GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™ for Beverages

Improve Beverage Flavor & Freshness

As water-soluble, rosmarinic acid-based formulations, IFF GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™ solutions offer a label-friendly way to improve and maintain beverage flavor and freshness throughout shelf life. While designed for beverages such as beers, hard seltzers, carbonated drinks, energy and sports drinks, spirits, and more, our solutions are low in bitterness, lightly colored, and easy to use for even near-water applications.

FEMA GRAS, Upcycled, Organic, and TTB certifications available
A range of formats, including exclusive quality grades for specialized applications

An array of glass cups with 6 different natural beverages preserved with IFF GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™

Customer Beverage Trends

More than ever, brands need to balance high-quality, label-friendly products with cost-effective food protection solutions.

Good for Me & My Planet

We provide a label-friendly alternative to some synthetic flavors and antioxidants commonly used in beverages, to attract quality-driven consumers. GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™ solutions can help beverages stay stable under environmental conditions like light, temperature, and oxygen which is especially helpful when transitioning to more sustainable packaging.

Extending shelf life is of high value to customers, as they have increasingly been associating later expiration dates with less product waste.

Benefits of AQUAROX™ for Beverages

Available in both liquid and powder forms and produced from sustainably sourced rosemary, our solutions offer unparalleled quality and ease of use.

Market Unique Quality

Our GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™ beverage solutions support applications in a variety of beverages, including near-water types. Innovative extraction technology enables us to deliver formulations that are reduced in bitterness and undesirable off-taste, odor, and color that is often associated with rosemary extracts. Further your market demand with our certifications, including FEMA GRAS, Upcycled Certified, Trade associations, non-allergenic, Non-GMO, and Organic.

Validation & Support

IFF offers robust proof points demonstrating the flavoring impact of our solutions, their effectiveness in delaying oxidative deterioration, and a wide range of related benefits. Our experienced technical teams bring deep expertise, supported by advanced tools and capabilities, while our regulatory experts offer in-depth knowledge of country-specific regulations.

Availability & Sustainability

Through a secure supply chain and comprehensive quality control, the rosemary we use is partially vertically integrated, grown with optimized natural resources and fertilization processes. Extraction sites are strategically located near the raw material sources, and the product formulation includes partially upcycled extraction materials.

Turn Challenges into Breakthroughs

Taste is the top priority for beverage consumers—and the leading reason behind their purchase decisions.

Many beverage producers have partnered with us to improve flavor of their products from the formulation and production stage onward, enabling consistent sensory experience throughout shelf life.
Beverages featuring AQUAROX™ consistently delivered a more intense, fresher taste profile, often with elevated herbal notes. But the benefits didn’t stop at taste—AQUAROX™ also brought added value across multiple dimensions.

Discover how our team delivered exceptional results tailored to their goals.

Flavored Cold-Brew Coffee (RTD)

Challenge: The product experienced flavor freshness issues within its 9-month shelf life. The goal was to extend this to 12 months. The customer was hesitant to use rosemary extract due to its typically strong flavor and color, which could interfere with the delicate coffee profile.
Solution: Flavor improvement and stability were achieved across two recipes using AQUAROX™ which features high-purity, low-color rosmarinic acid-based formulations—effective from production and sustained throughout a 12-month shelf life.

Flavored Vodka

Challenge: The red color in the beverage faded over time. A previously tested rosemary extract from a competitor caused undesirable changes in odor, flavor, and color when used at functional levels.
Solution: Our refined AQUAROX™ formulation helped improve flavor and protect both flavor and color, enhancing the overall taste experience.

Non-Alcoholic Gin & Tonic

Challenge: A complex botanical recipe made the product vulnerable to flavor and color degradation early in the shelf life.
Solution: AQUAROX™, in a light-colored formulation, was used at a dosage that both improved flavor and maintained color without introducing off-notes—ensuring a fresher, more appealing taste throughout the shelf life.

Flavored Beer in Transparent Bottles

Challenge: Switching from cans to transparent glass bottles led to rapid flavor degradation, sourness, odor development, and color fading due to UV exposure. Shelf life dropped from 6 to under 3 months, while the target was 9 months.
Solution: AQUAROX™ was applied at a low dosage to improve flavor and taste stability under light exposure, restoring shelf life to 9 months and enabling the customer to meet consumer demand for transparent bottle packaging.

Citrus- and Apple-Flavored Spritzers

Challenge: As flavor intensity in beverages tends to decline more rapidly in hot climates, the customer faced challenges in protecting taste and consistent product quality throughout the supply chain.
Solution: AQUAROX™ helped refine the original flavor and extended shelf life by over 3 months—while maintaining product integrity with no negative sensory impact.

Sparkling Apple Drink

Challenge: The beverage, marketed for its high vitamin C content, experienced a significant drop in vitamin C levels during shelf life, threatening its health claims.
Solution: AQUAROX™ was added to improve taste and protect vitamin C. The treated beverage retained up to 3 times more vitamin C than the control—while maintaining a fresher, more vibrant taste.

Zero-Alcohol Beer

Challenge: The customer sought to launch a new alcohol-free beer brand. Long-distance distribution in warm climates led to flavor degradation.
Solution: AQUAROX™ was tested in forced aging trials and showed significant flavor improvement and better stability over 9 months—contributing to a cleaner, longer-lasting taste.

Transform Ideas into Market-Ready Innovations

Bring your vision to life with IFF’s expertise in beverage innovation with GUARDIAN® AQUAROX™. Together, we can turn bold ideas into groundbreaking solutions.

*Application of IFF GUARDIAN® solutions is subject to local regulations. Please consult your IFF representative.