Dr. Karen Jenner Honored with 2026 Robert H. Bedoukian Excellence in Science Award

MAHWAH, N.J., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM)'s 60th Annual Meeting, Dr. Karen Jenner received the 2026 Robert H. Bedoukian Excellence in Science Award. Dr. Robert Sobel, CEO of Bedoukian Research, presented the award, which honors Dr. Robert Bedoukian, whose legacy of scientific curiosity and innovation continues to inspire excellence in fragrance safety research.

Dr. Jenner is an ecotoxicology and environmental fate expert with research experience in organic chemistry. She retired from Givaudan in 2024 after 17 years in environmental safety science and environmental product safety. Before joining Givaudan, she was a discovery and innovation project manager at Quest International. She earned her PhD from the University of Kent.

Dr. Jenner developed fragrance ingredients that are still used across the industry, leaving a lasting mark on the materials shaping fragrance creation today.

Her work advances the evaluation of fragrance materials, including difficult-to-test mixtures and complex natural substances. She has contributed to ECHA committees on PBT substances, mixtures, and microplastics, an ECETOC task force, and Cefic research projects.

Dr. Jenner co-authored guidance on difficult-to-test materials and biodegradation. Her publications address fish metabolism and bioaccumulation of fragrance ingredients, as well as persistence and biodegradation of cyclic sesquiterpenes found in essential oils.

For 20 years, Dr. Jenner has contributed to RIFM's Environmental Task Force and Environmental Core Team. Her expertise has helped inform environmental projects that have developed into standardized approaches, including the IFRA Environmental Standards, the persistence evaluation of natural complex substances, and RIFM's environmental risk assessment framework. Her nominator, Aurelia Lapczynski, RIFM Principal Scientist in Environmental Toxicology, praised her generosity, humility, and commitment to helping colleagues learn.

"Dr. Jenner's work reflects the scientific rigor, curiosity, and collaboration this award was created to honor," said Dr. Sobel. "I'm proud to present this award to a scientist whose work has made a contribution to environmental safety."

The Robert H. Bedoukian Excellence in Science Award recognizes individuals whose research exemplifies scientific rigor, creativity, and impact in fragrance science. Previous honorees include G. Frank Gerberick (2025), Robert "Bob" Safford (2024), Daniel C. Liebler (2023), Benjamin Smith (2022), Andreas Natsch (2021), Peter Cadby (2020), and David R. Bickers (2019).

Media Contact:
Gary Sullivan
Director of Marketing & Communications, RIFM
[email protected]

SOURCE Research Institute for Fragrance Materials