L'Occitane en Provence
Where there are fragrant lavender fields there is L’Occitane en Provence, a global retailer of 100% natural and certified organic body, face and home products based in Manosque, a village in the South of France. Founded in 1976 by Provence native Olivier Baussen who began by self-distilling raw materials and selling those essential oils in local markets, the company is rooted in the preservation of beauty and tradition of that Mediterranean region. All ingredients are authentic and guaranteed to a traceable origin, as well as naturally-derived from plants, blooms and herbs. Best of all, the socially-responsible company supports local producers, traditional cultivation methods, zero animal testing and the usage of sustainable ingredients, ensuring fair pricing and protection of natural resources.
Stepping into a L’Occitane boutique transports you to an intimate French shop rich with golden hues, dark rustic woods, terracotta tiling and wrought iron touches. Delicate scents fill the air, just enough to entice you to try the abundant selections of fresh products. Grouped according to category and then fragrance, L’Occitane makes for a most pleasurable-and incredibly hands-on-shopping experience. Associates are well-trained and knowledgeable, and tend to bestow fabulous (and free!) samples upon visitors.
L’Occitane lines for women and men include Fragrance, Skincare, Body & Hands, Bath & Shower, Hair Care and Home. Packed with ingredients like Amber, Cade, Olive & Tomato, Orange and Verbena, these creams, lotions, soaps and serums deliver earth’s best. Top sellers include Immortelle Very Precious Cream, made from the namesake flower which enhances collagen production six-fold while shielding from free radicals and Shea Butter Hand Cream, a delectable blend infused with honey and sweet almond extract. For the jet-setter-or even the occasional traveler-L’Occitane has thoughtfully created TSA-loving travel-sized versions of their favorites. From luxurious skin oils to hydrating leg gels, you’re guaranteed to arrive at your destination ravishingly refreshed. Once there, fruit-extract cleansers, polishes, milks and sorbets allow for a continued journey of bliss. If you’re lucky enough, you can even find L’Occitane goodies on choice airlines and in select hotels as in-room amenities.
Reaching out-and deep down into their hearts-L’Occitane has created a proprietary foundation, La Fondation d’Enterprise L’Occitane, a private organization launched in 2006 to support the sensory-impaired (especially in Burkina Faso where the company’s sustainable shea nut harvesting takes place), the economic emancipation of women and the preservation of Provence’s “knowledge of nature.”
It is on the company’s global web site where fascinating True Stories for each of L’Occitane’s main ingredients can be enjoyed. When purchasing online, you’re entitled to two of those luscious samples (subject to change). Just click on preferences and, voila, that Almond Apple Velvet Concentrate is yours! Gift cards can be purchased on the site or in-store and, with such breathtaking scenery of fields and sky, seem like postcards from Provence.
For more information about L’Occitane en Provence, visit www.loccitane.com
By Suzzane Petrizzi
