Lancombe Fragrances and Skin Care
Founded in 1935 by Armand Petitjean, a former Coty employee, as a French cosmetics company.
The name Lancôme was inspired by the ruins of a castle, Le Chateau de Lancosme that lies in the Indre valley in the heart of France and the roses that surround the area inspired the company’s symbol of the single golden rose.
Advertising
Although the founder of the company maintained that Lancôme never advertise, today Lancôme is one of the top advertisers in the luxury beauty arena.
The company’s advertisements can be seen in numerous publications worldwide, from Harpers Bazaar to French Vogue. Lancôme’s ads have been shot by leading photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino, Nick Knight, Steven Meisel, Brigitte Lacombe and Dusan Reljin.
In 2011 a publicity video was produced in Paris and featured Emma Watson and in 2012 Lancôme premiered a TV advertisement featuring 1930’s cartoon icon Betty Boop, this particular advertisement has been uploaded to You Tube by Sephora and has achieved more that 100000 views in 2018.
The brand is represented by actresses, global super models, makeup artists and perfumers. Emerging fashion designers have collaborated with the brand including design duo Proenza Schouler, who created a dress inspired by Lancôme’s Hypnôse fragrance.
Isabella Rossellini
One of Lancôme’s longest running partnerships was with actress Isabella Rossellini. Signed in 1982, Rossellini was the international face of Lancôme for fourteen years.
In 2009 Isabella Rossellini’s daughter Elettra Rossellini Wiedmann became the new face of Lancôme.
Drew Barrymore...
Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz, Emma Watson and currently Lily Collins.
Clive Owen was the first male spokesperson for Lancôme’s Men’s skincare range and the fragrance Hypnôse Homme.
Conquête
Conquête was the name of the very first fragrance introduced by Lancôme, and it soon began to capture Parisiennes’ hearts. Cuir, Bocage, Tendre Nuits and Tropiques soon followed.
As perfume lovers flocked to Lancôme’s shop, they also began to find a wider selection of cosmetics. Nutrix, Lancôme’s now legendary night cream was introduced in 1936 and remains an international bestseller today.
1950 Lancôme launched Lancôme Magie
In 1950 Lancôme launched Lancôme Magie which is an aldehydic floral with oak-mossy chypre touches.
The brand made its debut in the United Kingdom and British woman could at last get their hands on the spectacular crystal spiral bottle created by Lalique.
Portfolio
Rose is a flower of love; it is the first flower that a man gives to a woman. Petals of roses have a luxurious, rich smell that is familiar
Lancôme’s portfolio of fragrances continued to grow including the creation of Trésor by Sophia Grosjman of IFF in New York.
She is a respected icon of the perfume world, and it has been said that she changed the very structure of fragrance with Trésor in which the base notes can be sensed right from the start with the rose garlanding ingredients such as peach, iris, lilac, vanilla, sandalwood and musk.
Armand Petitjean allegedly had a passion for noble essences and sublime absolutes and almost eighty years later Lancôme is paying homage to his scented soul via Maison Lancôme which is an exclusive range of exotic perfumes showcasing specific precious materials in the most luxurious of bottles.
Climate change
In today’s environment and the awareness of climate change being very much in the forefront Lancôme Idôle was launched to reflect parent company L’Oreal’s mission to tread more lightly on the planet with everything it does.
Fragrance Foundation Award
Already a winner of a Fragrance Foundation Award this sparkling and contemporary chypre is an ode to the women of today’s world incorporating rosewater and jasmine resting on a base of cedar, vanilla and patchouli evoking the scent of just washed linen.
Setting a new standard in fragrance the ingredients in Idôle were sourced through L’Oreal’s Solidarity Sourcing Programme to ensure transparency and traceability.
Their mission is to improve the positive impact of fragrance’s supply chain on a social, economic and environmental scale, together with providing a super slim bottle reminiscent of a mobile phone that is refillable time after time.
This is a perfect reflection of the fact that Lancôme continue to adjust and overcome the ever-changing world of perfume while continuing to create exquisite scents for us all to enjoy.
