Estée Lauder is acquiring Le Labo

By

Sarah Ahssen

Published
Oct 18, 2014

The American cosmetics group Estée Lauder is acquiring the perfume maker Le Labo. While the details of the transaction have not been disclosed, the deal is expected to be closed in November.

Founded by two former employees of L'Oreal, Edouard Roschi and Fabrice Penot, Le Labo opened its first store in February 2006 in New York. Besides a presence in selected department stores and concept stores, the brand, whose motto is “Born in Grasse (France’s perfume capital, ed), raised in New York," now includes several points of sale in London, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Store ranges include scented candles, body product lines and of course perfumes with names that resemble chemical formulas: Rose 31, Sandalwood 33, Bergamot 22 (about 110 euros for 50 ml). 

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Meanwhile, the scented oils, water and alcohol of the fragrances are actually mixed at Le Labo stores in containers that customers can personalize. 

"The product portfolio of Le Labo perfectly complements Estée Lauder’s prestige brand portfolio,” said Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO of Estée Lauder Companies, which includes brands such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, and Smashbox.