A merger of equals
dsm-firmenich came into being in May 2023 through the merger of Netherlands-based DSM N.V. and Swiss-based Firmenich International SA. With a strong focus on nutrition, health, and beauty, we take inspiration from a rich history of scientific creativity spanning many fields and applications.
From state mining to sustainable living
DSM had a long-standing tradition of radical transformation. Established in 1902 as the Dutch State Mines (Nederlandse Staatsmijnen), the company originally mined coal in Limburg, in the south of the Netherlands. During the course of the 20th century, DSM reinvented itself several times, initially diversifying into commodities and petrochemicals before finally exiting the mining business in 1973.
Reestablished as a private company, the organization changed its name to the acronym DSM in acknowledgment of its origins. From the 1990s onwards, the organization underwent further transformations, exiting commodity chemicals and petrochemicals and focusing increasingly on science-based health, nutrition, and sustainable living. Concentrating on delivering innovative solutions that nourish, protect, and improve performance, DSM also pioneered a range of influential sustainability efforts, publishing its first Triple P (People, Planet, Profit) Report in 2008.
From start-up to global house of creators
Firmenich began in 1895 when scientist Philippe Chuit and businessman Martin Naef established a perfumery business in the garage of Charles Firmenich in Geneva, Switzerland. Trading as Firmenich & Cie, the firm expanded rapidly, with activities in Paris and the US. In 1939, its first head of research, Leopold Ružička, was a joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Over the years, Firmenich continued to evolve, creating groundbreaking molecules, developing new flavors and fragrances, and driving sustainability across its operations. The company opened a new headquarters in Geneva in the 1980s and established its Naturals Center of Excellence in Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes, France) between 2005 and 2007. It also published its first sustainability report in 2007 and in 2022, inaugurated a new campus in Geneva.
