SIC code 20420 classifies businesses engaged in manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations. There are 2,188 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section C (Manufacturing) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 2 of 2,411 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 4.7 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 78% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 16%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Geographically, the sector is heavily concentrated: LONDON alone accounts for 37% of all active companies (815 firms). The top three locations — LONDON, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM — represent 41% of the sector.
SIC code 20420 stands for "Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 2,188 active companies registered under SIC code 20420 in the UK, out of 2,411 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations companies (SIC 20420) are: LONDON (815), MANCHESTER (46), BIRMINGHAM (42), LEICESTER (27), GLASGOW (25). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 78% of currently active SIC 20420 companies were formed since 2020, and 16% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 20420 have an average age of 4.7 years. This young average age reflects a sector with many recent market entrants and rapid turnover. Notable companies include COTY MANUFACTURING UK LIMITED, ELEMIS LIMITED, LUSH LTD..
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 20590 (Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.), 20411 (Manufacture of soap and detergents), 20301 (Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, mastics and sealants), 20412 (Manufacture of cleaning and polishing preparations). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 20420 (Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 2,188 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.