A London-born luxury bath, body and fragrance brand founded in the early 1970s by Caroline Burstein and Michael Collis, with a Royal Warrant and a cruelty-free policy.
Molton Brown makes luxury bath, body and home fragrance products, including hand washes, body washes, perfumes and candles. Its first signature scent, now called Orange & Bergamot, launched in 1984 and the brand has since built a wide range of fragrances. The company says it focuses on the individual and on natural beauty, with an emphasis on quality, care for the world and distinctive scents.
The company began as a hair salon on South Molton Street in Mayfair, London. Different sources give the year as 1971 or 1973. It was founded by Caroline Burstein, daughter of the founders of the Browns fashion boutique, and her husband Michael Collis, a hairstylist. They made natural hair products by hand in the salon's basement, in a setting that smelled of freshly cut herbs and flowers. In 1984 they moved production to their country home in Elsenham. The brand's own history page says it has stayed true to its core values, and it has a master perfumer, Jacques Chabert, who created Re-charge Black Pepper, with his daughter Carla creating Fiery Pink Pepper.
In the UK, Molton Brown has its origins in Mayfair and a production history in Elsenham. We did not find a current UK site list or headcount in the pages we read. A trade article mentions a 1970s-inspired "sanctuary" store in Broadgate, London, and the brand sells through its own shops, department stores and online. Kao Group is listed as a related company on the trade article, but we did not read a page that confirms the details of ownership, so the current set-up is worth checking.
The brand has never tested on animals, a commitment written into its 1990 Environmental Statement. It says all its formulas are 100% vegetarian, it earned Leaping Bunny approval in 2012, and it introduced refillable hand washes in 2020. It received a Royal Warrant in 2012, and partners with Ascot and the English National Opera. These are company claims and trade coverage rather than independent checks.
A luxury fragrance business uses perfumers and product developers, packaging and design teams, marketing and brand managers, buyers, shop staff and managers, supply-chain and sustainability roles, and finance and customer service staff. If you are interested in how a scent goes from an idea to a bottle, this is a good brand to follow. The company's own website is the best place to check current roles.
Website: www.moltonbrown.co.uk
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