The People and Partnerships Behind L'Occitane's Sustainable Beauty

Before our products become part of your daily ritual, their story begins elsewhere, in an Almond orchard, a Corsican field, or in West Africa where nature has inspired generations.

For 50 years, L'Occitane en Provence has looked to nature for inspiration. It began in 1976, when our founder, Olivier Baussan, distilled Rosemary essential oil in the heart of Provence. Today, that same respect for plants continues through the farmers, producers, and harvesters who help bring our ingredients to life.

Behind every bottle is a journey, from the land where ingredients are grown, to the people who nurture them, and finally to the ritual in your hands.

From Farmers to Formulas: How L’Occitane Sources Its Ingredients

We believe beautiful ingredients begin with meaningful relationships with people, farmers, producers, and harvesters whose knowledge of the land is passed down through generations.

Across Provence and beyond, we work directly with more than 130 French farmers and around 10,000 pickers and harvesters, building long-term partnerships founded on trust, respect and shared values.

We also work to make our ingredients more traceable. Today, we have 30 traceable ingredient supply chains with 50% organic certified.

From Provence to West Africa and beyond, these partnerships connect our beauty products to the people and places behind them.

From Provence to Almond Shower Oil: Preserving a Provençal Heritage

Once an important part of the Provençal landscape, almond orchards had almost disappeared by the mid-20th century.

Through a long-standing partnership with Almond grower Jean-Pierre Jaubert, L'Occitane helped breathe new life into abandoned orchards and preserve a heritage deeply rooted in Provence.

Today, those Provençal almonds continue to flourish and are the heart of our beloved Almond collection, loved by many across the world.

From Almond Oil that nourishes and softens to almond milk and protein that helps smooth and firm, every part is used with purpose.

Discover our most loved Almond Shower Oil.

A true L’Occitane icon, Almond Shower Oil transforms into soft, milky foam to gently cleanse while leaving skin feeling nourished and beautifully soft.

From a revived Provençal orchard to your everyday shower, a piece of local heritage becomes part of your ritual.

Immortelle From Corsica: The Everlasting Golden Flower

On the sun-drenched island of Corsica grows a small golden flower that defies time, retaining its vibrant color even long after it has been picked.

This rare and precious flower is Immortelle, known as the “everlasting flower”.

For many years, L'Occitane has worked closely with local producers who cultivate and harvest Immortelle with care, helping preserve both agricultural expertise and a deep connection to the island's landscape.

Once harvested, the flowers are carefully distilled into precious essential oil, capturing the unique properties that have made Immortelle one of L'Occitane's most treasured botanical ingredients.

Rich in naturally occurring active molecules, Immortelle has become central to our skincare expertise and our ongoing exploration of nature-inspired innovation.

Discover our iconic Immortelle Skincare Collection.

Inspired by this extraordinary flower and the hands that nurture it, the Immortelle Collection transforms a treasured Corsican ingredient into serums, facial oils and creams loved around the world.

From a flower flourishing on Corsican hillsides to a skin care bottle in your daily routine, its journey reflects nature, craftsmanship and care at every step.

From Shea Nuts to Skincare: The Women Behind Our Shea Butter

Some ingredients feel naturally comforting from the moment they touch your skin. Our Shea Butter Hand Cream is one of them.

Behind this iconic ingredient are generations of West African women whose knowledge and craftsmanship transform Shea nuts into rich, nourishing butter. Often known as Women’s Gold, Shea Butter is traditionally hand-crafted within women-led cooperatives, where this expertise is passed down through generations.

By working with fair-trade partnerships, we support these communities and help preserve their ancestral knowledge, while responsibly sourced Shea Butter becomes part of our body care rituals.

Our Shea Butter Hand Cream contains 20% Shea Butter, chosen for its rich, comforting texture and ability to help maintain hydration and leave dry skin feeling soft and deeply nourished.

More than an ingredient, Shea Butter connects people, heritage, and beauty, from the hands that craft it to the rituals that bring its benefits to life.

From Natural Ingredients to Your Beauty Ritual

From the farmer tending an Almond orchard to the producer cultivating Immortelle, every ingredient carries a story of people, place, and craftsmanship.

For 50 years, L'Occitane has nurtured lasting relationships with the communities behind our ingredients, transforming nature into beauty rituals loved around the world.

And now, the journey comes full circle.

From the land to the hands that cultivate and harvest, and finally to yours. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does L’Occitane get its ingredients?
We source our ingredients from regions around the world, including Provence and Corsica, working with farmers, producers, pickers, and harvesters to bring botanical beauty ingredients into our formulas.

How does L’Occitane source its ingredients?
We prioritise high-quality, traceable ingredients of natural origin and build long-term partnerships with producers. In France, we work directly with over 130 farmers and around 10,000 pickers and harvesters.

Are L’Occitane ingredients natural?
L’Occitane uses more than 200 plant-derived ingredients and gives priority to natural ingredients whenever possible, selecting them for their quality and effectiveness.

How does L’Occitane support farmers?
Through long-term partnerships, responsible sourcing and fair pricing, L’Occitane works to support the producers and communities behind its ingredients.

What is L’Occitane’s connection to Provence?
Provence is where we began in 1976, when our founder Olivier Baussan started distilling Rosemary essential oil. The region continues to inspire the brand’s ingredients, traditions, and approach to beauty.