Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics Companies in the UK

SIC 46450Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|400.8% formed since 2020|Data updated 5 Jun 2026
6,473
Active

There are 6,473 active companies in the wholesale of perfume and cosmetics sector in the UK (SIC code 46450). This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.1% dissolution rate — 6,473 of 7,618 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 400.8% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 111% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. With an average company age of just 4.5 years, this sector is dominated by newer entrants. 78 large companies, 12 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. The sector is heavily concentrated in London, which accounts for 36% of all companies. Companies in this sector hold 9 government contracts valued at £1.6M.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

6,473
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1922
Oldest Company
400.8%
Growth (2020s)
4.5 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 400.8% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
19%
76%
Pre-1990: 63
1990s: 83
2000s: 276
2010s: 1,437
2020s: 5,759

Data Signals

Governance
20,3145 src
Financial
9,1268 src
Compliance
3,44310 src
Risk
2,7978 src
Trade
2,0841 src
ESG
1176 src
quality
973 src
innovation
272 src
corporate_structure
151 src
growth
101 src
operational
31 src

Sector Overview

The wholesale of perfume and cosmetics sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.1% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 4.5 years old. Geographic concentration: 36% in LONDON.

0.1%
Dissolution rate
4.5 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 68 (43%)Medium: 12 (8%)Large: 78 (49%)

Government Activity

Companies in the wholesale of perfume and cosmetics sector have been awarded 9 government contracts worth £1.6M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wholesale of perfume and cosmetics companies are there in the UK?

There are 6,473 active companies classified under SIC code 46450 (Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics) in the UK, out of 7,618 total registered.

What is SIC code 46450?

SIC code 46450 stands for "Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most wholesale of perfume and cosmetics companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (2,339), BIRMINGHAM (188), MANCHESTER (185).

What is the average age of wholesale of perfume and cosmetics companies?

The average active wholesale of perfume and cosmetics company in the UK is 4.5 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1922.

What government data is available for wholesale of perfume and cosmetics companies?

Our database contains 38,033 data signals across 11 categories for active wholesale of perfume and cosmetics companies. The largest category is Governance with 20,314 signals from 5 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.