On Monday September 8, 2025, LMR Naturals inaugurated the expansion of its historic Grasse site, in the presence of Jérôme Viaud, Mayor of Grasse and President of the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Grasse, IFF perfumers and LMR executives, Sabrya Meflah, President of IFF's Fine Fragrances business unit, and Ana Paula Mendonça, President of IFF's Scent division, who had travelled from New York.
Monique Rémy - who founded LMR (Laboratoire Monique Rémy) in 1983 - was highly regarded in the French perfume industry for the quality of the raw materials she brought to market. Constant Viale, her flower-growing friend and pioneer of organic farming, was also in the spotlight, his family having agreed - on the very morning of the inauguration, as a prelude to the event - to cede their estate to IFF.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era for LMR. The inauguration of this site marks a turning point, an achievement I've wanted to see realized for years. This site embodies everything that our dear Monique founded with passion and high standards, which we have enriched and developed with IFF, since IFF bought LMR in 2000. I'm also delighted to announce that this morning we succeeded in finalizing the signature of a new experimental field which will enable us to go even further in agricultural research, in understanding plants, plant metabolism, how to grow them, how to mechanize production and all these areas which are key to our industry, which are key to our future and which are also one of LMR's hallmarks".said Bertrand de Préville, Managing Director of LMR Naturals, in his inaugural speech.
A new production site and a new experimental field
IFF has invested some €10 million to expand its Grasse site, increasing its surface area to 4,687 sq.m (+75 %), thanks in particular to the integration of a state-of-the-art pilot hall to accelerate the development of new natural ingredients.
Intended for the cultivation of fragrance plants, the new experimental field purchased from the Viale family, located close to the LMR site, will provide direct access to plant materials to explore their botanical potential and accelerate innovation.
This innovation will be at the service of IFF's perfumers, who are so enthusiastic about the prospects opened up by both the expansion of the production site and the acquisition of the new agricultural estate. "You only have to hear our perfumers talk about an elemental absolute, a rose, a vetiver fractionated here in Grasse, or a patchouli sculpted by our researchers to measure without a doubt the importance of LMR in our industry".confirms Sabrya Meflah.
As part of IFF's Scent business unit, LMR Naturals has developed a wide range of natural ingredients for the perfumery market. With access to IFF's international sourcing and production network, the company's activities have expanded. While IFF France is headquartered in Grasse, LMR Naturals has other production units, in particular the extraction site based in Aumont-Aubrac.
None of this would have been possible without the passion of Monique Rémy, who set out to develop naturals long before naturalness gained its letters of nobility. Today, LMR Naturals benefits from the richness of the terroirs in which the company is established, and from the financial support of IFF: the naturals business is set to grow even further under the impetus of the American group, proud of its French jewel!
"LMR's ability to combine tradition and cutting-edge innovation is unique. This extension is much more than just a real estate expansion: it's a springboard for the next generation of naturals, who will shape the future of perfumery, with applications across all IFF businesses. Our Grasse footprint now enables a seamless transition "from seed to bottle", with the Atelier du Parfumeur just a few steps away from LMR."emphasizes Sabrya Meflah.
