Provencal presents

Nothing brings back a memory quite like a familiar scent. I distinctly remember my dorm room in Switzerland always having a very nice smell. My dorm mate, who was extremely sensitive to even the faintest of odors, made it a point of spraying L’Occitane Verbena in the dorm house religiously. He must have used at least a bottle a week because he would generously spray the dorm house’s common areas day and night.  When it was time to leave the school nest, I was so addicted to the scent that I bought myself a bottle with my first paycheck. I would spray it in any room that I eventually inhabited. To this day, I still use it regularly and a fresh whiff never fails to bring back those days at school.

L’Occitane has always kept a permanent space on my grooming shelf and in my aromatherapy drawer. With its quality and great packaging, it always makes such a wonderful gift for any occasion. 

I visited L'Occitane's website to gain more info about this brand that I've been using for years. According to the company, brand traces its roots to an “Haute Provence” farmhouse in 1976. Olivier Baussan, founder of L’Occitane, gathered blooms and herbs to extract their essences using centuries-old distillation methods. His desire to maintain French perfumery traditions, coupled with his respect for nature, helped him envision the future of L’Occitane. Olivier captured the region’s most subtle fragrances and blended them with natural ingredients to develop L’Occitane’s very first products based on essential oils extracted from local plants.

The name L’Occitane refers to Occitanie, the ancient province that once stretched across the south of France from east to west. Occitanie was a welcoming, tolerant society where women and nature played leading roles. L’Occitane literally means, in the old language of Oc, “The woman from Occitanie.”

From his rustic roots in Provence, Olivier dreamed of discovering new horizons, to travel beyond his native land and experience other cultures. In keeping with this spirit, L’Occitane has developed products using natural ingredients from all over the world. 

With its roots in Provence, L’Occitane shares the colors, scents and traditions of the south of France with the world. As the company continues to grow, L’Occitane remains committed to its core values of sensorality, authenticity and respect.

Sensorality

Stroll through Provence and you are struck by the rich colors, scents and beauty of this abundant land. Every day the people of Provence celebrate their pleasant lifestyle and abundant soil. When Olivier Baussan created L’Occitane, he set out to capture this bounty in all-natural products. Today, more than 25 years later, the fertile south of France remains the inspiration for all L’Occitane fragrances, bath, body and skincare products for women and men, and fragrant products for the home.

Authenticity

The generous Provençale climate and soil yield an exceptional variety of fragrant plants with unique properties. Olivier’s objective was to revive their use, preserve local customs and update traditional products. Stimulated by local folklore and history, Olivier developed products that represent the land and people of Provençale. Behind each of L’Occitane’s inspirations is “a true story.”

Respect

Reviving traditions is only part of the L’Occitane philosophy. Respect for the environment, consumers, suppliers and employees are ingrained in every aspect of the company. This respect has led to L’Occitane’s partnership with local producers all over the Mediterranean region — these farmers, families and cooperatives harvest precious ingredients, such as lavender, honey, neroli flowers and organic verbena.

A True Commitment

What I also adore about L’Occitane is its commitment to humane and environmental practices and even its consideration to the blind by using Braile labeling.

For over 25 years, L’Occitane has been creating the highest quality body care, skincare and fragrance products using natural ingredients. In an effort to respect the environment, L’Occitane rigorously selects its ingredients from local, well-respected growers. The use of natural, traceable ingredients is at the core of L’Occitane product development.

L’Occitane products are never tested on animals and no animal product or by-product is used to manufacture L’Occitane's products (with the exception of honey).

In accordance with its ongoing commitment to human rights, L’Occitane guarantees that none of its products are manufactured using child labor. Instead, L’Occitane supports traditional production methods. By giving priority to local suppliers, L’Occitane supports local employment and certifies quality standards.

L’Occitane shopping bags are made from recycled algae, removed by L’Occitane from the Venetian canals under a program to combat pollution. Most L’Occitane packaging includes Braille labeling.

The use of A.O.C. (Appellation of Controlled Origin) ingredients guarantees that L’Occitane products are made of the highest quality ingredients from Haute Provence. Currently, A.O.C. lavender and A.O.C. olive oil are used in L’Occitane Harvest products.

So bring back those fresh memories or create new ones with L’Occitane.

Cheers!

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The L’Occitane boutique is located at Rustan’s Essenses.

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E-mail me at djmontano@pacific.net.ph.