La Bougie was founded in Ireland in 2012 by perfumer Lucy Hagerty. In response to post-Brexit export challenges, the company expanded to the UK, establishing a boutique in Lymington, Hampshire, in early 2023. La Bougie, an esteemed fragrance brand, has seamlessly blended luxury with sustainability through its innovative refill pouches. This initiative not only caters to eco-conscious consumers but also sets a benchmark in the fragrance industry for responsible practices.
Product Overview
The brand offers a diverse array of scents, each meticulously curated by founder and perfumer Lucy Hagerty. One of their notable fragrances is Coconut & Hibiscus, a blend of night-blooming jasmine, ylang-ylang, and salted coconut that captures the essence of the Indian Ocean. Sage & Bitter Orange is inspired by classic cologne notes from an Italian barbershop, featuring petitgrain, mandarin, and geranium. Mission Fig evokes the ambiance of a Tuscan garden with notes of parched earth, fig leaves, and blond wood. Tuscan Bergamot is a unisex fragrance that combines bergamot, sage, and lavender, reminiscent of a Tuscan terrace. Lastly, Desert Rose is a Middle Eastern-inspired scent with Damask rose, oud, and teak, reflecting the allure of Morocco.
Sustainability Initiatives
La bougie offer their products in 100ml refill pouches which is creating further influence across the industry. The brand emphasizes their commitment to sustainability, stating: "Our refill pouches are made from sugar cane-derived materials, offering an eco-friendly solution for our customers." They further highlight their dedication by noting: "Each refill comes with a fresh set of reeds, ensuring optimal performance while reducing waste."
The use of sugar cane-based packaging significantly reduces reliance on traditional plastics, thereby further decreasing their environmental footprint. This material is known as BIO PE. An ever increasing material packaging structure sought out by brands across the UK.
Not only do these refill pouches make a difference with their reduction in plastic usage, but also in their reduction of transportation emissions. This is due to the weight of glasses in comparison to pouches. Consider how much room and weight glass bottles take up in delivering your products to your office.
This choice aligns with global movements towards renewable resources and showcases La Bougie's dedication to sustainable practices.
Comparative Industry Practices
The trend towards refillable solutions is gaining momentum across the beauty and home fragrance sectors. Brands like Molton Brown have introduced refill pouches that use 63% less plastic than standard bottles, reflecting a broader industry shift towards sustainability. Similarly, companies such as Reia have adopted diffuser oil refill pouches to minimize waste and promote environmental responsibility.
Refill revolution in UK fragrances
Fragrance is at the forefront of innovation in the refillable prestige beauty market. Currently, 5% of fragrance sales by weight come from refillable packaging, though these products still make up a relatively small share of the overall market. Until now, brands have primarily focused on offering refills for larger bottle sizes.
However, from January to July 2022, sales of 45-74ml fragrance formats—including Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Perfume, and Cologne—saw significant growth compared to the previous year, signaling a shift toward refillable options becoming more mainstream in retail.