brussels antitrust investigators raided several companies across europe on tuesday after sniffing out a secret cartel in the fragrance industry the european commission said the european commission said its teams carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies and an association active in the fragrance industry in various member states after consulting us uk and swiss competition regulators it did not say which companies investigators  joined by competition authorities of each member state affected  had raided or which countries were involved the european commission the eus powerful antitrust authority is looking into allegations the companies had violated the blocs antitrust rules in the supply of fragrances and fragrance ingredients used in household and personal care products eu officials have also formally contacted other companies in the sector for information the european commission said if the companies raided are guilty of running a secret cartel they face large fines but can be granted immunity if they cooperate with the commission