Our History

JEAN BOUIS Créateur Parfumeur: a family affair and traditional craft for over a century...

Our story began with Antoine Bouis in Opio (Provence) in 1906. He mastered the art of cultivating the best plants and flowers for use in luxury perfumes. Jasmine, Rose Centifolia, Tuberose, and Neroli (from the orange tree) were his specialty and his knowledge was unparalleled. He owned one of the largest and most beautiful properties in the Grasse region.

1930

His two sons joined the business.

The younger son, Leon, soon moved to New York where he would lead the Perfume creation team at the renowned Parfumeur Lautier Fils.

Jean, the oldest son, remained in Opio. He was passionate about botany and plant biology. Jean continued working with his father. Together they created the first flower distillery and laboratory where new perfumes and beauty products would be born under the “Parfums Bouis” label.

1950

The flower factory

The demand and reputation for our products expanded rapidly. Jean Bouis decided to build a modern factory near “Le Rouret”. It was named “L’Usine des Fleurs”. (The flower factory). This allowed Jean Bouis to create a more innovative extraction process and modernize the production line. As a result, production expanded to creation of many quality perfumes, cosmetics and soaps.

The building housed a laboratory for production, an exposition hall and several distilling rooms where flowers and plants from the region and around the world were used in creating products.

1972

He opened a second branch in Vallauris

The business continued to flourish and Jean Bouis’s son Alain, after earning his diploma from the school of Perfume under the creator Jean Carles joined his father. He opened a second branch in Vallauris, a city renowned for its pottery and frequented by the likes of Capron and Massier and famous artists like Picasso and Jean Marais. The new building had an updated laboratory that facilitated research, innovation and quality control. Workshop to produce scented soaps and a packaging room were also included.

New cosmetic products were developed to augment existing inventory. These products were presented in a new store furnished with provencal and family pieces, antique mirrors, a stark contrast with the modern machinery.

TODAY

Alain’s son, Franck Bouis, has decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. He continues the family adventure in the Parfumerie world. Franck studied under a “Master Parfumeur” from Grasse, Richard Teissere from the Maison Givaudan-Roure.

Franck is also an innovator and visionary who seeks to preserve the family history and the knowledge of his forbearers.

He has developed and diversified the business by working for famous labels and by adding new collections like quality scented candles and home fragrances.

Franck has modernized the factory to adhere to modern rules and regulations and to adapt to new marketing ideas. Like his father, grandfather and great grandfather, Franck is leading the business to evolve in response to customer demand but always with the utmost respect for the quality materials and people who make Parfums Bouis products the finest in the world.

Many years ago, Jean Bouis set the standard: “From father to son we have been witnessing a constant progression of the quality of our products and of the trust that our “Jean Bouis” label has owned.”

And the story continues...