Aesop
Rated: Great
Price: $$$
Location: Australia
Quick verdict
Aesop is best for design-conscious consumers who want premium, vegan skincare with verified cruelty-free credentials and a distinctive aesthetic sensibility. The B Corp certification (re-certified in 2024 under L'Oréal) and Leaping Bunny approval set it apart in luxury beauty. Key caveat: L'Oréal acquired Aesop for $2.525 billion in August 2023, and L'Oréal remains on PETA's "do test on animals" list, creating a tension that ethically minded consumers must weigh for themselves. Long-time CEO Michael O'Keeffe departed in December 2024.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia
- Founded
- 1987
- Product categories
- Beauty
- Price range
- $$$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (84.0), Leaping Bunny, PETA cruelty-free & vegan, Climate Active (AU/NZ)
Aesop sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
High-quality botanical ingredients (parsley seed, chamomile, geranium leaf, rosehip oil) blended with safe synthetics for efficacy. All formulations are 100% vegan. RSPO-certified palm oil. However, there is no evidence it uses lower-impact ingredient sourcing practices, and full ingredient traceability and supplier mapping are limited.
Has an Ethical Sourcing Programme and Code of Conduct covering ILO principles. Active involvement with organizations combating modern slavery. However, there is no evidence workers are paid living wages, no aggregate supplier breakdown, and unspecified audit scope.
100% renewable energy for all offices and stores globally. Carbon neutral in Australia/NZ since 2018. 54.7% recycled content in plastic packaging (exceeding 50% target). All 500mL bottles use 97% recycled PET. SBTi-approved targets with net-zero by 2030 goal. However, no standalone Aesop emissions data post-L'Oréal, and refill programs remain pilot-stage.
Full ingredient lists per product. Published a 2023 Impact Report. B Corp assessment publicly available. However, no sustainability update since 2023, limited Aesop-specific data post-acquisition (folded into L'Oréal reporting), and no comprehensive supplier map.
Firmly luxury pricing. Hand wash at $47, serums at $95, fragrances at $200. Products are well-formulated with exceptional sensory experiences, but some reviewers note results don't outperform cheaper alternatives. You're paying significantly for the brand experience and minimalist aesthetic.
What they do well
- B Corp re-certified under L'Oréal (score 84.0): demonstrates continued governance of sustainability practices even post-acquisition, a meaningful signal in an industry rife with greenwashing after M&A
- Genuinely cruelty-free and 100% vegan: Leaping Bunny approved, PETA-listed; has never tested on animals since 1987 founding; chose not to sell certain products in China rather than compromise
- Meaningful packaging progress: over 54% recycled content in plastic; 97% recycled PET in 500mL bottles; FSC-certified paper; piloting Rinse & Return take-back program
- Sustainability-scored store design: each of nearly 400 stores is uniquely designed with local materials; the Gansevoort store achieved 80% reduction in embodied-carbon vs. average store
- 100% renewable energy for all global offices and stores with a 24% reduction in freight emissions
Room for improvement
- L'Oréal parent company conflict, L'Oréal remains on PETA's "do test on animals" list and is not cruelty-free as a whole. The Good Shopping Guide gives Aesop a below-benchmark score largely due to L'Oréal's record on plastic pollution, palm oil, and human rights. Some customers report perceived quality and service decline post-acquisition.
- Supply chain transparency gaps, no published supplier map, no evidence of living wages, unspecified audit scope. Sustainability reporting stalled at 2023. US-facing sustainability information is difficult to find on the website.
- Limited circularity, refill programs remain pilot-stage in select stores. No concentrated product formats to reduce shipping. Lags behind competitors like REN (zero-waste-to-landfill) or Ethique (plastic-free solid bars) in circular economy progress.
About Aesop
Aesop was founded in 1987 by Melbourne hairdresser Dennis Paphitis, who began blending essential oils into hair products at his Armadale salon. Named after the Greek fabulist (a wry nod to the beauty industry's exaggerated claims) the brand grew into a global prestige skincare house known for amber bottles, literary sensibility, and architecturally distinct retail spaces, Each of its nearly 400 stores across 27 countries is uniquely designed, often collaborating with architects like Ilse Crawford.
The product philosophy balances plant-based ingredients (parsley seed, chamomile, rosemary, lavender, geranium leaf) with safe laboratory-made compounds for efficacy and stability. All formulations are vegan and Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free. Aesop earned B Corp certification in 2020 (score 84.0) and re-certified in 2024 under L'Oréal ownership.
In 2012, Brazilian conglomerate Natura & Co acquired Aesop. In August 2023, L'Oréal purchased the brand for $2.525 billion, L'Oréal's largest-ever acquisition. Aesop sits in L'Oréal's Luxe portfolio alongside Lancôme and YSL. The brand sources 100% renewable energy for retail and office operations, uses 97% recycled PET for 500mL bottles, and holds Climate Active certification for carbon neutrality in Australia and New Zealand. Shipping is available globally with free US shipping over $51. Returns are accepted within 30 days. Pricing is firmly luxury: facial cleansers $36–45, serums $95–135, fragrances up to $200.
Product highlights
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash
Cult-classic low-foaming gel with orange, rosemary, and lavender oils (16.9 fl oz)
~$47
The brand's best-seller and "quiet luxury" bathroom icon; 4.7/5 across platforms
Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum
Lightweight facial serum with parsley seed and grape seed antioxidants (2 oz)
~$95
Hero product for urban-environment skin protection; suitable for normal, combination, sensitive skin
Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser
Rich gel cleanser with geranium leaf, mandarin, and bergamot (16.9 fl oz)
~$45
Signature "spa-like" body care; exemplifies Aesop's aromatic approach
Hwyl Eau de Parfum
Earthy, woody fragrance with vetiver, cypress, and frankincense (1.7 fl oz)
~$200
Gender-neutral cult fragrance inspired by Japanese forests; a standout in niche perfumery
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