23/06/2026
🗣️ Interview with Mr. Olivier Touboul, CEO of Laboratoire de Cosmétologie du Pacifique Sud, for an upcoming Los Angeles Times report on French Polynesia
🌺 Where Tradition Meets the Lab: Founded in 1992, Laboratoire de Cosmétologie du Pacifique Sud established a dedicated R&D center 15 years ago with a clear mission: transform ancestral Polynesian knowledge into validated, science-backed cosmetic ingredients. With 60–70% of Polynesia's natural reservoir considered endemic, the biodiversity potential is extraordinary, and still largely untapped.
🔬 From Tahitian Honey to a Hermès Perfume: The lab currently offers around 40 to 45 ingredients, from plant oils to natural exfoliants, sourced through methods ranging from traditional maceration to precise solvent extraction. One standout innovation, developed with dsm-firmenich, became a solid natural perfume later used in a recent Hermès eau de toilette, proof that Polynesian biodiversity can sit at the heart of global luxury.
🇺🇸 Selling the Dream, Responsibly: On the U.S. West Coast especially, Polynesian ingredients carry a powerful sense of escapism. Past collaborations with Bath & Body Works, including a "Passport to Tahiti" concept, tapped directly into that emotional pull, built on naturalness and a story rooted in place.
🤝 Ethics Built Into the Supply Chain: The lab's Tiare Tahiti flower supply chain has been UEBT - Sourcing with Respect (Union for Ethical BioTrade) certified for four years, ensuring fair compensation from landowners to harvesters. With 100 to 150 suppliers across 15 to 20 islands, sourcing remains entirely local, Polynesia's biodiversity is rich enough that importing raw materials simply isn't necessary.
🧪 Beyond Marketing, Toward Science: The company is increasingly focused on identifying and quantifying active compounds in partnership with international laboratories, with promising current research into roots and ferns that could yield genuinely differentiated ingredients for the global market.
💬 Final Message: "Polynesian cosmetics sit at the intersection of nature, science, and sustainable luxury. Polynesia is not just a place, it's a sensory journey. Our goal is for people to choose our products not only because they work, but because they genuinely love using them."
1. How do you scientifically harness the natural resources of French Polynesia, such as plants, monoï, and tamanu, in developing innovative cosmetic products?