Global investment firm The Riverside Company has invested in a controlling stake in Essential Compositions, a fast-growing developer and manufacturer of fragrances.WHO: Founded in Gandía, Spain, in 1980, Essential Compositions is dedicated to the creation and production of fragrances for end markets such as perfumery, personal care, air care, and home care. The company sells most of its products directly to 250 customers across more than 40 countries globally. The company owns a catalog of more than 20,000 registered formulations and sells to 250 customers across more than 40 countries worldwide.Founded in 1988, The Riverside Company is a private equity firm based in New York. The firm seeks to invest in business services, consumer brands, education and training, franchisors, healthcare, software and information technology, and manufacturing sectors in the United States, Canada, Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.WHY: Following the investment, Riverside intends to enhance Essential Compositions’ commercial and R&D capabilities, further strengthening the company’s team of perfumers to support strong organic growth ambitions and international expansion. The firm will also seek to pursue a buy-and-build strategy in what is still a fragmented market with significant opportunities for consolidation.IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Karsten Langer, Managing Partner at Riverside Europe, commented: “We are delighted to secure our latest platform investment in the specialty ingredients space—an industry where we have a long track record and a global network of expertise, reinforcing our specialty ingredients super-thesis.