It all started in the 1970s, when a young 23-year-old entrepreneur, Olivier Bossan, decided to focus on refining essential oils. With only a small, inherited soap-making workshop, a few tools, a small truck, and a vast knowledge of plants, he began producing oils from cypress, rosemary, and lavender, which he sold at the local market. In a short time, the small bottles of essential oils became popular and gained a loyal following of customers. Lines started forming at his stall in the small market where Olivier sold his natural oils every week.

Encouraged by his success, Olivier expanded production and began creating soaps as well. He revived the traditional art of soap-making in Marseille in another village in Provence, Manosque, producing plant-based soaps. As he gradually expanded his product range, Olivier realized that the market was no longer big enough for his growing brand.

In 1976, Olivier Baussan, along with his chemist friend Yves Milou, created the brand "L'Occitane" and opened his first store in Manosque the following year. The risk proved more than worthwhile. With an expanded range of perfumes and other skincare products, sales surpassed expectations, leading to the opening of new stores. It may seem like a chain of random successes, but at the heart of this success was love—love for nature, and every bottle, oil, and label crafted with care. Baussan proved that when you do everything with sincerity, it’s impossible for it to go unnoticed. Nothing here happened by chance; L'Occitane began bringing people back to Provence, a journey they took simply by opening bottles that seemed to be carefully prepared bouquets. Baussan was inspired by his homeland, the forgotten recipes for skincare, and the brand’s perfectly chosen name, L'Occitane, named after the historical region of Provence, L'Occitanie. Olivier envisioned a woman who uses his products as someone who values nature, is harmonious, and desires to obtain the best that nature offers for her skincare.

"Nature matters, people matter." This thought has been at the core of the brand's philosophy for over four decades. The company notes that it’s not enough to just preserve nature; it must be multiplied and allowed to grow. "We believe in sustainable agriculture and employ agroecological methods to grow our organic ingredients. At the same time, we adhere to the 'Do no harm' slogan and exert no force on the precious ecosystems and natural environments surrounding us."

Although "L'Occitane" is primarily a symbol of Provence, its reach extends far beyond, all the way to Africa. In the 1980s, upon hearing about shea butter from Burkina Faso, Olivier decided to personally explore this ingredient. The miraculous substance, produced exclusively by local women, was only available in small local markets and had many uses, ranging from softening baby skin to being used in food.

Today, the global recognition of "L'Occitane's" shea butter formula has provided the opportunity for more than 10,000 women to work in production, gain financial independence, and preserve traditions that have been passed down for centuries.

In general, the company believes that every employee, customer, and every person the company works with can, in some way, make the world a better place. This goal is reflected in "L'Occitane's" eco-conscious products, which not only reduce waste by using less plastic but also change the mindset of customers and encourage them to make more sustainable choices. It is no coincidence that from the very beginning of the brand's creation, "L'Occitane" launched a glass bottle return system, and in 1992, it started a program dedicated to waste reduction. In Yerevan as well, at the "L'Occitane" boutique, there is an eco-bin where empty containers of various care products are accepted for recycling.

The brand has withstood many trials over the decades, with numerous standards changing, but it has never betrayed its roots, and perhaps that is the key to its success.

Today, "L'Occitane" has become the true ambassador of Provence worldwide, collaborating with over 50 farmers, employing more than 6,000 people, and operating 700 stores in different countries.

Olivier Bossan emphasizes that they did not start the company to make money, but to create something that was missing—a piece of the puzzle that the world needed.

"... When we founded 'L'Occitane' in the distant 70s, there was an industrial boom in the country, large factories polluting the environment were being established, and we, with our ecological agenda and natural ingredients, seemed crazy," recalls the famous brand founder. "We were told we wouldn't succeed, we wouldn't make money, but that was never our goal. And look at what happened. A few decades later, everyone came to this conclusion, society started thinking about ecology, and began striving to produce and use natural products. We are happy to have been at the beginning of this great journey. Unfortunately, we must admit that we are still far from our dreamed ecological paradise. The planet is still polluted. We continue to fight, including through our products. Every one of our bottles carries a message. Each one is produced to remind us that nature is an infinite and precious heritage that we must preserve..."

A full member of this large family is the L'Occitane Armenian store located in Dalma Garden Mall, where a visit will transport you to the famous lavender fields with the scent of the brand’s bottles, envelop you in the fragrances of French roses, almonds, and immortelle, and you will, even if just in your mind, find yourself in the magical land of Provence...