Oil's well

Headnote

AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES AT THE TOP, DECLÉOR IS POISED FOR MORE SUCCESS AS IT LOOKS TO A HEALTHY FUTURE IN THE UK.

Decléor has just celebrated three decades in the beauty industry. And with a 37 per cent increase in its business in February 2005 trading, the future for the French skincare house looks bright.

Aromatherapy is what Decléor is all about - specifically Aromessence, which is at the heart of the company's philosophy.

Aromessence is an essential oil concentrate developed for use on either face or body. It is pure, natural, and preservative and chemical free. Each of the company's 11, carefully blended essences - a mix of at least four essential oils - is said to have an exceptional affinity with skin, penetrating easily through the cutaneous barrier into the deepest layers, where it is dispersed with no oily residue.

Aromessence also plays a vital secondary role since it acts as a "booster" whenever it is used with a phytotherapy (plant-based) product. Given that each Aromessence and phytotherapy treatment is developed to correspond to a particular skincare "prescription", used together "they achieve perfect results on all skin types", says the company. Furthermore, their potent aromas create a feeling of calm and well being - what Decléor calls its "AromaDuo Concept".

History

David Leber has been the company's guiding light and driving force since he introduced the products to the UK market 30 years ago.

Decléor was set up in Paris in 1974 by Solange Dessimoulie. She was helped by equipment supplier André Benêt (he later took over Decléor), who provided financial backing for the development and expansion of the then three-item range.

Another playing a key role in building up the success of the fledgling skincare house was Caroline Colliard, a chemist and physiotherapist with a keen interest in aromatherapy whose knowledge of aromas and their effect on the human psyche is, says David, "phenomenal".

André Benet had been supplying equipment to David for his Nottingham-based David lieber health clubs for men and women since 1971. Given the long-standing connection with André, and as David's clubs contained beauty salons, it was a natural progression to use Decléor products and treatments.

"Decléor was the first skincare house to make a...