Aesop
Founded in 1987 in Melbourne, Australia, Aesop has distinguished itself with its botanical-based skincare products and minimalist aesthetic.
About Aesop
Aesop, the renowned luxury skincare brand known for its minimalist design and plant-based products, has a story rooted in a commitment to quality, thoughtful design, and sustainability. The brand was founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 1987 by Dennis Paphitis, a hairdresser with a passion for creating products that were as gentle as they were effective.
Paphitis, dissatisfied with the harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances in the hair products available at the time, began experimenting with his own formulations. His goal was to craft products that combined high-quality ingredients with botanical extracts, resulting in effective and gentle solutions. This led to the birth of Aesop, a name inspired by the ancient Greek storyteller known for his fables—reflecting the brand's emphasis on thoughtful, purposeful products.
Aesop started with hair care, but soon expanded to include skincare, body care, and eventually, fragrance and home products. From the beginning, Aesop set itself apart with a focus on quality and a unique approach to design and branding. Eschewing traditional marketing and flashy packaging, Aesop embraced a simple, apothecary-style aesthetic that highlighted the purity of its ingredients and the efficacy of its products.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Aesop began to expand internationally, opening stores in cities like Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo. Each Aesop store is individually designed, often in collaboration with local architects and artists, embodying the brand’s philosophy of merging beauty with function. This distinctive approach has helped Aesop carve out a unique identity in the competitive beauty industry.
Central to Aesop's philosophy is the belief that skincare should be a balanced, holistic practice that seamlessly integrates science and nature. The brand is renowned for its rigorous approach to product development, blending plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients to ensure both safety and effectiveness. Aesop's signature products, such as the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum and the Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, have gained a dedicated following for their high performance and distinctive, natural fragrances.
In 2012, Aesop's growing success attracted the attention of Natura & Co, a Brazilian cosmetics group, which acquired a 65% stake in the company. This partnership allowed Aesop to expand further while staying true to its core values and distinctive identity. By 2016, Natura had acquired full ownership of Aesop, supporting its global growth and product development.
Today, Aesop is recognized as a leader in the luxury skincare market, admired for its meticulous approach to formulation, its commitment to sustainability, and its understated yet elegant brand identity. Aesop’s influence extends beyond skincare, embodying a philosophy that true luxury lies in the details—whether in the careful crafting of a product, the unique design of a store, or the quiet confidence of a brand that allows its products to speak for themselves.