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Olivier Baussan
Olivier Baussan (born December 9, 1952) is a French businessman and the founder of L'Occitane en Provence, Oliviers & Co and Première Pression Provence. Biography Baussan completed his degree in literature at the université d'Aix-en-Provence. At the age of 23 he began to focus on creating cosmetic products from the flora of Provence. The acquisition of an old soap factory that had been on the decline, in partnership with a chemist friend, Yves Millou, launched the growth of the small business. The group was created in 1976. In 1981 he opened his first store in Volx in Haute Provence. In 1992, he sold the company to Austrian businessman Reinold Geiger but retained a 5% stake. Through l’Occitane en Provence he launched a brand of premium olive oil, Oliviers & Co, in 1996. Most of the oils sold through the company are produced by families or small cooperatives, all of whom must follow Baussan’s exacting methods of cultivation and production. In July 2006, he opened the eco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
L'Occitane En Provence
L'Occitane en Provence, "the Occitan woman (in Provence)," commonly known as L'Occitane, is a French luxury retailer of body, face, hair, fragrances, and home products based in Manosque, France. Founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan, with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. In 2010, the company became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. History In 1976, 23-year-old Olivier Baussan used steam distillation to produce essential oil from wild rosemary and lavender which he sold at open-air markets in his native Provence. ''L'Occitane'' was named for the women of Occitania. This area existed during the Middle Ages, spanning southern France, north-eastern Spain and northern Italy. Occitan was the native language and is still spoken as a second language in some areas of this region. In 1976, using an old soap factory that was donated to him, Olivier Baussan revived the traditional art of Marseille soap-making in Manos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
