L’Occitane en Provence is a brand that I’ve been passionate about from the time I first discovered their totally amazing Hand Cream (*note to self: must write a full post on that) – a product which has made it to my “Holy Grail” list, and one I always have a travel-sized tube of within reach. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have tried out many other items from this brand, and every single one has not only completely delivered on all it has promised, but impressed me enough for continued use.
As a range that believes in using only the best and most beneficial ingredients – most of them organically grown, locally sourced, and unique in the world of beauty products, L’Occitane further separates itself from the herd by not only supporting charitable causes, but with the inclusion of braille on their packaging – something I’ve not come across with ANY other brand.
The free-standing boutiques are a total sensorial experience; just walk in to one, and you are immediately transported to a rural Provençal landscape, with its bleached wooden signs, earthy-looking terracotta floors, abundant wild flower arrangements, and heady fragrances. For every L’Occitane store I’ve visited, I’ve always been surprised by not only how pleasant the staff was, but by how knowledgeable about the entire range as well. There is even a sink in each boutique available to shoppers, in order that they may actually experience the cleansing products first-hand. Trying before buying … that definitely works for me. Another plus, is the wide assortment of samples available to consumers; none of those piddly little packets, thank you very much – but generously enough sized so that you can really grasp what a specific product is all about.
So when I was recently invited to a launch for L’Occitane’s re-formulation of their ‘Crème Divine’, I didn’t hesitate to say “yes”, and what a wonderful event it turned out to be. To begin with, Nicolas Veto – the CEO of L’Occitane en Provence, Canada, was in attendance and getting the opportunity to talk shop with him at length, was an amazing experience. My husband accompanied me and as he was one of the few males present, he & Mr. Veto hit it off quite well – my man was even gifted with some L’Occitane Shaving products (read all about it here), something unexpected & but so very appreciated!
After a brief presentation on the ‘Crème Divine’ and its incredible properties (full review forthcoming), we were served the yummiest hors d’oeuvres and glasses of juice-infused sparkling wine, where I was also able to experience the ‘Divine’ range myself and “feel” what it was all about – to say that this small trial impressed me, would be an understatement. You’ll understand what I mean when I post my review.
Upon leaving, I was sent away with a gift bag that contained full sizes of both the Crème Divine and the Lotion Divine, making the evening even more memorable … if that’s possible.
I hope that you enjoy this photo recap of a truly special evening!
There is no detail overlooked in each L’Occitane boutique – totally loving this weather-worn sign
A brief timeline of the brand
The timeline continues …
L’Occitane en Provence – an artful display of some Divine products – plus my glass of bubbly!
Citron Macarons in the brand’s signature yellow shade & mango mini-parfaits – I so regret not bringing a larger bag…
One of the star ingredients in the Divine range: the Immortelle or “everlasting” flower – these are not artificial, simply air dried
L’Occitane en Provence – Lotion Divine
L’Occitane en Provence – Crème Divine & Lotion Divine
Testing (and sniffing!) the Crème Divine
with Nicolas Veto, CEO of L’Occitane en Provence, Canada
with Odile Perquia, a key member of the PR team – such a wonderful woman to deal with!
The wash station inside the boutique – wish my bathroom sink looked like this!
An gorgeous array of the Immortelle and Divine range – doesn’t it just make you want to explore?
Gift bag soldiers, all in pretty rows
So many things make this a stand-out launch in my books – from the venue (after hours at one of their boutiques), the food (major palate pleasers), the products – in particular, the Divine range, meeting Nicolas Veto and Odile Perquia, a woman I’ve dealt with for quite some time now but never met face to face prior to this. A huge thank you to all who made this event possible! ♥
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