Fragrance tech startup Patina secured $2 million in funding from Betaworks and True Ventures, aiming to disrupt an industry with minimal innovation in half a century. The company develops new scent molecules using molecular design, machine learning, and scent research, challenging a system where specialized labs create molecules sold to fragrance houses.

Founded by Sean Raspet and Laura Sisson, who met at a New York scent gallery in 2024, Patina is developing Sense1—a model replicating human scent receptors to create what they call "the first universal code of smell and taste." Their technology allows for creating novel molecules and replicating rare natural ingredients without plant extraction.

The startup is already in talks with top fragrance houses and fashion brands while positioning itself against legacy players like Givaudan and Symrise. Their molecules reduce carbon intensity compared to natural extracts and could help address supply-chain pressures on ingredients like rose oil. With the funding, Patina has moved from Raspet's backyard to a Brooklyn office, building a team of chemists pursuing the ambitious goal of creating a "Pantone for scent."