Essential oils, a source of inspiration

Because essential oils represent the most powerful extract of the plant kingdom, they fascinate, inspire and enchant us. A look back at the raw materials of yesterday that have become our cosmetic ingredients of tomorrow …

In the memory of our elders

Plants have always fed us, provided us with the materials we need to live or heat our homes, and even cured us. 40,000 years ago, the aborigines already used them for their curative and purifying virtues. And it was in Egypt, 3000 years BC, that one of the first treatises on herbal medicine was written on papyrus scrolls.

Plants have been with us since the dawn of our history and we have learned to recognise them, grow them and use them. And it's when the distillation of aromatic plants was discovered, the concept of essential oil was born.. The discovery in Pakistan of an earthenware alembic dating back 5,000 years BC suggests that the beginnings of distillation date from this period, but it was the Persians, 1,000 years BC, who are thought to have "invented" distillation itself.

Since then, we've been studying and deciphering these precious ingredients until we've been able to determine their exact composition. The study of essential oils began in Grasse, France, in 1830, the city of perfumers and the Mecca of distillation. This research led to an understanding of their structure-activity relationships and the identification of their active ingredients. In 1910, Maurice Gattefossé, a chemical engineer from Lyon, confirmed the therapeutic virtues of pure lavender. Aromatherapy was then launched, moving away from the world of religion and healers to the realms of scientific knowledge.

Want to find out more? Download the guide to essential oils in cosmetics!

Sustainability, traceability, naturalness: deciphering consumer trends

Since the dawn of time, mankind has had a unique relationship with the plant kingdom. Over the last century, this relationship has been eclipsed by the incredible progress made in chemistry, plants are back in the spotlight.  

Faced with major societal challenges linked to the environment and a growing awareness of the importance of looking after our health, consumer habits are changing and new demands are emerging... From now on.., the buyer no longer wants to be just a consumer, but also a playerwho make their purchases according to their ethical and moral values:

• Durability 79% of consumers are prepared to pay more for products made from sustainably sourced ingredients.
• Traceability Consumers are looking for transparency and now want to control the composition and origin of the products they buy. 91% of them expect cosmetics companies to communicate on the origin of ingredient sourcing. They now prefer local products and short supply chains.
• Naturalness Consumers are becoming more demanding, looking for natural, healthy products. Plants appear to be the answer to market expectations, as they are authentic, inexhaustible sources of benefits. The craze for natural ingredients is well and truly confirmed, with 91% of those questioned believing that natural products are safer for them and their families. This shift towards plant-based products is the result of a real awareness and the response to a need to get back to basics. Cosmetics are no exception to the rule, and the Slow Cosmétique® movement, which advocates a more ecological, sensible and natural way of consuming beauty products, is indicative of this "natural well-being" trend.

The use ofessential oils as cosmetic ingredients is precisely in line with this consumer trend and meets current expectations. They can now be found in skincare, hygiene and other formulas. (eaux de toilette, eaux de cologne, creams, emulsions, gels, soaps, baths, air fresheners, toothpastes...) but also in fine perfumery and nutricosmetics. Consumers themselves are so fond of them that they don't hesitate to formulate their own essential oil-based cosmetics at home.

Storytelling: a history of transparency

Essential oils are the child prodigies of biodiversity. Real sources of inspiration, their history fascinates and their power raises questions... Defining them means reminding consumers that each extract is the fruit of virtuous eco-systems involving plant cultivation, processing, formulation and use.

And so, The storytelling of essential oils can be written around 4 key points: 

• Their terroir: geographical origin, typical features, traditions
• The plant's specific characteristics: fragrance, virtues, seasonal cycle, etc.
• Growing conditions and growers' know-how: organic or conventional quality, maintenance, harvesting, yield, etc.
• The extraction method and the distiller's expertise: technique, specifications, storage conditions

Promote the origins of these exceptional ingredients and tell the story of their supply chain, involves and supports the consumer in their purchasing decision so why not make the most of it? These raw materials have so much to say!