Estée Lauder Opens Fragrance Atelier
The Estée Lauder Companies just made a major move in Paris, and fragrance lovers will want to pay attention. Under the high patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, the group has opened its Fragrance Atelier inside La Maison des Parfums on Rue Volney. Think of it as the brand’s next-generation fragrance playground — where heritage meets high tech and creativity meets science.
“It is with great pride and excitement that we open our Fragrance Atelier in Paris,” said Stéphane de La Faverie, President and CEO 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.”
Inside, it’s not your typical lab. There’s a “Music Room” where perfumers from brands like Tom Ford, Le Labo, Jo Malone London, Kilian Paris, and Frédéric Malle work side by side to compose new scent stories. Next door, labs hum with CO₂ extraction, AI-powered analysis, and even neuroscience tools that study how scent sparks emotion.
“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, the group’s Chief Research & Innovation Officer. “This hub brings together experts from across our fragrance brands and partners in an environment purpose-built for experimentation.”
Spread across five floors and more than 2,000 square metres, the new La Maison des Parfums feels as luxurious as the fragrances created inside. Travertine stone, artisanal details, and sunlit finishes come together like the base, heart, and top notes of a perfume, blending French craftsmanship with modern innovation.
Estée Lauder’s ties to France run deep. The company has been there since 1966 and now employs over 1,200 people across its French operations, including the global headquarters for Kilian Paris, Frédéric Malle, and Darphin.
“We are extremely proud that The Estée Lauder Companies has chosen France as the location for its new Fragrance Atelier,” said Pascal Cagni, French Ambassador for International Investments. “Their choice demonstrates the confidence that international leaders have in French excellence, driven by a unique ecosystem of creative talent, innovation, and globally recognised expertise.”
La Maison des Parfums is located at 14–16 Rue Volney, Paris.