Fragrance house

essence

Launched in Frankfurt in 2002 by Christina Oster-Daum and Javier González, essence began with approximately 50 products developed at home. The brand was built around accessible beauty combining quality, innovation, and design, with a mission to make everyone feel more beautiful. Its first retail partner was the German drugstore chain dm, which included essence in its portfolio that same year. By 2007, essence had become Germany’s unit market leader for decorative cosmetics, followed by Europe’s market-leading position in 2010. Its public creative identity emphasizes fun, trend responsiveness, openness, self-expression, and community interaction, with a playful approach aimed primarily at Gen Z.