Heritage
A house, in its own words
Elaïo was founded in 2022 by sisters Bérénice and Héloïse Cauchois. Bérénice, the creative force behind the project, had long been attuned to scent and fascinated by beauty, a sensibility that ultimately gave shape to the brand's identity. Rather than emerging from an established perfume house or industry veteran, Elaïo grew from a personal conviction between two sisters to translate their shared olfactory sensibility into a collection of fragrances. The house's first chapter arrived in 2022 with a unified launch of five compositions: Peau Salée, Peau d'un Soir, Peau Perlée, Peau Secrète, and Peau à Peau. The choice to debut with a complete collection rather than a single introductory scent reflected a deliberate curatorial stance, treating each fragrance as a distinct expression within a larger thematic conversation. A significant early milestone came with the brand's first steps into international distribution. Bérénice Cauchois announced a partnership with the Muser Group to bring Elaïo to Asian markets, marking the house's transition from a French independent project to a globally distributed brand in its formative years. Elaïo's creative vision is anchored in a single, recurring motif: skin, or "peau" in French. Every composition in the debut collection takes its name from this concept, treating the surface of the body as both subject and canvas. Each fragrance interprets a different quality or moment of skin, from the salt-touched memory of seaside hours to the veiled secrecy of an evening encounter, allowing the collection to function as a series of emotional portraits rather than a lineup of standalone products. This thematic consistency reveals a curatorial mindset. The Cauchois sisters approach fragrance less as isolated objects and more as a connected body of work, where contrast and continuity between compositions create meaning. The house's philosophy favors intimacy and personal expression over spectacle, positioning scent as something that belongs to the wearer rather than something performed for others.