Fragrance house

Lancôme

Founded in 1935 by French perfumer Armand Petitjean, Lancôme first appeared at the Brussels Universal Expo with five fragrances. The house expanded into skincare with Nutrix in 1936 and cosmetics with Rose de France lipstick in 1938. During World War II, Petitjean established École Lancôme in 1942 to train women in cosmetology, makeup, and sales. In 1964, his son sold the brand to L’Oréal, where it has remained ever since. That same year, the rose became a central Lancôme symbol and ingredient; a distinctive fuchsia Lancôme rose was developed in 1974. The brand’s identity brings together French spirit and elegance, cosmetic innovation, scientific effectiveness, happiness, confidence, and self-expression. Its fragrance history includes the early successes Magie and Trésor. Trésor, created by Sophia Grojsman in 1990, was reported as the world’s top-selling fragrance two years after launch. In 2012, La Vie Est Belle was launched by Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion, and Olivier Polge and reported as the year’s top fragrance launch worldwide.