It all began in 1928, when a group of Canadian manufacturers faced a critical issue for their industry. With the repeal of prohibition in Canada, governments turned to taxation as one means of allowing, yet limiting, the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
For the perfumers and flavoring manufacturers of the day, who also used the same alcohol found in alcoholic beverages to make their products, these taxes had to be paid upfront when buying their alcohol and the eventual tax refund took a great deal of time and effort to get back.
In need of a solution, this group – calling themselves the Perfumers Guild – lobbied government which eventually instituted the use of denatured alcohol (an unpalatable version not suitable for beverages) that the industry was able to purchase without paying tax. It was the first organized representation of the industry!
Since then the association has been known as the Canadian Perfumers and Manufacturers of Toilet Articles as well as the Toilet Goods Manufacturers Association. We then evolved into the Canadian Cosmetic Toiletry & Fragrance Association and have just recently re-branded as Cosmetics Alliance Canada.
Our name may have changed over the years, but our purpose remains the same: to serve the collective needs of our industry!
