Lancôme Paris is a
cosmetics brand owned by
L'Oréal as part of its Luxury Products division, which offers
skin care,
fragrances, and
makeup.
The company began in 1935, when its founder,
Armand Petitjean, was exploring the ruins of a castle, Le Château de Lancosme, while vacationing in the French countryside. Petitjean's inspiration for the company's symbol, a golden
rose, were the wild roses growing around the castle.
Lancôme launched its first five
fragrances in 1935 at the
World's Fair in
Brussels -
Tendre Nuit,
Bocages,
Conquete,
Kypre and
Tropiques. Today Lancôme has over 50 fragrances. Lancome fragrances are made in association with perfumers
Alain Astori,
Annick Menardo,
Daniela Roche-Andrier,
Christian Biecher,
Jacques Cavallier,
Calice Becker,
Pauline Zanoni,
Maurice Roucel,
Thierry Wasser,
Christine Nagel,
Armand Petitjean,
Gerard Goupy,
Olivier Cresp,
Harry Fremont,
Alberto Morillas,
Dominique Ropion,
Olivier Polge,
Francis Kurkdjian,
Robert Gonnon,
Nathalie Lorson,
Sophia Grojsman and
Alienor Massenet.
Lancome expanded its business into makeup and skincare products. One noteworthy product was
Nutrix launched in 1936.
Models, spokesmen, spokesmodels and brand ambassadors
In 1978, at the age of eighteen,
Carol Alt became the youngest model to be the face of Lancome.
Nancy Dutiel also modelled for Lancome during this period.
Beginning in 1982,
Isabella Rossellini was Lancôme's international spokesmodel for 14 years.
Juliette Binoche,
Uma Thurman,
Mena Suvari,
Ines Sastre,
Shalom Harlow,
Drew Barrymore and
Marie Gillain have also been spokesmodels for Lancôme. In 2005 Lancome unveiled
Daria Werbowy as one of their new spokesmodels, and in 2006
Raica Oliveira.
In early 2007,
Clive Owen became the first spokesman for Lancôme's Men's skincare range and the new fragrance Hypnôse Homme.
On June 11, 2007,
Kate Winslet was unveiled as the spokesmodel for Lancôme. Her first assignment was the relaunch of the Lancôme fragrance Trésor (formerly promoted by
Inés Sastre) in late 2007.
On January 2, 2007, actress
Anne Hathaway was announced as the newest brand ambassador, set to promote the new fragrance, Magnifique, released in August 2008.
