Le Labo Fragrances: Who Owns The Brand?

who owns le labo fragrances

Le Labo is a high-end fragrance and sensory lifestyle brand with a distinct French heritage and an emphasis on fine craftsmanship. The company was founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, who wanted to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery. The brand's first store was in the Nolita neighbourhood of New York, and it has since expanded to over 40 markets globally, including the USA, UK, France, Japan, and China. Le Labo is known for its pure, clean fragrances, free of typical preservatives and artificial colours, and for its in-store experience that reflects boutique, artisan traditions. The brand was sold to Estée Lauder in 2014 but has retained its boutique identity.

Characteristics Values
Current Owner Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Previous Owner Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi
Year of Acquisition 2014
Year of Founding 2006
Founding Location Nolita neighborhood of New York City
Founders Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi
Number of Stores Over 40
Product Availability Limited
Product Characteristics Artisan, pure, clean, free of parabens, animal products, preservatives, artificial colors, and animal testing
Product Offerings Fine fragrances, personalized perfumes, candles, shampoo, lotion, body, hair, and face formulas, and a grooming line

shunscent

Le Labo was founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi

Le Labo is a high-end fragrance and sensory lifestyle brand with a distinct French heritage and an emphasis on fine craftsmanship. The brand was founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, two friends wanting to create a scented revolution in a world of conventional perfumery.

Penot and Roschi broke conventional business wisdom by starting their perfumery with no formal investor funding or advertising. Instead, they relied on pure, clean fragrances without the typical preservatives and animal testing used by some commercial competitors. They offered an in-store experience that reflected the boutique, artisan traditions of perfumery. Le Labo's first store, or "lab," was opened on Elizabeth Street in the Nolita neighborhood of New York City, establishing a romantic, European aesthetic that now defines the brand.

The core of Le Labo's collection is genderless perfumes and candles, but they also offer sensorial formulas for the body, hair, and face, as well as a grooming line. Each Le Labo fragrance is dedicated to a different city, such as Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York, with 13 exclusive scents only available in the cities that inspired them. For example, Vanille 44 is only available in Paris, while Tokyo and New York also have their own signature scents.

Le Labo has since expanded to over 40 markets, including the USA, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Australia. Despite this growth, the brand remains true to its artisanal roots and manifesto of being an artisan product for conscientious consumers. Le Labo was sold to Estée Lauder in 2014 but has retained its boutique brand identity through limited availability and artisan products.

shunscent

The brand was sold to Estée Lauder in 2014

Le Labo, a slow perfumery brand born in Grasse, France, and based in New York City, was sold to Estée Lauder in 2014. The brand was founded in 2006 by two friends, Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, who opened their first artisanal laboratory in the Nolita neighbourhood of New York City.

Le Labo quickly grew its perfume business into a full range of sprays, gels, lotions, soaps, and candles, achieving international success and a cult following. This attracted the attention of major beauty companies, including Estée Lauder, which announced in October 2014 that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Le Labo.

The acquisition by Estée Lauder closed in November 2014, adding Le Labo to its portfolio of prestige beauty brands. John Demsey, Group President of The Estée Lauder Companies, highlighted the company's ability to identify unique brands and accelerate their growth, stating that Le Labo would continue this legacy. Fabrizio Freda, President and CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies, praised Le Labo as an incredibly unique brand with a focus on craftsmanship, personalization, and high-touch services.

Following the acquisition, Le Labo continued to operate with a focus on its artisanal roots and the craft of slow perfumery. Deborah Royer, Global Brand President and Creative Director of Le Labo, oversees the brand, which has contributed to the overall growth of the fragrance category for Estée Lauder. Le Labo became B Corp certified in 2022, reflecting its commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

shunscent

Le Labo's first store was in the Nolita neighbourhood of New York

Le Labo is a perfume house founded in 2006 by friends Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi. The brand was born in Grasse, France, but its first boutique laboratory was opened in New York City's Nolita neighbourhood, on 233 Elizabeth Street.

The founders chose Nolita for their first store as they wanted to fight the rising tide of conformity they saw in other cities. They aimed to create a cultural experience unique to the location. The store was designed to reveal the backstage of perfume-making, with freshly hand-blended and hand-assembled fragrances crafted in front of customers. This approach harked back to the slower, artisanal roots of perfumery.

Le Labo's first store established the brand's romantic, European aesthetic, which now defines its over 40 international flagship stores. The company has since expanded to major cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Melbourne, London, and Dubai.

Le Labo's unique approach to perfumery included a lack of advertising, in-store perfume blending, and city-specific scents. The brand's philosophy centred on pure ingredients and a simplified approach to fragrance packaging, avoiding extravagance in advertising and media exposure. This unconventional path proved successful, with Le Labo becoming synonymous with its signature scent, Santal 33, and earning a global cult following.

shunscent

The brand has over 40 markets and boutiques globally

Le Labo, which stands for "the lab" in French, is a slow perfumery brand born in Grasse, France, and based in New York City. The brand was founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Edouard (or Eddie) Roschi. It was then purchased by the Estée Lauder Companies in 2014.

Le Labo's first boutique opened on 233 Elizabeth Street in New York's Nolita neighbourhood. The brand now has standalone boutiques and counters in department stores in over 40 markets globally. These include the USA, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Australia.

The brand's founders chose to open their first store in New York City because they wanted to fight the rising tide of conformity in their lives. They were fed up with finding the same stores in LA, Tokyo, and Paris, and wanted to add a cultural experience that couldn't be found anywhere else. Staying true to this spirit, Le Labo has since opened boutiques in various cities around the world, including Tokyo, where they released their second-ever store.

Le Labo's City Exclusives Collection pays tribute to cities worldwide, with each fragrance dedicated to a different location. For example, Tokyo 10, Shanghai 55, Hong Kong 18, Dubai 28, and New York 40.

shunscent

Le Labo's fragrances are known for their pure, clean ingredients

Le Labo fragrances are known for their pure, clean ingredients. The brand was founded in 2006 by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi, who sought to rebel against the conformity of the beauty industry. They aimed to create a unique cultural experience that couldn't be found anywhere else.

Le Labo's artisanal fragrances are hand-blended and hand-assembled in front of clients, showcasing the art of slow perfumery. The brand's focus on pure ingredients is evident in their creations, such as LAVANDE 31, which features distilled lavender flower buds for a rich and pure lavender scent. Another example is ALDEHYDE 44, a sublime floral composition built around absolute narcissus, jasmin, and tuberose, resulting in a uniquely clean fragrance.

The brand's City Exclusives Collection pays tribute to cities worldwide, with each fragrance dedicated to a different city like Tokyo, Shanghai, and New York. These city-specific scents further showcase Le Labo's commitment to creating unique and memorable olfactory experiences.

Le Labo's perfumes are known for their complex and elegant compositions. For instance, Oud 27, an amber fragrance, contains a plethora of ingredients, including agarwood, cedar Atlas, incense, patchouli, black pepper, saffron, and gaïac. The brand also offers genderless perfumes, candles, and sensorial formulas for the body, hair, and face, ensuring an inclusive and versatile range of products.

The success of Le Labo's fragrances, such as the iconic Santal 33, has solidified the brand's reputation as a pioneer in the fragrance industry, known for its dedication to pure and clean ingredients that result in exceptional olfactory experiences.

Frequently asked questions

Le Labo was founded by Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roschi in 2006. In 2014, the brand was sold to Estée Lauder but it has retained its boutique brand status.

Le Labo was created to be a "rebellion" against the rising tide of conformity in the beauty industry. The brand champions the use of pure, clean fragrances without the typical preservatives and animal testing relied on by some commercial competitors.

The first Le Labo boutique was opened on 233 Elizabeth Street in the Nolita neighbourhood of New York City.

Le Labo fragrances are known for their city-specific scents, such as Tokyo 10, Shanghai 55, and New York 40. The brand also has a collection of 18 standard fragrances and nine ambient room scents available in all stores.

Le Labo offers a range of products including candles, shampoo, lotion, and a grooming line for body, hair, and face.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment