Heritage has become the new currency of beauty. In France that richness often begins in nature. Adoration for flowers and plants is woven into daily life, from the fields of Grasse to the gardens of Anjou. Anne-Sophie Nardy draws on wild plants to create On the Wild Side, her line of hair and skincare. Christian Tortu, a world-renowned florist, turns a lifetime in flowers into home fragrances. Both show how French craft continues to root new ideas in the natural world.
Eye balm from On The Wild Side, Forêts scented candle from the Christian Tortu collection, courtesy of the brands
Anne-Sophie Nardy is the creator of On the Wild Side. She grew up in a family of pharmacists, where plants and their power were everyday knowledge. After more than ten years in major beauty houses she chose to return to the raw force of wild plants. In central France she works with foragers who gather herbs and flowers in their natural ecosystems, keeping traditions alive while protecting biodiversity and craft. Her skincare and haircare is built around birch sap and beech bud extract, both known for their regenerative qualities. The collection is concise, with products for cleansing, care and hydration. My favourite is the body care oil, light and nourishing, leaving a soft sheen on the skin.
Christian Tortu’s story begins in Anjou. He sold his first bouquet to two nuns on their way to mass. Later in Paris he redefined floristry by bringing branches, moss and foliage from the countryside into the city’s most polished settings. His natural style soon appeared at Chanel, Dior, Hermès and the Cannes Film Festival. What began as a rural sensibility became his signature, with an iconic store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. That vision now extends to home fragrance. Working with perfumers such as Annick Goutal and Pierre Bourdon, Tortu has created candles and diffusers, and a reworked form of potpourri made of wood and resin, scented with oil. At his presentation the olfactory experience starts before you even enter the room, as the air already carries notes of forest and garden. Unmistakably French.
Images by author and courtesy of On The Wild Side and Christian Tortu.
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