Our True Stories
OLIVIER BAUSSAN
Inspired by his childhood in Provence, the 23-year-old Olivier Baussan decided to recreate the traditions of his region. After purchasing a steam distiller, a relic from the past, Olivier harvested wild rosemary and produced pure Rosemary essential oil. He sold this essential oil at local markets, this all-natural product was quickly embraced by villagers and L’OCCITANE was born.
Olivier’s ambition was to create a company that celebrates Mediterranean well-being. The name he chose for the company refers to Occitanie, the ancient province that once covered the south of France, northeastern Spain and northern Italy. The idea was to mix traditions and ingredients from the Mediterranean region in the creation of products for personal care and the home.
Following the success of Olivier’s Rosemary essential oil, the brand began to grow in a very organic way. After discovering an abandoned soap factory, Olivier became fascinated by the idea of reviving the art of soap making in Marseille. With the help of others, Olivier created soaps using a vegetable fat recipe and traditional methods. Today, these vegetable-based soaps are known all over the world for their quality ingredients and attractive, traditional shapes.
While exploring the world for new ingredients and traditional techniques, Olivier learned about the Shea trees that grow in Burkina Faso in West Africa. These sacred trees produce a nut that is ground into a rich, thick paste known as Shea Butter. It is this butter that is used as a nourishing and moisturizing ingredient in L’OCCITANE products.
THE TRADITIONS CONTINUE
L’OCCITANE products represent the traditions and values of the Mediterranean region. Every year, Olivier seeks out traditional techniques and ingredients once used in the region to ensure the well-being of the body, mind and spirit.
L'OCCITANE remains faithful to itself and its basic principles: it offers authentic and natural products, elaborated within the respect by the Provençal traditions. In the origin of each one of the collections, a history. The true history of an ingredient, a discovery, a scent. Select one of L'OCCITANE's True Story and learn more about its secrets and L'OCCITANE products.
Discover our true stories
Almond
In Greek mythology, the almond tree represented youthfulness, fragility and virginal grace. Up until the beginning of the century, the almond tree was one of the symbols of the ...
PeonyThe peony is a famous flower that grows naturally around the Mediterranean Basin. Long before it became famous as an ornamental plant, as far back as Antiquity, the peony was a ren...
VerdonFor its new 2010 men's range, L'OCCITANE has drawn upon a completely new source of inspiration: an extraordinary valley, with a rare and protected, rich natural environment that is...
Almond & Apple
When Olivier Baussan founded L'OCCITANE, one of his core missions was to bring back the traditions of Provence into the production of natural beauty products. One tradition that...
Aromachologie
The benefits of Aromachologie have taught us an important lesson: plants have fabulous powers to convey to us. With a selection of the noblest essential oils for your well-being...
Cade"One really has to be the son of a shepherd to be familiar with transhumance, or seasonal migration, a tradition that older generations have handed down, and one that forms a close...
Cherry Blossom
"Flying in the first breeze of Spring, Cherry Blossom is so rare and precious."
Olivier Baussan
The cherry tree is part of the Provencal landscape.
It is widespread in the...
Honey & Lemon
In ancient times, honey was considered as food for the sages, and Provencale beekeepers still believe it to be so. Honey is one of the very few ingredients whose production is 1...
Immortelle
Immortelle is also known as "everlasting" because the flowers retain their form and colour when dried. L'OCCITANE found a specific variety of immortelle on Corsica, the "Island ...
Lavender HarvestOriginally from the Latin word "lavare" that means, "to wash", ancient cultures had many uses for this fragrant plant. During epidemics the Persians, Greeks and Romans burned the a...
L'OCCITANE Do Brasil
Natural Mineral Sun Care
L'Occitane en Provence is always in search of natural and authentic products, and from the beginning, has been guided toward new horizons and by the vi...
OliveA beauty care secret
The olive is a real Mediterranean beauty secret; its fruit is a remarkable source of nutrition. A key element in the "Mediterranean diet", olives are rich in ...
Orange
Orange flowers glow in the lush greenery...
I have never distilled orange flower water because the orange tree cannot resist the harsh climate of Haute-Provence, more suited...
Red Rice
Discovered by the Griotto family in 1982, at the foot of the Montmajour Abbey in Camargue, Red Rice is a naturally colored whole grain rice. Red Rice has exceptional nutritional...
Rose
Rose is a classic fragrance associated with romance, beauty and elegance. L'OCCITANE's Rose collection is inspired by the land of Forcalquier, located in southeastern France. In...
Shea Butter
"Women's gold"
Wherever you look in Bobo Dioulasso, your eyes fall on majestic Shea trees that have always supplied the precious butter used in this part of West Africa. Bec...
Shea CottonShea Butter
The shea tree is also called a sacred tree or tree of life. This is because the butter extracted from its nuts is recognized as a universal, irreplaceable natural skin...
Tea Collection
Green Tea
Listen to the perfume of the Green Tea. With its smooth voice and it warms up, it says a history of proximity and friendship.
During the hottest hours of the da...
Verbena Harvest
Verbena is a small shrub with pale blue to purple flowers and serrated leaves. This fragrant plant has grown around the Mediterranean Sea since time began. Long considered a sym...
Voyage en Méditerranée
Eau de Parfum collection tells the tale of a fragrant odyssey.
The Mediterranean Sea is a mosaic of cultures, languages, colors and landscapes. It is a place that looks bot...
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