Fragrance house

Geir Ness

Geir Ness developed his fragrance brand after moving from Norway to Los Angeles. In 1988, while promoting fragrances in department stores, customers’ questions about Norwegian perfume helped spark the idea for a scent of his own. The first Laila fragrance launched in the United States in 1995, named for Ness’s mother and initially produced in 1,000 bottles. Ness personally shaped the fragrance by combining Nordic wildflowers, lavender, and other natural elements associated with Norway. The brand’s creative identity draws on the landscapes and memories of his childhood, including kayaking fjords, skiing mountains, hiking, and picking wildflowers. Laila became the brand’s defining fragrance: its first 100 bottles at Nordstrom sold out within an hour, and more than one million bottles have been sold. In 1997, Laila was included for Grammy nominees and performers, followed by an invitation for Ness to create fragrances for Disney, including Frozen in a Bottle. The Norway-focused range later expanded with NORSK SNØ, Geir for Men, and Skin of Norway. Laila Inc. is the current owner of the registered GEIR NESS trademark.