L'Occitane en Provence

Another shot in the dark idea that I was doubtful about until we did it.  L’Occitane en Provence is a luxury bath shop in the U.S.  I have loved the products and the fragrances they use for years, but they are a little expensive and I am leery of being taken advantage of by marketing.  It just seems so authentic – but is it?  When I was planning our adventure I went to the L’Occitane website.  What do you know?  Their factory is actually located in Provence.  And they give factory tours.  Bingo.  I book it.  It could be boring as heck, but maybe there are free samples, right?  It couldn’t be all bad.

We woke up early and stopped off at the patisserie at about 6:30am.  It was going to be broiling today – 35 or 36 degrees (upper 90s.)  Inside the patisserie was an older guy who was dressed like an army KP – white shirt and shorts and apron, all coated with another layer of white flower.  The inside temperature was already in the 90s as the ovens were turning out their goods.  There was one tray ready for purchase and it was pain de chocolate.  The best I have ever eaten, as the chocolate was molten and the dough was light and flaky.  It was crack for addicts.  I don’t know if I can eat them anymore unless they are straight out of the oven.  I tried eating one off the bakery shelf and it just wasn’t the same. 

 photo by jean-louis zimmermann on Flickr

We decide to entrust Garmina with our path, as she disagrees with Tom.  She delivered.  She took us on another tiny country road that was essentially made up of hairpin curves.  We went up and around on a hill.  As we turned to make the decent, laid out before us was this ancient abbey.  It turned out to be the back side of Frigolet Abbey, established in 960.  Ho-ly smokes, sister.  It was stunning.  I’ve never seen anything like it – it’s enough of a setting to inspire a novel; a lifetime of painting like Georgia O’Keefe and her Pedernol.  We want to explore, but it appears as if it is still in use, and we have no idea how long it will take us to get to the town of Manosque, where L’Occitane has their facilities.  It’s ok, I plan to come back and I will explore further when I do.

Somewhere near 79 roundabouts later, we arrive at L’Occitane.  Our “Anglais” tour is practically private, as we have arrived before the busloads of people from around the world who want to see it as well.  One other family is with us, from the Czech Republic.  The tour guide starts us off with a little history of the region, and tells us that the founder of the company discovered his passion when he distilled essential oil from a local plant.  The plant is one that we use in cooking and begins with an “R.”  Does anyone know what plant that is?  We all look at each other, durrrr, we didn’t expect a quiz.  Aidan’s hand shoots in the air.  “Rosemary,” he states.  Well, knock us down with a wand of lavender.  He’s absolutely right.  I burst out laughing – how the hell did he know that?  It’s not like he cooks Thanksgiving dinner with it or anything.  He can’t answer how he knows, he just knows.  That is Aidan in a nutshell – almond, perhaps.  Organically grown and with no carbon footprint.

We continue on, and get to see every part of the company.  With every corner turn, we are elevated on some new heavenly scent.  The employees here must be as calm as sheep, it’s a wonder they are productive workers with all the soothing breezes wafting through the air vents.  I feel like Bugs Bunny in that cartoon where he trips around the castle on ether in slow mo. (Water, Water Every Hare - if you're over 40, then you know it.)  The tour ends with a sampling of products and then a visit to the company store.  We get a discount of course, a free gift for going over 100 euro (check) and lots of free samples. 

L’Occitane is what you wish all companies could/would be.  Dedicated to using natural, regional ingredients; and having the lowest environmental impact possible in packaging, manufacturing, and distribution.  Committed to the town they are in and the people around it, providing transportation and community services.  They also provide special trading conditions to their growers, especially in giving favorable treatment to women who want to earn their own money to provide for their families when they are the head of the family.  I could go on, it is almost to good to be true.  Buy their products – be glad they are not full of petro chemicals, know that the price you pay is a fair one and it is the price you should pay to buy a product that comes from a company that is trying to make the world a better place.  Sheila-land, indeed.