Fragrance tech startup Patina has successfully secured $2 million in funding from investors such as Betaworks and True Ventures. The company aims to innovate in scent creation by utilizing advanced molecular design and machine learning, marking a significant shift in an industry that has seen minimal advancements in recent decades.
Founded by Sean Raspet, an artist and perfumer, and Laura Sisson, who has a background in food and software engineering, Patina began its journey last year. The two met at a scent art gallery in New York in 2024, where their shared passion for human senses led to collaborative research.
Patina is developing a foundational model known as Sense1, which replicates the scent receptors in the human nose. This innovation aims to create a universal code for smell and taste, moving beyond traditional descriptors like “floral” or “woody.” The company is currently in discussions with leading fragrance houses and fashion brands to develop bespoke scents, responding to a market demand for “newer, safer and more expressive perfumes.” Additionally, as natural ingredients like rose oil become scarcer, Patina offers synthetic alternatives that effectively mimic their scents.