FlavorFeelings™
A proprietary IFF model and database that tracks consumers’ emotional responses to food and beverage products, highlighting the emotional or cognitive connotations any specific flavor or ingredient has within the consumer mind.
The Human Equation
Crafted with Empathy. Backed by Science.
Our Mood Intelligence philosophy is simple: start with empathy. By understanding consumer behaviors, motivations and expectations, we co-create products that are as purposeful as they are flavorful.
To validate impact, we unite explicit consumer testing with implicit neuroscientific data — bridging what people say with how their brains and bodies actually react. The result? Food and beverage solutions that truly resonate.
Beyond Hedonics™
A Toolbox for Emotional Insight
Beyond Hedonics™ is a toolbox of proprietary consumer research methodologies. For more than 25 years, the program has pioneered innovative ways to measure cognitive states and emotions, elicited through food and beverage consumption.
BrainEmotions™
A revolutionary, science-based approach to studying the impacts of flavors and scents through implicit testing. To discover the emotional and cognitive effects of various foods, beverages and fragrances, this testing allows up to eight different consumer brain networks to be studied.
ScentEmotions™
Proprietary IFF research and database, based on a unique psychological consumer protocol, that aim to understand emotions elicited by foods, beverages and fragrances.
A Spectrum of Solutions
Mood Intelligence solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all. We partner with customers across the full spectrum of possibilities.
Enhance
Existing Products
Enhance products by layering in subtle notes that influence cognitive state or emotion.
Create
Holistic, From-Scratch Compositions
Create compositions where botanicals, extracts, essential oils and other ingredients work in synergy to elicit a targeted emotional or cognitive effect.
Adapt
A Solution that Meets the Mood
Realize a solution that is anywhere in-between, from tweaking a signature profile to developing entirely new product experiences.
Starting from Scratch
Every Emotion is Nuanced. And So is Our Approach.
Rather than layering in a single note, IFF flavorists create with intention, often starting from scratch and weaving combinations of proprietary IFF ingredients, selected natural molecules and botanicals into entirely new compositions.
These blends don’t just enhance a flavor — they transform it, creating what we call a signature: a unique profile that subtly triggers desired emotions. Think of a strawberry that feels more energized with basil’s lively green notes or an apple that sparks happiness with the pine-like lift of juniper.
What Sets IFF Apart
Proprietary Tools & Data
Over 25 years of mood, emotion and cognitive research with 2.5 million consumer observations, a global database of 34 emotional clusters and proprietary testing methods.
Proprietary Tools & Data
Human-Centric Design
Co-creation grounded in empathy, ensuring products meet not just taste expectations, but emotional ones.
Human-Centric Design
Unique, High-Quality Ingredients
Access to a vast portfolio of botanicals, some exclusive to IFF, sustainably and respectfully sourced.
Unique, High-Quality Ingredients
Scientific Validation
Neuroscience meets consumer insight — combining explicit feedback with brain and body response to get a full picture of consumers’ cognitive changes and complexity of human emotion.
Scientific Validation
Creative Flavor Crafting
From fine fragrance-inspired beverage creations to functional everyday foods and more, we design experiences with purpose.
Creative Flavor Crafting
Turning Empathy into Innovation
Mood Intelligence isn’t a trend — it’s a transformation in how products are created.
With IFF as your partner, every formula can become a bridge between science and sentiment, data and delight, consumer need and brand ambition.
Let’s design flavors that feel.
