Scent maker Belle Aire Creations expanding in Round Lake Park
You may not have heard of the company, but fragrances and flavors made by Belle Aire Creations are used in a multitude of familiar products.
And responding to continued growth, the Libertyville-based global scent manufacturer is expanding operations across the street from its production facility in Round Lake Park.
Company and other officials Monday held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a material storage warehouse to include dedicated staging areas, a quality control lab for raw material testing and expanded storage capacity.
“Porter East allows us to optimize operations, enhance product quality and create and inspiring workspace for our growing team, all while continuing to deliver the creativity and speed that define who we are,” according to CEO Stacey David.
In a letter to employees earlier this year, David said the company experienced double-digit growth that allows for expansion to refine fragrance offerings and explore cutting-edge technologies.
“Our mission is to craft fragrances that not only captivate the senses but also become an integral part of our customers’ lives — creating moments of connection and inspiration that linger long after the scent fades,” she wrote.
Behind the scenes, the business-to-business company creates fragrances used in shampoo, candles, cat litter and a variety of other products.
“We needed an immediate short-term solution to support our growth,” added Jason Dhaliwal, chief operations officer.
Custom fragrances are researched, designed and created at Belle Aire's global headquarters in a business park at 870 Technology Way in Libertyville.
Four years ago, the company opened a manufacturing facility at 30 Porter Drive in Round Lake Park to quadruple its capacity with more inventory, larger mixing tanks, more forklifts and new pumps.
About 1,400 different raw materials arrive as powders, solids, resins and liquids, Dhaliwal said.
The 27,400-square-foot Porter East expansion will have employee-focused features including an outdoor patio, walking path around a nearby pond, cafe and modern office and conference spaces.
It also is designed with system upgrades to improve accuracy, visibility and speed across Belle Aires' supply chains.
The facility is set to be fully operational in May 2026, adding 10 workers. The company currently employees about 200 in Libertyville and Round Lake Park.
“Porter East isn’t just a new facility — it’s a bold step forward for Belle Aire Creations and a major win for Round Lake Park and Lake County,” said Kevin Considine, president and CEO of Lake County Partners, the county’s economic development arm.
The expansion reinforces the company roots in the community and sets the stage for innovation, growth and new high-quality job creation, he added.
Belle Aire Fragrances was founded by three entrepreneurs in 1982 to provide fragrances for institutional household and industrial products. It also produces odor elimination products.
The company broke ground for a new corporate headquarters and manufacturing operation in Mundelein in 1989, doubling its square footage within eight years.
The name was changed and company rebranded in 2016 to create “an umbrella of expertise” for its fragrance and flavor businesses, according to the company website.
In 2021, the company bought the building in Round Lake Park, tripling its operations footprint and moved its global headquarters to Libertyville the following year.