Molton Brown

Molton Brown was established in London in 1971 — the brand name taken from South Molton Street in Mayfair, where the founders opened their first hair salon before expanding into skincare and bath products. The founders brought an ethos of natural ingredients and considered formulation that positioned the brand as a premium British alternative to the duty-free and department store mainstream. The fragrance line developed through the 1990s and 2000s, building a catalog of scented bath and body products alongside standalone perfumes sold in the house's characteristically ridged bottles. Kao Corporation, the Japanese consumer goods and beauty group, acquired Molton Brown in 2005. The house now operates a global retail network of boutiques and concessions, and its products are standard fixtures in upscale hotels — a channel that has been central to brand awareness from early in the house's history. Pricing sits at the prestige level.