$11M Fragrance End-User Antitrust Class Action Settlement

Antitrust · Final Approval Granted

If you bought consumer products or household goods in the United States that contained certain fragrance products between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023, you may be a member of the Settlement Class in the Fragrance End-User Plaintiff Antitrust Litigation. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (“IFF”) has agreed to an $11 million settlement of the End-User Plaintiffs’ claims against it.

There will be no payments to the Settlement Class at this time, and no claim form is available yet. You may be notified later of an opportunity to file a claim. You can register for updates on the official settlement website so you are notified when notice begins and when a claim form becomes available.

You do not need to pay another attorney, company, or individual to file a claim for you if and when the claims process opens.

Update: Final Approval Granted

Judge William J. Martini of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval of the IFF settlement and final certification of the settlement class in an opinion signed September 16, 2026, the day after the fairness hearing. The motions were unopposed: no class member objected and no one asked to be excluded. The court also approved $165,878.65 in class counsel’s litigation costs, $299,308.74 in notice costs, a $34,000 holdback for future administration, and a $1 million set-aside from the fund for future litigation expenses against the non-settling defendants. Class counsel did not seek attorneys’ fees at this stage. No notice of appeal had been filed as of mid-October 2026.

Final approval does not open a claims process. The official settlement website says claims are not being accepted, class members will be notified later of an opportunity to file a claim form, and the remaining settlement money is to be paid together at the conclusion of the lawsuit or as the court orders. IFF denies any wrongdoing or liability.

What Is the Fragrance Antitrust Settlement About?

This is a consumer (end-user) antitrust class action. The End-User Plaintiffs allege that IFF and a group of other fragrance manufacturers and suppliers conspired to restrain trade by, among other things, increasing and fixing the prices of fragrance products, in violation of the federal Sherman Act, various state antitrust and consumer protection laws, and state unjust-enrichment laws. The plaintiffs allege that consumers paid artificially inflated prices for everyday products that contained those fragrance products.

IFF denies the claims and denies any wrongdoing or liability. No court has found that IFF or any defendant violated any law. IFF and the End-User Plaintiffs agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation against IFF. The settlement requires Court approval.

Importantly, this settlement is with IFF only. It does not dismiss the claims against the other defendants. The End-User Plaintiffs’ lawsuit continues against the remaining, non-settling defendants, and there may be separate settlements or judgments later.

What Is the Total Settlement Amount?

The total settlement amount is $11,000,000, paid by IFF, the settling defendant. In addition to the cash payment, IFF has agreed to certain non-monetary relief and to provide specified cooperation in the End-User Plaintiffs’ continued pursuit of the lawsuit against the other defendants.

No money will be distributed to Settlement Class Members right now. Class Counsel will continue the lawsuit against the non-settling defendants. Additional money may become available in the future from a trial or future settlements — or the case may be resolved in favor of the other defendants, and no additional money may become available. There is no guarantee.