L'Occitane

L'Occitane en Provence was founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan in Manosque, France, beginning with his distillation of rosemary essential oil using traditional methods with minimal equipment. The company's name derives from the French term for 'the woman from Occitania,' referencing the historical region of southern France where the Occitan language was traditionally spoken, anchoring the brand's Provençal heritage. The first L'Occitane factory and boutique opened in 1981 in Volx, Provence, expanding the product line from essential oils to include traditional soaps and natural beauty products. The brand emphasizes Provençal botanical sources and heritage formulations featuring ingredients like shea butter, verbena and immortelle. L'Occitane positions itself as preserving regional aromatherapy and skincare traditions while expanding globally. The company maintains its connection to Provence through sourcing and product philosophy.