Fragrance house

Essentials

Essential Parfums launched in Paris in 2018 under the impetus of Géraldine Archambault, following her three decades in the fragrance industry. Its creative model puts fragrance and perfumers at the center of creation, naming perfumers on its bottles and foregrounding their contributions. The brand also emphasizes transparency in fragrance creation, responsible sourcing, and restraint in packaging and marketing. Archambault’s direction grew from her family’s fragrance business: her parents worked at Rochas and later created Parfums Aubusson, where she spent 15 years before launching the brand. Bois Impérial, created by Quentin Bisch in 2020, is the brand’s best-selling fragrance and an emblematic creation; its 2024 Extrait extended the composition in a new concentration. In July 2026, Milan-based private-equity firm Style Capital acquired a minority stake, while Géraldine and Stanislas Archambault retained a majority stake and continued to manage the company.