Clariant Launches KanuFresh™: The Next-Gen Plant-Based Antiperspirant 

In mid-September 2026, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, the specialty cosmetics division of global chemical giant Clariant, unveiled KanuFresh™, a plant-derived active ingredient engineered for sweat suppression, odor neutralization, and reduced barrier irritation in personal care and cosmetic formulations.

Origin and Composition

Sourced from the leaves of Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides), an endemic Myrtaceae plant native to Australia, KanuFresh™ carries the official INCI designation: Glycerin, Water, Kunzea Ericoides Leaf Extract.

While Kānuka has long been listed in regulatory catalogues such as China’s Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Ingredients, its historical application was largely limited to essential oils and generic extracts positioned for antioxidant, aromatherapeutic, and scalp care benefits. KanuFresh™ marks the first time the raw material has been standardized, formulated, and clinically validated as a dedicated antiperspirant-deodorant active.

Quantitative Clinical Study Outcomes

Clariant conducted a robust human clinical trial across a diverse panel of male and female subjects spanning Fitzpatrick Skin Types I–VI, covering multiple ethnicities and pigmentation levels. Testing focused on high-sweat regions including the palms and underarms, which have dense populations of eccrine and apocrine glands. The study was run under extreme sweating and stress conditions, including intense physical exercise.

Key findings demonstrated multi-dimensional regulatory performance:

• Visible sweat reduction: Up to 54% reduction in visible perspiration
• Odor intensity reduction: Up to 44% decrease in odor-causing molecule levels
• Skin irritation reduction: Up to 35% lower skin irritation response
• Long-lasting efficacy: Sustained performance for up to 24 hours

Prior Chinese Research on Kānuka Leaf Extract

Before KanuFresh™’s launch, Chinese academic and industry researchers had already characterized the bioactive profile of Kānuka leaf extract. A 2024 collaborative study by the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, and Shanghai-based R&D firm Yotrue Biotech identified high concentrations of active polyphenols and flavonoids, including chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and ferulic acid.

These compounds deliver three core skin benefits:

1. Potent antioxidant & anti-aging: As effective free radical scavengers, they neutralize UV-induced reactive oxygen species, slow skin cellular senescence, and protect collagen from degradation.
2. Anti-inflammatory & soothing: They calm redness, stinging, and barrier disruption caused by inflammation, making them suitable for sensitive skin.
3. Skin brightening: Gallic acid and ferulic acid inhibit tyrosinase activity, reducing melanin production at the source.

Mechanistic Innovation: From Antioxidant to Antiperspirant

Historically, Kānuka research focused on antioxidant, photoprotective, and barrier-repair properties. Clariant’s breakthrough lies in repositioning the ingredient beyond conventional skincare frameworks, establishing it as a plant-based antiperspirant active for body care.

According to Clariant, KanuFresh™ operates via a multi-action mechanism. In vitro models confirm it precisely modulates sweat secretion and odor formation without disrupting the native epidermal microbiome balance. The company has not yet disclosed the full underlying chemical structure or specific molecular targets—an established industry practice to protect against reverse-engineering and “me-too” imitation, while also supporting premium market positioning.

The R&D Landscape: Aluminum-Free Antiperspirants and Whole-Body Deodorants

For decades, the antiperspirant category has been dominated by aluminum-based actives, primarily aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) and aluminum sesquichlorohydrate. These salts dissolve in sweat, crosslink, and form gel-like plugs that physically block sweat ducts. A 2025 market analysis of 170 European body care products published in Applied Sciences found that 62% of conventional antiperspirants rely on ACH, and 24% use aluminum sesquichlorohydrate; among roll-on antiperspirants, ACH penetration reaches 67.5%.

Deodorant formulations, by contrast, target the bacterial breakdown pathway that causes odor. Fresh sweat is nearly odorless; skin microbiota metabolize proteins and lipids in sweat to produce volatile short-chain fatty acids (VSCFAs) and sulfur-containing compounds, the primary sources of body odor. Current deodorant technologies fall into four categories:

• Enzyme inhibition: Triethyl citrate (TEC) competitively inhibits bacterial esterases to block fatty acid release
• Odor molecule chelation: Zinc ricinoleate (~9.2% market penetration) binds sulfur compounds and amine volatiles
• Microbiome modulation: Ethylhexylglycerin (25% usage rate), caprylyl glycol, or denatured alcohol suppress odor-causing bacteria
• Fragrance masking: High-performance fragrances that physically cover malodor

Market Gap and KanuFresh™’s Differentiation in Color Cosmetics

This traditional technology landscape leaves a persistent market gap: aluminum antiperspirants deliver strong efficacy but carry irritation risks that drive consumer dissatisfaction, while natural deodorant actives control odor but often leave a sticky, heavy skin feel.

KanuFresh™ addresses both pain points: it reduces sweat and odor without irritation, and preserves the epidermal microbiome. Its 35% reduction in skin irritation makes it suitable for sensitive areas prone to redness from shaving or sweat buildup, such as underarms, inner thighs, and under the breasts—extending its use case to whole-body deodorant formulations.

Color Cosmetics Applications

For complexion products—foundations, setting sprays, eyeshadows, and more—sweat and sebum production in hot, humid, active, or high-stress environments cause makeup breakdown, patchiness, caking, and migration. KanuFresh™’s 54% visible sweat reduction offers a dual physiological-physical sweat control strategy when incorporated into liquid foundations, BB creams, concealers, or setting sprays, significantly extending makeup wear time.

Unlike conventional sweat-resistant makeup that relies on silicones, film-forming polymers, or mild absorbent salts—ingredients that can clog pores and trigger inflammation—KanuFresh™ is a natural plant-derived active that supports skin barrier health and microbiome balance. This makes it ideal for “skincare-infused” or “sensitive-skin friendly” long-wear base makeup formulations.

Additionally, Kānuka leaf extract’s high polyphenol content addresses a common pain point in base makeup: oxidative darkening throughout the day. Chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and ferulic acid act as free radical scavengers that limit oxidation of oils and pigments in the formula, preserving shade integrity and preventing dullness. The ingredient’s low irritation profile also reduces the risk of redness from pigments, preservatives, and film-formers on sensitive skin, supporting product claims of “sensitive-skin safe,” “post-procedure wearable,” or “skincare makeup.”

Industry Landscape and Supply Chain Outlook

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global deodorant and body care market was valued at USD 28.41 billion in 2025, rising to USD 29.97 billion in 2026, and projected to reach USD 47.77 billion by 2034.

Major multinational players are actively expanding the category:

• Procter & Gamble has rolled out its “Whole Body Deodorant” concept across Secret, Native, and Old Spice since 2024, covering feet, under-breast, and groin areas. P&G reported high single-digit organic growth in its North American deodorant business in fiscal 2025, with its Whole Body Spray lines capturing leading shares in the U.S. men’s and women’s whole-body deodorant segments.
• Unilever’s Dove brand has launched a full Whole Body deodorant range positioned as aluminum-free with 72-hour odor protection, formulated with facial-grade skincare ingredients including niacinamide, vitamin E, and lactic acid.

In Kānuka deep processing, Chinese firms have shown strong early research foresight. Shanghai Yotrue Biotech, for example, has conducted multiple foundational studies on Kānuka extract, filed patents related to Caspase-1 inflammatory pathway inhibition, antioxidant activity, and soothing benefits, and published academic work in partnership with universities and hospitals.

However, domestic Chinese raw material suppliers remain at an early stage of Kānuka development, focused largely on general-purpose soothing extracts. As global brands drive demand for aluminum-free, quantitatively validated sweat-control actives, the domestic supply chain has not yet translated Kānuka into fully clinically validated ingredients comparable to KanuFresh™.

Leecosmetic: Using raw materials from internationally renowned companies

References

1. Lucas Meyer Cosmetics (Clariant). Active Ingredients Portfolio – KanuFresh™. Official product page.
2. Lucas Meyer Cosmetics. KanuFresh™ Clinical Evaluation Summary. Technical dossier, 2026.
3. Li, Y. et al. (2024). Phytochemical Profiling and Skin Bioactivities of Kunzea ericoides Leaf Extract. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
4. National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China. Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Ingredients. Official regulatory database.
5. Schmidt, M. et al. (2025). Formulation Trends in European Deodorant and Antiperspirant Products: A Market Analysis of 170 Commercial Products. Applied Sciences, 15(2).
6. Fortune Business Insights. Deodorant Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, 2026–2034. Market report.
7. Procter & Gamble. P&G Expands Whole Body Deodorant Portfolio Across Secret, Native and Old Spice. Official press release, 2025.
8. Unilever. Dove Launches Aluminum-Free Whole Body Deodorant with Facial-Grade Skincare Ingredients. Official press release, 2025.