Fragrance house

Germaine Monteil

Germaine Monteil introduced a cosmetics line in New York in 1935, and Germaine Monteil Cosmetiques Corporation was established there in 1936. Growing from Germaine Monteil’s fashion background, the business brought together fashion, makeup, skincare, and scientific research in one beauty concept. In 1938, Monteil received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award, described in the brand’s Italian history as the award’s first presentation. She introduced her first perfumes in 1941, including Laughter, Nostalgia, New Love, and Frou-Frou; Laughter was renamed Rigolade in 1951 when manufacture moved to France. Monteil Parfums was separated from the cosmetics company in 1953, and the brand expanded from the United States into France and Western Europe before reaching the United Kingdom in 1961. Royal Secret, part of the early fragrance range, was developed from 1960 into a bath-and-perfume system. After multiple ownership changes, BRAIN AG sold all its shares to Wilde in 2019. Today, Monteil is centered on skincare, individualized care, and scientific research, with products produced in Germany.