The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., under the High Patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, has officially opened its Fragrance Atelier within La Maison des Parfums on Rue Volney in Paris. This state-of-the-art facility represents a major strategic milestone for the company, strengthening its leadership in the global luxury fragrance industry. Dedicated entirely to innovation, craftsmanship, and olfactive science, the Atelier serves as a next-generation hub for the creation of fragrances that blend artistry, technology, and emotion.
Rooted in Mrs. Estée Lauder’s original passion for fragrance, the new Atelier embodies her belief that scent is both an art and a science—a philosophy that continues to guide the company’s evolution in the world of perfumery.
A Vision of Fragrance Reinvented
“It is with great pride and excitement that we open our Fragrance Atelier in Paris,” said Stéphane de La Faverie, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies. “Building on our incredible heritage of creativity and innovation, the Atelier will propel our future growth in this dynamic category — uniting world-class expertise, cutting-edge technology, and the artistry of fragrance to accelerate innovation across our portfolio. Located in the cradle of perfumery, our teams will blend state-of-the-art technology, data-driven intelligence, and olfactive expertise to craft the next generation of extraordinary scents for our consumers worldwide.”
De La Faverie emphasized that this opening marks a defining moment for Estée Lauder’s long-term vision of growth in prestige and ultra-luxury perfumery, uniting its most celebrated brands under a single roof of innovation and experimentation.
Blending Creativity and Science
“The Fragrance Atelier is an exciting new model for creation — a space that harnesses creativity and science to shape the future of fragrance,” said René Lammers, Chief Research & Innovation Officer at The Estée Lauder Companies. “This hub brings together experts from across our fragrance brands and partners in an environment purpose-built for experimentation. Together, they will accelerate the journey from inspiration to formulation and ultimately to the final consumer experience.”
The Atelier represents a paradigm shift in how fragrances are imagined, developed, and refined. By merging traditional perfumery artistry with AI-driven design tools, olfactive modeling, and neuroscience-based consumer insights, the company is redefining what it means to innovate in scent creation.
A Bold Expansion of Global Innovation Capabilities
The Paris Atelier enhances The Estée Lauder Companies’ global research and innovation network, which includes major hubs in New York, Minnesota, Shanghai, Belgium, and Toronto. These facilities collaborate seamlessly to integrate regional strengths and category-specific expertise, driving breakthrough discovery across the full beauty spectrum.
At the core of this expansion is a revolutionary AI-enabled, end-to-end fragrance creation process. This system combines real-time patent and research monitoring with olfactive and neuroscience modeling to shorten product development cycles and improve precision. The result: faster innovation, improved performance, and a 30–50% reduction in fragrance development lead times over the next several years.
Inside the Fragrance Atelier: A Sanctuary of Scent Innovation
The Atelier’s design was conceived to foster collaboration between scientists, perfumers, and creative teams. Each floor of the 2,000-square-meter facility serves a specific purpose, enabling the full fragrance development cycle from inspiration to evaluation.
In the Music Room, perfumers from leading fragrance houses collaborate with brand teams to create new accords and explore uncharted olfactive territories. This creative exchange mirrors the composition of music—where notes and chords form harmonious blends.
Adjoining laboratories are equipped with supercritical CO₂ extraction systems, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) for molecular analysis, and AI-driven sillage measurement technologies. These tools allow researchers to understand fragrance structure, diffusion, and longevity with scientific precision.
In a neighboring suite, neuroscience-based consumer modeling translates sensory and emotional data into measurable insights. This data-driven approach allows creators to design fragrances that not only smell beautiful but also evoke specific moods and emotions, deepening the connection between scent and human experience.
Collaboration Across a Prestigious Brand Portfolio
The Atelier serves as a shared innovation platform for the company’s diverse fragrance portfolio, which includes Jo Malone London, TOM FORD, Le Labo, KILIAN PARIS, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Estée Lauder, Clinique, AERIN Beauty, Aramis, and BALMAIN Beauty.
While each brand maintains its unique creative identity and aesthetic, they will now share access to proprietary ingredients, advanced analytical tools, and scientific expertise. This collaborative model encourages knowledge exchange and accelerates the pace of breakthrough fragrance development across the group.
La Maison des Parfums: Architecture that Breathes Art and Science
Located in the heart of Paris, La Maison des Parfums is more than just an office—it’s a physical manifestation of Estée Lauder’s dual commitment to heritage and innovation.
Spanning five floors, the space blends French craftsmanship with modern architectural minimalism. The structure itself reflects the layers of a fragrance:
- Travertine stone represents the base note — strength and permanence.
- Handcrafted artisanal elements embody the heart — artistry and emotion.
- Light-filled glass and metallic finishes act as the top note — modernity and clarity.
This symbolic design serves as an immersive environment where perfumers, scientists, and artists work side by side to craft the scents of tomorrow.
Deepening Ties with France’s Fragrance Heritage
The establishment of the Atelier reinforces The Estée Lauder Companies’ deep and enduring relationship with France, a country globally recognized as the birthplace of perfumery. The company first entered the French market in 1966, opening its inaugural Paris office. Nearly six decades later, France remains central to Estée Lauder’s European strategy and creative operations.
Today, the company employs more than 1,200 people in France, housing the global headquarters of several of its key brands—including KILIAN PARIS, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Darphin Paris, and Lab Series. Paris is also home to its EUKEM regional headquarters, which oversees operations across Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Atelier builds upon this foundation, embedding Estée Lauder even more deeply into France’s network of perfumers, suppliers, and creative talent.
A Testament to France’s Global Leadership in Perfumery
“We are extremely proud that The Estée Lauder Companies has chosen France as the location for its new Fragrance Atelier—an innovative project announced at the most recent Choose France summit,” said Pascal Cagni, French Ambassador for International Investments and Chairman of Business France.
“Their choice demonstrates the confidence that international leaders have in French excellence, which is driven by a unique ecosystem of creative talent, innovation, and globally recognized expertise. The French perfume and cosmetics industry, with more than €30 billion in annual revenue, is a key driver of economic growth and cultural influence. The Estée Lauder Companies’ Fragrance Atelier is a perfect example of France’s ability to provide companies with an environment that nurtures creativity and supports their most ambitious projects.”
Shaping the Future of Fragrance
Through the launch of the Fragrance Atelier, The Estée Lauder Companies reinforces its position as a pioneer in the global luxury fragrance market. The hub represents a bold fusion of art, craftsmanship, and science—one that empowers perfumers and researchers to explore new sensory frontiers.
As the beauty industry increasingly embraces AI, data analytics, and sustainability, Estée Lauder’s Paris Atelier stands at the intersection of heritage and high technology, proving that even in the digital age, fragrance remains one of the most profound expressions of creativity and emotion.
By combining the precision of science with the soul of artistry, The Estée Lauder Companies is not only shaping the future of perfume—it is redefining the very language of luxury.
