It sounds like you keep hearing the same promises:
“long-lasting freshness, safe for sensitive skin, eco-friendly, fully compliant…”
On paper, many suppliers look similar.
In reality, the wrong choice can mean complaints about skin irritation, awkward questions about microplastics or last-minute label changes because of new EU rules.
Below is a simple framework you can use to quickly assess whether a supplier is ready for today’s laundry market – not just yesterday’s.
Modern laundry products live at the crossroads of REACH, CLP, fragrance allergens and now EU restrictions on intentionally added microplastics.
Good suppliers can clearly answer questions like:
A concrete example of this direction are allergen-free, microplastic-free scent systems such as Amarella hypoallergen: in-wash boosters and Laundry Perfume designed specifically for sensitive and allergy-prone households, fully free from the 26 fragrance allergens and validated in external testing.
You don’t have to start with such a specialised line – but you should know your supplier is capable of delivering it when needed.
Formulas that are hypoallergenic, microplastic-free and still pleasantly scented don’t happen by accident. They come from R&D, not only from “mix and fill”.
When you look at a partner, ask:
ELiX, for example, works through its own R&D centre – Aroma Formulation Labs (AFL) in Wrocław – developing fragrances, testing stability and preparing regulatory documentation for air-care and laundry projects.
When your supplier has this capability in-house, you’re not just buying a formula; you’re buying a team that can keep that formula legal and competitive over time.
Many companies say “premium quality”.
A smaller group can support that with independent audits.
For laundry and fragrance-rich products, look for:
ELiX manufactures in Poland under exactly this mix of certifications, which simplifies listing in demanding retail chains and gives you a documented quality framework behind every batch.
A quick rule of thumb: if a supplier is unsure which certificates they hold, or cannot send them within a day, treat that as a signal.
If you work in private label or contract manufacturing, you know one thing:
your customer wants to see you as the producer, not your supplier.
When you evaluate a partner, look beyond “we also do private label” and check:
ELiX positions itself primarily as a specialist in private label and contract manufacturing for fragrances and laundry add-ons, handling regulatory paperwork and leaving the spotlight to the brand owner.
In practice, that means you can build a differentiated offer without advertising who stands behind it.
The market is moving away from isolated “hero products” and towards coherent systems:
When you choose a supplier, look not only at what they make today, but also at their roadmap. For example:
At the same time, ELiX is already developing laundry gels and modern fabric softeners to align with the same standards – so a retailer can eventually build a full, consistent range with one partner (information from ELiX).
A supplier with this kind of roadmap reduces the risk that you will have to switch partners when the next trend or regulation arrives.
To keep things practical, here are a few questions you can bring to your next call – phrased to get useful, concrete answers:
You are not looking for perfect marketing phrases.
You are looking for specific products, certificates, test reports and project stories.
Whether you work with ELiX or not, the same filters apply.
But if you are searching for a European specialist that:
then ELiX is one of the suppliers worth putting on your shortlist.
The key, however, is simple:
whichever partner you choose, make sure they can answer the hard questions on safety, compliance, R&D, quality and roadmap – before your customers start asking them for you.

