In the first half of the 20th century, courageous women made a huge mark on the history of the cosmetics industry. Helena Rubinstein, Dr. Nadia Payot – and Mila d’Opitz-Altherr were all pioneering women who became world famous. In1938, the woman from the Swiss canton of Appenzell laid the foundation stone for a skincare company that is now among the global elite of the industry. The success is based on the brand’s own product lines as well as contract production for many internationally renowned luxury cosmetics brands. Women have remained at the helm of the St. Gallen-based company until today, with female leadership now in the third generation. They aim is to convey Swissness and serenity. Apparently it’s working.

Creatio Ex Nihilo – the name of our new brand could not have had a more fitting origin. An avant-garde fragrance project well and truly “created out of nothing”. It is a symbiosis of classic French haute parfumerie and cutting-edge molecular technology. That is the starting point of Ex Nihilo. Shooting star perfumeurs use only the most innovative raw materials for the creations. Precious high-quality natural substances are intentionally allied with sophisticated molecular developments known as “captives”. The three brand founders set themselves the ambitious goal of collaborating on the scents with only the most talented and successful young noses, and it has paid off.  Fleur Narcotique by Quentin Bisch, for example, is destined to become a classic that will go down in perfume history –­ I’ll stake my own nose on that.

Intelligent peptides? When a new skincare line based on an innovative technology appears, this seasoned industry insider and «cosmetics junkie» sits up and takes notice. Since 2021, «Auteur» has been setting new standards in regenerative skincare – with peptides, among other things. With its exceptionally high-performing formulations the brand celebrates the spirit of a new era of high-end anti-aging skincare.

Can world famous textile designs be translated into congenial fragrance compositions? Yes, exquisitely, in fact, as the world famous department store Libertyhas proved with its LBTY. The renowned store in the West End of London ­– commonly known as Liberty’s – invited leading perfumers to interpret five of its iconic floral patters from various epochs as olfactory artworks. I am thrilled to say that they have risen to the occasion in an opulent variety of expression that I applaud: The LBTY collection exudes the aura of 150 years of fine fabrics, 150 years of style-defining prints and 150 years of trading in the finest goods the world has to offer.