Interview | Marie du Petit Thouars of Maison Louis Marie

Marie du Petit Thouars launched her career in Paris, working under the iconic Isabella Blow before advancing to the role of Fashion Editor at the Sunday Times. After relocating to Los Angeles, she transitioned into being a multimedia artist, specialising in fine art photography. Alongside her professional career, Thouars’ passion for candles and fragrances inspired her to create her own candle line from her kitchen—a venture that eventually paved the way for Maison Louis Marie, one of France’s most celebrated niche fragrance houses.

Her love affair with fragrance began as a young girl in Belgium, where she crafted candles and experimented with scents in her mother’s greenhouse. Her passion for botanicals stemmed from her ancestor Louis Marie Aubert du Petit Thouars, a noted pioneer in French botanical history. Exiled during the French Revolution to Madagascar, La Réunion, and Mauritius, he catalogued over 2,000 plant specimens. After returning to France ten years later, he was elected to the prestigious Académie des Sciences. This rich botanical heritage continues to inspire Maison Louis Marie’s luxurious range of candles, perfumes, and skincare products.

We recently caught up with Thouars to discuss everything from her first fragrance purchase to the future of Maison Louis Marie.

What inspired you to create Maison Louis Marie? 

The inspiration to create Maison Louis Marie stemmed from a desire to honour and continue my family heritage deeply rooted in botany and natural exploration. Louis Marie Aubert du Petit Thouars, was a pioneering botanist in the 18th century who discovered and catalogued numerous plant species. This botanical legacy provided a profound source of inspiration for me, driving the creation of the brand that celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature through meticulously crafted fragrances. I really wanted to blend this historical connection of my family with a modern sensibility and create scents that evoke personal memories with a commitment to quality and sustainability.

What has been the biggest challenge in launching the brand?

One of the biggest challenges in launching Maison Louis Marie is to balance growing the brand while staying to true to what we believe in. There is always tremendous pressure to follow the latest trends to compete. While this can be very enticing for short term growth, I think it slowly erodes your relationship with your core customer.

What has been the biggest highlight? 

This is tough to say since there have been so many wonderful things that have happened along with some tough times too! I think overall the biggest highlight for Maison Louis Marie has been the heartfelt connection and positive feedback from customers who have embraced the brand’s fragrances and values. Seeing customers share their personal stories and experiences with the scents, and how they’ve become a meaningful part of their daily lives, has been incredibly rewarding.

What’s next for Maison Louis Marie?

We are working on so many different things right now that are so exciting. We have our first pop up that will happen later this year in Los Angeles that I could not be more excited about. We also recently opened a new warehouse in the UK in anticipation of a bigger launch in that market as well as throughout Europe. We continue to develop new products and new categories which I cannot wait for people to try too!

What are three beauty products you cannot live without?

I use Sisley’s Hair Rituel Revitalizing Volumizing Shampoo because it’s the only shampoo that truly works for my flat hair. It not only adds incredible volume but also deeply nourishes, leaving my hair feeling healthier, fuller, and revitalised after every wash. It’s the luxurious care my hair has always needed!

I find Natura Bissé’s C+C Vitamin Splash is the perfect pick-me-up for my skin. The refreshing formula energises and revitalises my complexion, giving it a boost of hydration and brightness. It’s the only product that consistently makes my skin feel refreshed and glowing throughout the day.

I also use Kate Somerville’s Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturizer + Serum because it’s a game changer for my skin. It targets fine lines and plumps my skin, leaving it smooth, hydrated, and more youthful. I use it at night, and by morning, my skin feels refreshed and looks more radiant. It’s the perfect all-in-one solution for my nighttime routine.

What is the biggest beauty lesson you’ve learned?

The biggest skincare lesson I’ve learned is the importance of consistency in your routine. While it’s tempting to try every new product and trend, the key to achieving and maintaining healthy, radiant skin lies in sticking to a consistent regimen that works for your unique skin type and needs.

In terms of fragrance, I’ve learned over time that there are no rules. Layering is super fun and don’t be scared to try combos you might think are crazy because sometimes those are the best ones. Also make sure to properly moisturise your skin before applying fragrance. It really makes your scent last longer.

Can you remember the first fragrance you purchased?

I first bought Quartz by Molyneux when I was fifteen and I instantly loved it. It was my first real perfume, and I can still remember the excitement of having a fragrance that felt so grown-up and sophisticated. The scent was unforgettable, with its bright citrus top notes that feel fresh and lively, followed by a heart of delicate rose, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley, which always made me feel so elegant. Then, there’s the base—warm, earthy moss and musk—grounding the fragrance and giving it that comforting, classic touch.

The bottle itself has always captivated me, too. Its elegant, rounded shape is simple yet refined, a perfect match for the scent inside. I loved how it looked on my dresser, so timeless and beautifully understated.

When I turned 18, I swapped to Cristalle by Chanel, craving something new and more aligned with that phase of my life. But no matter what, Quartz will always hold a special place in my heart as my first true fragrance love, a scent that defined my teenage years and introduced me to the world of perfumery.

What’s not getting the attention it deserves in the fragrance industry right now?

I do think that there is still a lot to be said on the sustainability front. We are very heavily involved in this area, and it is crazy how fast it’s moving in terms of product development and more sustainable packaging and manufacturing. There are also many amazing companies and organisations popping up to help facilitate the sustainability movement, making it easier than ever to help brands make better decisions.

Maison Louis Marie is available online at maisonlouismarie.com.  In the UK, the brand is also available at la-gent.com, and in the US, it can be found at Sephora.