UCL announced on the 10th that it is enhancing its fragrance development capabilities by leveraging newly established facilities in Songdo and Jeju, aimed at fortifying its competitiveness in emotion-based fragrance design and functional ingredients.

This move is crucial, particularly as the beauty industry increasingly values sensory experiences alongside product efficacy.The rise of the 'Sensory Beauty' trend reflects a market shift where consumers prioritize not just performance but also emotional gratification from their beauty products.

Fragrance has transitioned from a mere supplementary feature to a pivotal element that significantly influences consumer perceptions and brand interactions, triggering heightened interest in functional fragrances.In response to these market dynamics, UCL has established a differentiated research and development framework centered on its Songdo and Jeju facilities.

The Songdo Fragrance Development Lab is tasked with crafting signature scents tailored to individual brands, ensuring a harmonious blend with product formulations, while the Jeju Research Institute focuses on utilizing natural local ingredients for developing and validating functional fragrance materials.The Songdo facility is meticulously designing sensory experiences that span from the initial product usage to lingering scent retention.

By analyzing interactions between texture and fragrance stability, UCL aims to enhance the competitive positioning of skincare and body care products while ensuring optimal scent release timing and longevity.Furthermore, UCL is collaborating with the fragrance specialist company NAIN to diversify its fragrance development efforts, enhancing its capability to deliver fragrance experiences aligned with various brand concepts.

This collaboration could broaden UCL's market appeal and facilitate deeper relationships with partners, ultimately leading to increased customer retention.The Jeju Research Institute recently developed a functional fragrance called 'R&B Relaxing,' utilizing rosemary and cedar leaves to encapsulate natural comfort and emotional well-being.

Notably, in collaboration with P&K Skin Clinical Research Center, UCL has pioneered studies analyzing brainwave responses during fragrance inhalation, providing scientific validation that this scent can assist in stress alleviation and mental stability.

Such innovations, combined with patented technologies (registration numbers 10-2234762 and 10-2194637), solidify UCL's proprietary capabilities.Currently, the 'R&B Relaxing' scent is being integrated into the product offerings of UCL's clients in hair and body care, positioning it as a cornerstone of UCL's fragrance asset portfolio.

The company continues to explore the development of essential oils and floral waters from local forestry resources, including cedar, cypress, and citrus by-products, as part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability.UCL is also applying upcycling technologies to enhance the raw material value derived from production by-products, aligning its practices with clean beauty principles and ESG mandates.

A UCL representative stated, "We aim to realize distinctive signature products for our clients' brands by offering total solutions that span fragrance design, raw material development, and commercialization, positioning ourselves as a reliable business partner focused on evoking consumer senses and enriching their experiences.

We are committed to expanding functional fragrance research to secure differentiated competitiveness in the global wellness beauty market in partnership with our clients."