dsm-firmenich Opens New Fine Fragrance Flagship in Chelsea
A next-generation creative hub where fragrance creation, innovation, culture,
and creativity converge in the heart of New York City.
dsm-firmenich announced the official opening of its new flagship for Fine Fragrance and
more at 641 Avenue of the Americas in Chelsea, New York. Marking a new chapter for
the company’s Fine Fragrance activities in North America, the 44,000-square-foot space
brings together perfumers, fragrance development teams, application, digital, and
compounding capabilities under one roof. Home to around 100 employees, including nine Fine
Fragrance perfumers, the new Chelsea location is designed to foster deeper collaboration,
inspire creativity, and accelerate innovation alongside clients and creative partners.
Set within a landmark building woven into New York’s history, the space reflects both the city’s
cultural energy and the company’s vision for the future of fragrance. Conceived as an open,
immersive environment, it creates new opportunities for clients and visitors to engage directly
with perfumers, discover ingredients, exchange ideas, and experience scent through a range of
curated events, masterclasses, and creative collaborations.
“Few cities inspire creativity quite like New York. With our new home in Chelsea, we are
investing in an environment designed to bring together talent, inspiration and diverse
perspectives. Rooted in one of the city’s most dynamic creative neighbourhoods, this space
creates new opportunities for collaboration, dialogue and discovery, enabling our perfumers,
clients and partners to shape the future of fine fragrance together,” says Jonathan Simon,
President of Global Fine Fragrance.
“The opening of 641 Avenue of the Americas builds on dsm-firmenich’s longstanding Fine
Fragrance presence in New York,” says Melanie Duhamel, Vice President for Fine Fragrance,
North America. “It is a new home not only for our teams, but also for our customers, bringing
together perfumery expertise, scientific innovation, and collaboration in an environment that
cultivates creation and a forward-thinking vision.”
A Next-Generation Laboratory
At the heart of the new site is a purpose-built laboratory designed to dsm-firmenich’s best
global standards. Advanced automation and robotics enhance efficiency, precision, and safety,
including Cerberus, a custom-built compounding robot capable of handling up to 456 raw
materials – a new technology that will significantly expand the lab’s creative output.
The laboratory also reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability, incorporating
energy-efficient systems, Green Lab practices, waste reduction measures, and smart
workstations designed to support employee well-being. Together, these capabilities establish
the Chelsea lab as a new benchmark for the company, bringing together technology,
craftsmanship, and responsible innovation.
Creating Resonance
The opening of the Chelsea office also marks the launch of OPEN AIR: Artists in Resonance, a
new cultural platform exploring creativity through conversation, community, and culture.
Bringing together dsm-firmenich perfumers with voices from across New York’s cultural
landscape, OPEN AIR connects fragrance with disciplines ranging from food, music, fashion,
design, and nightlife to spirituality and social service. Participants include a DJ, chef, tattoo
artist and designers, as well as members of the voguing community and organizations including
Housing Works, Brooklyn Grange, and many others. Each collaboration is interpreted through
scent, with the resulting works presented throughout the Chelsea space through fragrance,
film, photography, recordings and physical artifacts.
OPEN AIR will continue through future exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations across dsm-
firmenich’s global creative centers.
A Landmark Reimagined
Originally home to a luxury department store, the building introduced New York City’s first
escalator and was once a landmark retail destination that transformed the way New Yorkers
experienced shopping and design. Today, that spirit of innovation lives on as a new creative hub
for perfumery.
Designed as a multidimensional environment where artistry, science, and culture intersect, the
site features a state-of-the-art laboratory, collaborative creative spaces, outdoor terraces, and
a rooftop garden overlooking Manhattan.
