The sweet smell of trash? Perfumers are using waste to concoct new scents

The family group TechnicoFlor presented a collection of fragrances developed from upcycled raw materials, including cacao absolute from cacao pods. Photo: AFP

Previously destined for a life in the trash, strawberry residue, tangerine peels, and carrot seeds are now part of the new olfactory palette of the fragrance world.

After upcycling was embraced by fashion and cosmetics, it's now proving to be a new playground for perfumers who not only aim to do better for the plane but are increasingly using waste to concoct new scents.