René-Maurice Gattefosé
René-Maurice Gattefossé (born 1881, Montchat, near Lyon – died 1950 in Casablanca) was a French researcher considered one of the founders of modern Aromatherapy.
A trained chemical engineer, he managed the Gattefossé Company during the first half of the 20th century. He conducted research on aromatherapy alongside his industrial activities.
Gattefossé was a firm believer in science, progress, and modernity. He also had a strong passion for ancient traditions, which he referred to as "forgotten technology," a concept often regarded as pseudoscience. His lifelong ambition was to reconcile these two extremes.
Titles and Distinctions
- Member of the Society of Comparative Pathology
- Founder of the magazine "La Parfumerie Moderne" in 1908
- Founding member of AICA (Employers' Association of the Lyon Region); served as president from 1945 until his death
Works
- R.M. Gattefossé, Formulary of Perfumery and Cosmetics, La Parfumerie Moderne, Lyon, 1912
- ----; Lamotte, Cultivation and Industry of Aromatic Plants, Lyon, 1917
- ----. Bactericidal Properties of Some Essential Oils, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1919, 152
- ----. Formulary of Soap Making and Perfumery, Pierre Argence Editions, Lyon, 1923
- ----; J. Tamisier, Physiological Role of Perfumes, Legendre, Lyon, 1924
- ----. Relationship Between Chemical Functions and Physiological Properties of Odorous Compounds, Chimie et Industrie, May 1924
- ----; Douly. Physiological Action of Aromatic Solutions, Chimie et Industrie, September 1925
- ----. Therapeutic Value of Lavender Essential Oil, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1926, 152
- ----. Essential Oils in Therapeutics, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1926, 229
- ----. Distillation of Aromatic Plants and Perfumes, Librairie Centrale des Sciences, 1926
- ----. New Synthetic Perfumes, Librairie Centrale des Sciences, Desforges Editions, Girardot & Co., 1927
- ----. Rapid Healing of Wounds with Essential Oils, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1927, 12
- ----. Chemist-Perfumer and Soap Maker's Formulary, Librairie Centrale des Sciences, Desforges Girardot Editions, 1932
- ----. Therapeutic Uses of Bergamot Essential Oil, Rome, 1932
- ----. Use of Essential Oils as Bactericides, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1932, 533
- ----. Antiseptic Role of Lavender, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1932, 26, 543-553
- ----. Lavender in Therapeutics, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1932, 441
- ----. Therapeutic Uses of Lavender Essential Oil, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1932, 26, 533
- ----. Pine Essential Oil and Its Bactericidal Properties, La Parfumerie Moderne, 1932, 559
- ----. Pine Oil-Based Disinfectants, Bulletin of the Pine Institute, 1935, 162
- ----. Antiseptic Power of Terpophene, La Parfumerie Moderne, May 1933
- ----. Beauty Products, Girardot Editions, 1936
- ----. Aromatherapy – Essential Oils as Plant Hormones, Librairie des Sciences Girardot, 1937
- ----. Formulary of Perfumery and Cosmetology, Librairie des Sciences Girardot, 1950 (first editions in 1911 and 1920)
- ----. Beauty Products, Girardot Editions, 1936
- ----. Essential Antiseptics, Girardot Editions, 1938
- ----. Modern Cosmetics - Beauty Products, Hoepli, 1945
- ----. Aromatherapy, C.W. Daniel Company, 1993 (English translation of the original 1937 French edition) (ISBN 0-85207-236-8)
Bibliography
- Sophie Lacour (for Histoires d'Entreprises), The Gattefossé Family Since 1880: A Distinct Legacy in Galenics and Cosmetics, Gattefossé Holding, 2000
- Maria Lis-Balchin, Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, Pharmaceutical Press, 2006 (numerous bibliographical references) (ISBN 0-85369-578-4)
- Dr. Jean Valnet, Aromatherapy: Healing with Plant Essences, Maloine Editions 1964, Le Livre de Poche (many reprints and updates, 1990) No. 7885 (ISBN 2-253-03564-5)
Obituaries (1950)
- Tribute published in La Parfumerie Moderne, No. 16, January-February 1950, pp. 29-33
- Obituary published in Produits Pharmaceutiques, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 1950
- Marcel Bosc, obituary published in Esthétique, No. 2, 1950
External Links
- Images of some book covers by Gattefossé
- (In French) The film