Dominique Mandonnaud opened a perfume shop in Limoges in 1969 that would be the start of Sephora. This perfume-maker did not envision her business as a typical sales establishment, but as a space where the client would experiment and discover the latest novelties, just by walking around it.

And this walk had to be in a pleasant atmosphere, so the decoration had to continuously call out the senses. In practice, this meant a revolution for the clients, as here they could have access to all the products, perfumes and colours to compare, touch or smell without committing to anything.

The seller then became more of an advisor, an expert in beauty, a client consultant – leaving behind that old concept of a salesperson. This new beauty experience is accompanied by a selection of the best brands, but also by exclusive products that cannot be found anywhere else.

The concept was a success and, in 1979, Dominique Mandonnaud opened a dozen new shops under the Shop 8 brand, arriving in Paris in 1988. The group took the name Sephora in 1994. A symbol of elegance, happiness and freedom, it has been a synonym for luxury and accessible beauty for the modern and creative woman since then.