What Compagnie de Provence does

Compagnie de Provence (SAS La Compagnie de Provence) is a French natural cosmetics company founded in 1990 in Marseille and headquartered in Salon-de-Provence. It manufactures and markets traditional Marseille-style soaps and plant-oil-based personal care and home fragrance products, using cauldron saponification and formulations containing 95%+ natural ingredients certified under COSMOS NATURAL. The company pioneered the liquid Marseille soap in a refillable glass pump bottle format in 1999 and has since built an integrated refill ecosystem (1L and 3L eco-refills) and a portfolio of sub-brands including Apothicare (aromatherapy, 2022), Velvet Algae (2021), Sensitive Skin Collection (2023), and the Happy 30 limited edition (2020).

The business serves two principal channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation (PrestaShop) supported by a points-based loyalty program, and a B2B wholesale channel covering hotels and hospitality, corporate offices, corporate gifting, and reseller/distributor accounts. Product pricing ranges from approximately €8 to €51.50 across soaps, skincare, candles, and reed diffusers. Distribution extends to 22 European countries spanning Western, Central, and parts of Eastern Europe, including France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, and the Benelux markets.

Manufacturing relies on a network of Provençal suppliers (Château Virant for olive oil, Valensole plateau producers, local beekeepers) and assembly operations that include inclusive-employment partners such as ESAT centers and the Aix Luynes penitentiary. R&D is anchored by a long-standing partnership with an Italian dermatology group established in 2013, and the company pursues charitable and cultural collaborations (Project Rescue Ocean, Une Voix Pour Elles, Pour le Fil d'Ariane, Restos du Coeur, and artist Marie Doazan). Registered capital is €1,215,000; the company is privately held and does not disclose revenue, headcount, or funding data.

Name

Compagnie de Provence

Legal name

SAS La Compagnie de Provence

Website

https://compagniedeprovence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compagnie de Provence is a French heritage cosmetics company (founded 1990, Marseille) that manufactures natural Marseille-style soaps, plant-oil skincare, and home fragrances for individual consumers and B2B hospitality, corporate, and reseller channels across 22 European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Personal Care & Cosmetics

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (45612)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Fragrance (Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays) (CRABADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural & Clean Fragrance (CRABADAG), Air Care & Home Fragrance (Air Fresheners, Candles, Plug-ins, Diffusers) (CRADAKAI)

Keywords

• Natural cosmetics
• Marseille soap
• Hand care
• Skincare formulations
• Home fragrances

Headquarters

HQ city

Aix-en-provence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Consumer purchases through owned e-commerce website with product categories including soaps, creams, body care, face care, and home fragrances. One-time purchase model with subscription potential through loyalty program.
2. B2B Professional Sales: Wholesale and professional channel selling to hotels, restaurants, offices, and retail distributors with customized pricing and delivery.
3. Loyalty Program: Points accumulation system: 100 points = 10€, 200 points = 20€. Welcome bonus of 50 points for new accounts. Drives repeat purchases and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Compagnie de Provence manufactures and sells natural-ingredient personal care products anchored by traditional and liquid Marseille soap (Savon de Marseille) made via cauldron saponification. The portfolio spans hand creams, body care (lotions, dry oils, shower gels, scrubs), facial care (cleansers, serums, moisturizers, lip balms), and home fragrances (scented candles, diffusers), sold in 300ml, 495ml, 1L and 3L refill formats. Fragrances are developed in Grasse, and most formulas contain at least 95% naturally derived ingredients.

Product overview

Compagnie de Provence is a natural cosmetics brand founded in 1990, offering everyday skincare products enriched with plant oils from Provence. The core product portfolio centers on traditional and liquid Marseille soaps (Savon de Marseille) in various fragrances, supported by dedicated hand care (creams, gels), face care (cleansers, serums, moisturizers, night creams, lip balms), and body care (body milks, oils, shower gels, exfoliating scrubs) lines. The company has expanded into home fragrance with scented candles and diffusers. Key sub-brands include Apothicare (aromatherapy line launched 2022), the Velvet Algae collection (moisturizing skincare), and the Sensitive Skin Collection. Products are formulated with at least 95% natural ingredients, featuring signature ingredients like olive oil from Château Virant estate, shea butter, sweet almond oil, velvet algae, and honey. The iconic glass pump bottles for liquid soap are refillable via 1L and 3L eco-refills, supporting sustainable practices. Fragrances are created in Grasse, the world capital of perfume.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apothicare: Aromatherapy line launched in 2022 for a holistic approach to well-being, combining skincare and home fragrances with essential oils from Provence.
• Happy 30
• Algue Velours Collection

Products and services

• Savon de Marseille (Marseille Soap) Traditional and liquid Marseille soap cubes made via traditional cauldron saponification, available in multiple fragrances (Verveine Fraîche, Lavande Aromatique, Rose Sauvage, Fleur d'Oranger, Figue de Provence, Bois d'Olivier). Targeted at individual consumers and hospitality professionals.
• Liquid Marseille Soap (in iconic glass pump bottle) Liquid Marseille soap in refillable glass pump bottles (300ml, 495ml), made by traditional cauldron saponification from vegetable oils, for consumer and professional (hotel/restaurant/office) use.
• Liquid Marseille Soap Eco-Refills (1L and 3L) Bulk eco-refills (1L at €25.50 and 3L at €51.50) for the liquid Marseille soap glass pump bottles, supporting refill-and-reuse across fragrances.
• Hand Care Range (Soins des Mains) Hand creams, cleansing gels and exfoliating liquid soaps enriched with plant oils from Provence; key SKUs include the Mediterranean Hand Cream with olive, sweet almond and PGI honey. Targeted at consumers and B2B office buyers.
• Body Care Range (Soins Corps) Body milks, body oils, shower gels (including Nourishing Shower Oil with shea absolute and Provence botanical oils), exfoliating scrubs and natural shampoos formulated with 95%+ naturally derived ingredients.
• Shea Butter Absolute Dry Oil (Huile Sèche Ultra-Nourrissante) Multi-purpose dry oil for face, body and hair; contains four botanical oils including 40% organic oils and is rated 100/100 on Yuka; clinically measured +17% hydration.
• Face Care Range (Soins Visage) Cleansers, toners, anti-aging serums, moisturizing creams, night creams and lip balms formulated with plant oils from Provence, including the Sorbet Face Cream enriched with Mediterranean velvet algae.
• Home Fragrance - Scented Candles (Bougies Parfumées) 150g scented candles in multiple Grasse-developed fragrances (Anise Lavender, Mint Basil) sold under the Maison home range.
• Home Fragrance - Diffusers (Diffuseurs de Parfum) Reed diffuser systems with high-concentration fragrances (e.g., Ciste Cardamome) and refill options for long-lasting home ambiance.
• Apothicare Aromatherapy Line Aromatherapy product line spanning skincare and home fragrance, featuring essential oils from Provence (Anise Lavender for relaxation, Mint Basil for energy) in a holistic well-being range.
• Velvet Algae Skincare Collection (Collection Soins Algue Velours) Skincare collection enriched with Mediterranean velvet algae, providing deep hydration and an anti-pollution barrier across face, hand and body products.
• Sensitive Skin Collection Skincare products (cleanser and body/hand liquid soap) formulated for sensitive skin, combining effective cleansing with gentle, hypoallergenic formulas.
• Gift Boxes and Gift Cards (Coffrets, Duos/Trios, Travel Sizes, Cartes Cadeaux) Pre-packaged gift sets, duos, trios, travel sizes and digital gift cards for personal and corporate gifting occasions.
• Professional / B2B Amenities Program Dedicated B2B commercial offering for hotels, restaurants, offices and guest houses with custom pricing, professional product advice and tailored delivery, plus a separate corporate gifting program.
• Reseller / Distributor Partnership Program Wholesale/distributor program for specialty retailers and resellers, with dedicated commercial support for stocking Compagnie de Provence products.
• Loyalty Program (My Compagnie de Provence) Customer loyalty program that awards points on purchases (100 pts = €10, 200 pts = €20), with a 50-point welcome bonus and birthday surprises to drive repeat purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• +40% hydration improvement for hand cream (laboratory-proven, 20 volunteers)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Une Voix Pour EllescoreOthers · 1 January 2022Partnership with Grasse-based nonprofit supporting women fleeing domestic violence. 225 boxes with hand creams donated for Mother's Day 2022 to women in refuges.
• Project Rescue OceancoreOthers · 1 January 2021Marine conservation partnership since 2021. 2,494€ donated to date for waste collection days and school awareness programs. Employee collection events organized around this cause.
• Pour le Fil d'ArianeminorOthers · 1 January 2021Charitable partnership for sick children and families in Marseille hospitals (APHM). Product donations for 2021 fundraising auctions.
• Restos du CoeurminorOthers · 1 January 2021200+ hygiene products (liquid soap, soap bars) donated to food bank charity in 2021.
• Aix Luynes PenitentiarycoreOthers · 1 January 2021Year-round collaboration for box assembly with 55 inmates producing boxes in 2021 (1,867 hours of work). Helps maintain business connection and generate salary for inmates.
• Marie DoazanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Artist collaboration for 30th anniversary in 2020. Illustrator created limited edition bottle designs with bold, beautiful colours representing her vision of Provence.
• Italian Dermatology GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership formed in 2013 with Italian dermatology group to accelerate development and meet consumer demands for quality and innovation. R&D laboratories co-develop all formulas with dermatological testing and clinical studies demonstrating performance and tolerance.
• Château Virant EstatecoreOthersLocal producer partnership for olive oil supply. The Cheylan family has been producing exceptional olive oil at Château Virant in Lançon-Provence for generations. Olives are cold-pressed to preserve natural antioxidant properties.
• Valensole Plateau ProducerscoreOthersPartnership with lavender and botanical producers on Valensole plateau in Provence, including Jaubert family for sweet almond oil and Schultz family for lavender oils.
• Rampal LatourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Lavender Whisper Duo product combining Compagnie de Provence soap flakes with Rampal Latour scented candle.
• ESAT CentersminorOthersCollaboration with establishments supporting people with disabilities for assembly of gift boxes, aiding professional integration.
• Benoît Millet (Beekeeper)minorOthersPGI lavender honey supplier from Provence for hand cream formulations. Exceptional quality honey with natural sugar, minerals, and Vitamin B.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Le Petit Marseillais: French mass-market natural personal care brand also rooted in Marseille soap heritage with body, hair, and shower products. Comparable on ingredient philosophy and Provençal origin, but positioned in the value segment versus Compagnie de Provence's premium pricing.
• L'Occitane en Provence: Larger French natural personal care brand with the same Provençal heritage positioning, plant-based ingredient philosophy, and global multi-channel retail footprint. Directly competes across soaps, body care, skincare, and home fragrance, and serves as the principal scale benchmark for Compagnie de Provence.
• Roger & Gallet: Heritage French personal care brand with iconic fragrance expertise, soap, body care, and home fragrance lines. Highly comparable on Provençal-style heritage, Grasse perfumery, and the combination of traditional soap with skincare extensions.
• La Corvette (Savonnerie de l'Atlantique): Traditional Marseille soap manufacturer with heritage positioning and direct-to-consumer sales. Most directly comparable on the core Savon de Marseille franchise and Provençal authenticity, though with narrower category scope (predominantly soap).
• Cattier Paris: French natural and organic personal care brand with COSMOS-certified soaps, skincare, and baby care lines. Closely comparable on natural-ingredient positioning, certifications, and premium natural retail pricing.
• Caudalie: French natural skincare brand centered on vine-derived and botanical ingredients with similar premium positioning, D2C + retail distribution model, and sustainability messaging. Comparable on ingredient philosophy, price tier, and target consumer.

Emerging players

• Diptyque: French luxury home fragrance and personal care brand with scented candles, diffusers, soaps, and body care. Comparable on the home fragrance extension (candles/diffusers) and premium positioning, though Diptyque skews higher in price and gifting.
• Kneipp: German natural personal care brand with botanical oils, plant-based formulations, and a heritage comparable to Compagnie de Provence. Overlaps on body care and aromatherapy positioning; useful as a regional natural-beauty comparable.

Broad incumbents

• Yves Rocher: Major French botanical and natural personal care incumbent with a much broader portfolio (skincare, body, fragrance, makeup) and its own retail store network. Overlaps heavily with Compagnie de Provence on plant-based positioning and French heritage, though Yves Rocher spans far more categories.
• The Body Shop: Global natural and ethically sourced personal care retailer with stores in multiple markets and a comparable plant-based, sustainability-led value proposition. Overlaps on body care, soaps, and home fragrance but operates at much larger scale across geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/compagniedeprovence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-compagnie-de-provence
• Instagraminstagram.com/compagniedeprovence
• Pinterestpinterest.fr/compagniedeprovence

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Compagnie de Provence