About us

History

1971–1980

1971 Contemporary Perfumers Ltd is officially formed by Jack Pickthall’s children, Michael and Terry, with the first site opening in the UK’s Witham, Essex.

1980 Barrington Hall is acquired as the CPL Aromas Sales and Creative Centre.

The founding brothers, Michael and Terry Pickthall
1981–1990

1988 The business forms its Aroma Ingredients Division.

1989 The business forms its Flavours Division.

1990 CPL Aromas establishes its Brixworth site as its European manufacturing facility, and CPL Aromas Far East is launched.

The CPL Aromas Hong Kong site
1991–1995

1991 CPL Aromas acquires H.E. Daniel ltd.
CPL Aromas Gmbh is established in Germany.
CPL Aromas Inc is established in USA.

1992 CPL Aromas Latin America is established.

1994 CPL Aromas is floated on the London Stock Exchange.

1995 Du Crocq Aromatics, Netherlands and Daniel Blayn, France are acquired by CPL Aromas.

An article at the time of CPL's floatation on the LSE
1996–2000

1999 CPL Aromas launches its AromaGuard technology.

2000 CPL Aromas is de-listed from the London Stock Exchange, and the company is restored to Pickthall family ownership.

Chris, Nick and Francis Pickthall
2001–2010

2001 The Ingredients and Flavours divisions are sold to Frutarom, making CPL Aromas a fragrance-only Fragrance House.

2005 CPL Aromas FZE is established as Creative Centre and Sales Centre Dubai.

2007 CPL Aromas Far East opens its new automated production facility in Yuen Long site together with other Far East satellite operations.

2009 CPL Aromas launches its EcoBoost technology.

Talal Al Hashimi with Francis Pickthall presenting a specially created fragrance for Her Excellency, Salma Hareb – CEO of Jafza
2011–2017

2011 CPL Aromas pvt India is established.

2015 CPL Aromas launches its new AromaCore technology and establishes its automated production facility in Dubai.

2016 The UK division establishes Innovation House as its new Creative Centre and launches its new AromaFusion technology.

2017 CPL Aromas launches a refreshed global brand focused on igniting the imagination.

Background

Our story began a century ago when John Pickthall first experimented with enhancing the toiletries of his time. His son Jack, an innovative chemist and world-renowned perfumer, carried on where John left off and went on to shape the emerging perfume industry. It was Jack’s sons, Michael and Terry, who founded Contemporary Perfumers Limited (CPL) in 1971 and their children continue the family success story into the present day.

Today

While CPL remains a family-run business, we’re now a major international fragrance house serving over 100 countries, ranking in the top ten of the sector’s major players, and gathering awards as we go.