At De Monchy Aromatics, our success is built on curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for creating lasting partnerships—and Commercial Executive Ben Dawson embodies all of these qualities.

Ben’s journey into the fragrance and flavour industry started unexpectedly—with a summer job packing samples before university. Years later, he found his way back to this “world of weird and wonderful aromas,” launching a career that has spanned more than 12 years. From his early days in a four-person London office to helping shape De Monchy’s evolution from trader to manufacturer, Ben has been part of every step of our growth story.

In this Q&A, Ben shares how the industry has transformed, what trends are shaping the future, and why he’s excited about what’s next for De Monchy and our customers.

Q: How many years have you been in the industry, and what initially drew you to it?

Ben Dawon [BD]: I’ve been in the industry for 12 years, but my first experience came before university when I did some work experience with a family friend in the trade. I spent a few weeks packing samples—bottles of all these weird and wonderful aromas—and then went off to university, not really thinking much more about it.

After graduating, I was looking for a new opportunity, came across a role in the industry, did some research, and decided to give it a go. I started out in our London office, which at the time was a small team of just four people focused on trading. About 18 months later, I got the call from Martin Gill to move to the headquarters.

I began as a commercial assistant, which was great groundwork for learning both the company and the industry as a whole. I’ve always been a sponge when it comes to learning, so in those early days—when there were only a few of us—I had the chance to cover quite a bit across different departments.

Q: Over the course of your career, how have you seen the industry evolve?

BD: The biggest change has been the demand for transparency. Customers now expect far more knowledge about supply chains. They want to know where their products come from, and that means we have to be a trusted partner who can deliver that information with confidence.

Another shift is around authenticity—sourcing naturals and testing for genuine natural products has become much more common across the industry, and it’s an area we’ve really invested in ourselves.

On the production side, things have changed massively too. When I first started, we didn’t have any distillation equipment. Today, we’re manufacturing citrus products, folding, aroma chemicals—becoming more specialized and firmly establishing ourselves as more than just a trader. We’re now a manufacturer and producer.

What’s great about De Monchy is the hands-on experience you get with the products. As a salesperson, you can truly tell the story behind the drum that’s going out the door.

Q: What are some of the biggest changes or trends you’ve observed recently?

BD: One of the big trends is provenance. Recently, we’ve had quite a few inquiries where customers are asking for products with specific provenances. In some cases, they’re building entire product ranges around provenance first and then sourcing materials that fit into those ranges.

Q: How has the relationship with clients changed in recent years?

BD: COVID changed everything. Before, it was all about in-person visits, which are still important, but now video calls have made communication more frequent and convenient. It’s completely different from a phone call—you can see the person, share more, and stay better connected without the need to travel as much.

Q: What are you most excited about for the future—either in the industry or at De Monchy?

BD: New product development. I’ve been involved in a couple of FlavourTalk events over the last few years, and it’s fantastic to go out there with new products to showcase. Continuing to expand our manufacturing capabilities and introducing new products to the market—that’s what really excites me.

I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how the essential oils industry continues to innovate in areas such as sustainability, quality standards, and traceability—areas where De Monchy is eager to contribute and help shape best practices. Over the past few years, I’ve served as a co-opted member of the British Essential Oils Association (BEOA) Board, managing the website and supporting the events committee. With my colleague Alexandra Crook recently taking up the position of Vice Chairwoman of the BEOA, we now have an excellent perspective on the direction and opportunities within the UK essential oils industry. Our involvement with the BEOA allows us not only to stay ahead of key developments but also to actively guide and support the industry’s growth and evolution.