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Istituto Marangoni Paris visits the Cosmetic Valley hub
Participants from the Fragrances & Cosmetics programmes set out to explore the world’s leading cosmetics cluster. A group of nine students took part in a study trip to Chartres, in the heart of France’s beauty industry district, gaining first-hand insight into a sector that is constantly evolving and ranks among the most strategic in the European economy..png)
In L.T. Piver Perfumes Factory
The day began with a visit to the historic L.T. Piver perfume factory, a maison founded in 1774 and one of the oldest in the industry. CEO Nelly Chenelat-Durant, who personally welcomed the Istituto Marangoni Paris delegation, recounted the maison’s illustrious history and revealed that one of its current best-sellers, A la Reine des Fleurs, was among the favourite fragrances of Queen Marie Antoinette. After discovering the maison’s scents and signature bottles — inspired by period decorative motifs — the group observed the production process up close, entirely carried out in Chartres, from fragrance formulation to industrial packaging. A valuable opportunity to understand the complexity of each stage and how tradition and innovation continue to coexist in contemporary perfume-making.
Meeting the Cosmetic Valley
The visit continued with a meeting with representatives of Cosmetic Valley. This ecosystem brings together over 6,300 companies — 80% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises — and around 226,000 jobs, generating a total turnover of approximately €71 billion. It is a network that integrates companies (including brands from major groups such as Guerlain and Rabanne), research laboratories, universities and training centres, representing a unique model of collaboration between industry and innovation.
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An incubator to support the start-up
Particular interest was sparked by the presentation of La Fabrique de la Beauté, a coordination initiative supported by local authorities to help start-ups grow. Over the past five years, around 60 young companies have been supported through dedicated programmes, facilitating access to expertise, infrastructure and international networks. This incubator plays a key role in the sector’s continuous renewal and, for those aspiring to create their own maison, proved especially inspiring.
The experience in Chartres offered a concrete overview of the cosmetics value chain, highlighting how creativity, scientific research and industrial expertise are closely intertwined within a framework of collaboration and shared progress.
