Four European and American fragrance makers must face lawsuits accusing them of conspiring to inflate prices of ingredients used to make cosmetics, cleaners and other household products, a federal judge in New Jersey has ruled.

U.S. District Judge William Martini on Friday rejected efforts by the companies — Switzerland-based Givaudan and Firmenich, which has merged with DSM Group; U.S.-based International Flavors & Fragrances and Germany's Symrise — to dismiss three proposed class action lawsuits filed in 2023 by consumers and other buyers.

Read more in Global fragrance makers must face price-fixing case, US judge rules at Reuters.

A prospective class action filed in a New Jersey, US court last week has become the latest case mounted against fragrance giants Givaudan, Firmenich, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Symrise.

The lawsuits follow the announcement of investigations by antitrust authorities in Switzerland, Europe, the UK and the US into suspected pricing collusion earlier this year.

— Read more in Lawsuits mount against Givaudan, Firmenich, IFF and Symrise amid fragrance antitrust investigation at Cosmetics Business.