red fruit note with tart berry-like nuances
• Hexyl acetate: Plant-derived apple note with a fresh, fruity aroma
• Ionone beta: Plant-derived raspberry note with a soft, floral-fruity scent
• Jasmin absolute: Rich, heady floral note with warm, narcotic intensity
• Jasmin sambac absolute: Intense, exotic jasmine note with a green undertone
• Juniper berry oil: Fresh, woody-spicy note with a gin-like aroma
• Ketamber: Biotech ambergris note with a smooth, ambery depth
• Lemon oil: Bright, zesty note with a fresh, citrusy character
• Lemon oil (bergapten free): Citrus note without photosensitive compounds
• Lentisque absolute: Woody, resinous note with green, herbal accents
• Lime oil: Tart, citrusy note with a sharp, zesty freshness
• Linalool: Plant-derived fresh note with a soft, floral-woody scent
• Maltol: Plant-derived caramel note with a warm, sweet gourmand aroma
• Mandarine essential oil: Sweet, citrusy note with a juicy, tangy brightness
• Magnolia flower oil: Creamy, floral note with fresh, lemony accents
• Methyl anthranilate: Plant-derived grape note with a fruity, slightly floral scent
• Mimosa essential oil: Powdery, floral note with soft honeyed warmth
• Myrrh oil: Warm, balsamic note with deep, resinous richness
• Narcissus: Floral note with green, slightly animalic undertones
• Neroli oil: Fresh, citrusy-floral note with a bright, honeyed sweetness
• Non-denatured organic grain alcohol: Alcohol carrier with minimal additives
• Nori absolute: Marine, salty note with an umami-rich, seaweed character
• Orange essential oil: Sweet, juicy note with a bright citrus freshness
• Orange flower extract: Soft, floral-citrus note with a delicate, honeyed touch
• Orris butter concrete: Powdery, woody-floral note with violet-like nuances
• Passionfruit upcycled: Fruity, tropical note with a tangy, slightly floral scent
• Patchouli oil: Earthy, woody note with deep, musky richness
• Peru balsam oil: Warm, vanilla-balsamic note with soft, sweet nuances
• Phenylethyl acetate nat.: Plant-derived honey note with floral-sweet richness
• Pink pepper extract: Spicy, peppery note with fresh, rosy undertones
• Rose absolute: Deep, rich floral note with a sweet, honeyed warmth
• Rose essential oil: Classic, luxurious floral note with warm, velvety richness
• Rum extract: CO2 extract with boozy, sweet-spicy facets
• Sandalwood essential oil: Creamy, woody note with soft, milky depth
• Sichuan pepper oil: Spicy, citrusy note with a tingling, effervescent effect
• Sour cherry extract: Upcycled fruit note with a tart, juicy aroma
• Star anise essential oil: Sweet, licorice-like note with a spicy, herbal warmth
• Tangerine essential oil: Bright, citrusy note with a juicy, sweet character
• Tolu balsam: Warm, balsamic note with rich, resinous depth
• Tonka bean absolute: Sweet, vanilla-like note with hints of almond and spice
• Tuberose absolute: Intense, creamy floral note with exotic, narcotic richness
• Vanilla absolute: Sweet, warm note with deep, creamy richness
• Vanillin: Biotech vanilla note with a classic sweet, comforting scent
• Vetiver essential oil: Earthy, smoky-woody note with green, rooty depth
• Vetiverol: Biotech vetiver note with fresh, woody nuances
• Verbena essential oil: Fresh, citrusy-green note with a lemony sparkle
• Violet leaf absolute: Green, powdery floral note with soft, earthy richness

Abel fragrances are crafted with 100% natural ingredients. Some of them are labelled as ​“biotech” — which can sound a bit too scientific. In reality, biotech ingredients are nature and innovation working together. Using plant sugars, bacteria, fungi, and yeasts in a fermentation process (just like turning grapes into wine), Abel’s perfumers can create fragrance molecules identical to those found in nature, but in a way that’s more sustainable and long-lasting. This means they can capture the rich depth of ambergris, musk, or vanilla without relying on animal-derived or resource-intensive methods. The result? A completely natural fragrance that lasts longer on your skin while treading lighter on the planet.

Packaging

Abel’s says its packaging is designed with sustainability at its core. Every component of their box can be either recycled through your local paper recycling programme or composted at home. The brand claims it uses FSC-certified paper sourced from regenerative forests, ensuring responsible management that respects both the environment and local communities. These forests are carefully maintained, protecting indigenous sacred sites while providing fair employment, training, and safety equipment for local workers. Thoughtfully crafted to minimise waste, their packaging is designed to be as kind to the planet as the fragrances inside.

Water usage

Water pollution is a major concern in the fragrance and packaging industries, but Abel, wants to take conscious steps to minimise its impact. One of the ways they do this is by using only plant-based dyes and soy inks in their packaging, avoiding the harmful chemical dyes that can pollute waterways and pose health risks to workers. These natural alternatives are biodegradable, breaking down safely at the end of their life without releasing microplastics or toxic residues. 

NOTE: Water usage/​pollution down to the raw materials is generally impossible to track for cosmetic products.

Circular packaging design

Abel wants to commit to circular design and reducing waste at every step. Their perfume caps are made from Vivomer, a groundbreaking, fully home-compostable material derived from microbes. Unlike plastic, Vivomer is stable during use but biodegrades within 20 weeks when composted, returning safely to nature without leaving behind harmful microplastics. 

While their room spray caps are currently plastic due to sourcing constraints, the brand is actively working on an alternative to phase them out. Their packaging is also fully recyclable, ensuring that every element of their design is as kind to the planet as possible.

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

• Ingredients: 
  • Balkans
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • China
  • Comores Islands
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • France
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Madagascar
  • Malaysia (South East Asia – possibly includes Malaysia)
  • Mexico (potentially part of South America mentions)
  • Morocco
  • Nigeria
  • Paraguay
  • Reunion Island
  • South Africa
  • South East Asia (could include multiple countries)
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sumatra (part of Indonesia)
  • Tunisia
  • USA
  • Venezuela
  • West India
• Production locations: Wellington, New Zealand and The Netherlands
• HQ is located in: Wellington, New Zealand
• sells/​exports in these countries: In 25 countries, with 80% of its market in the Northern Hemisphere.

Transportation

• Transportation in the supply chain: the brand doesn’t mention specific transportation methods throughout their supply chain, but states that if there is an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, they’ll take it
• Transportation in e‑commerce: the brand states 100% of New Zealand orders are shipped carbon-neutral, as well as 60% of their European orders.

Abel’s entire collection is Vegan Society certified, meaning every product and ingredient has been independently verified to contain no animal-derived ingredients or by-products at any stage of production. This certification also guarantees that their fragrances are 100% cruelty-free.

Abel believes in creating with intention, resisting the rush to constantly introduce new products into the world. That’s why their core collection follows a ​‘one in, one out’ policy — each new fragrance is carefully developed to meet their high standards, replacing an existing one rather than adding to excess. 

The brand also closes its webshop on Black Friday to advocate for conscious consumption.

Transparency on product

Every ingredient of each fragrance is detailed clearly on the brand’s website, with extra information explaining the function of each ingredient. The brand believes that transparency gives full agency to its clients.

Transparency on processes

The brand offers a full perfume guide on its website. This guide details all ingredients, gives a scent description that even lists synthetic similar fragrances. Furthermore the brand details the country each ingredient is sourced from.

Disclaimer: transparency in cosmetics isn’t very regulated yet.