Interparfums, Inc.
Company History
Interparfums History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1982 in Paris, France
When was Interparfums founded?
Interparfums was founded in 1982 in Paris, France by Jean Madar and Philippe Benacin, making it 44 years old.
- Founded
- 1982
- Founding place
- Paris, France
- Founders
- Jean Madar and Philippe Benacin
- Headquarters today
- New York, New York
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1982–2026)
- Current CEO
- Jean Madar
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Company Founded |
| 1993 | Burberry License |
| 2007 | Acquired Lanvin fragrance trademarks |
| 2009 | Jimmy Choo License |
| 2012 | Burberry Buyout |
| 2015 | Acquired Rochas |
| 2016 | Coach Fragrances Launch |
| 2024 | Lacoste License Starts |
| 2025 | Record $1.49B Sales |
| 2026 | Beckham and Nautica Licenses |
- Where was Interparfums founded?
- Interparfums was founded in Paris, France in 1982.
- Who founded Interparfums?
- Interparfums was founded by Jean Madar and Philippe Benacin.
- When did Interparfums start?
- Interparfums was founded in 1982.
- How old is Interparfums?
- Interparfums is 44 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Jean Madar and Philippe Benacin, French business-school friends, started the business in 1982. Early on they sold affordable fragrances; the turning point came in 1993 with the Burberry license, which grew into the company's largest brand. When Burberry paid about $205 million (€181 million) to end the license early in 2012, the founders reinvested in Montblanc, Jimmy Choo, Coach, and other licenses and built a more diversified portfolio.
Founders
Jean Madar
Jean Madar co-founded Interparfums in 1982 with business-school friend Philippe Benacin. He leads the New York-based parent, Interparfums, Inc., as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, overseeing U.S. operations, capital allocation, and license deals such as GUESS, Donna Karan/DKNY, Ferragamo, and the 2026 David Beckham and Nautica agreements. Jean Madar was born in 1961.
Philippe Benacin
Philippe Benacin leads Interparfums SA in Paris, home to Montblanc, Jimmy Choo, Coach, Lacoste, Lanvin, Rochas, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Moncler fragrances. European operations account for about two-thirds of group sales. Benacin built many of the company's European license relationships after the Burberry license ended in 2012. Philippe Benacin was born in 1959.
Key Milestones
Burberry License
The Burberry fragrance license began and became the company's largest brand.
Source: sec.govAcquired Lanvin fragrance trademarks
Interparfums acquired Lanvin fragrance trademarks.
Source: sec.govJimmy Choo License
Interparfums signed the Jimmy Choo fragrance license; the first scent launched in 2011.
Source: sec.govBurberry Buyout
Burberry paid about $205 million (€181 million) to end the license early.
Source: sec.govAcquired Rochas
Interparfums acquired Rochas for $108 million. Acquired the Rochas fragrance and fashion trademarks from Procter & Gamble.
Source: sec.govLacoste License Starts
Interparfums took over Lacoste fragrances from Coty under a 15-year license.
Source: sec.govRecord $1.49B Sales
Net sales reached $1.489 billion with $168 million in net income attributable to Interparfums.
Source: advfn.comBeckham and Nautica Licenses
Interparfums signed 20-year worldwide licenses for David Beckham and Nautica fragrances in January 2026 and extended GUESS through 2048.
Source: wwd.comMajor Acquisitions
Lanvin fragrance trademarks
2007Bought the Lanvin brand rights for fragrances, giving the company a royalty-free owned brand.
Rochas
2015Acquired the Rochas fragrance and fashion trademarks from Procter & Gamble.
Donna Karan and DKNY fragrance license
2022Licensed from brand owner G-III, taking over the business from Estée Lauder.
Lacoste fragrance license
202415-year worldwide license taking over Lacoste fragrances from Coty, effective January 2024.
David Beckham and Nautica fragrance licenses
2026Two 20-year worldwide licenses signed with Authentic Brands Group in January 2026.
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Interparfums Company History FAQ
What are the historic milestones across the 40+ year history of Interparfums from 1982 to today?
Key milestones include founding in Paris (1982), NASDAQ listing (1988), landmark Burberry license partnership (1993 to 2012), Euronext Paris IPO (1995), acquiring Lanvin trademarks (2007), acquiring Rochas (2015), securing Coach (2015), Guess (2018), and adding Donna Karan, Lacoste, and Roberto Cavalli (2022 to 2024).
How did the launch of Montblanc Legend in 2011 transform Interparfums' men's fragrance business?
In 2011, Interparfums launched Montblanc Legend. With its well-known heavy glass flacon inspired by the Meisterstück fountain pen and fresh fougère aroma, Legend became one of the bestselling men's prestige colognes in the world, spawning a multi-hundred-million-dollar franchise.
What was the impact of the 2012 Burberry license buyout on Interparfums' corporate trajectory?
When Burberry bought out its license for ~$205 million (€181 million) in 2012 (representing half of Interparfums' revenue at the time), critics doubted the company could recover. Instead, the founders redeployed the capital to sign Jimmy Choo, Montblanc, Coach, Guess, and Ferragamo, rebuilding an even larger, more diversified, and more profitable fragrance giant.
How did Interparfums handle the COVID-19 pandemic and airport travel retail closures in 2020?
During 2020 lockdowns, Interparfums utilized its debt-free cash cushion, cut discretionary spending, pivoted to digital e-commerce channels, and prepared a wave of new product launches in 2021 to 2022 that drove all-time record post-pandemic sales.
When did Interparfums, Inc. cross $1 billion in annual net sales?
In 2022, Interparfums officially surpassed the historic milestone of $1.08 billion in annual net sales for the first time, then reached $1.32B in 2023, $1.45B in 2024, and a record $1.49B in 2025.
What was the significance of launching the proprietary haute parfumerie brand 'Solferino' in 2024?
In 2024, Interparfums SA announced the launch of 'Solferino', its first proprietary ultra-luxury niche fragrance collection named after its historic Paris address, entering the high-growth, high-margin artisanal haute parfumerie segment.
What is Interparfums' long-term vision for the global prestige beauty industry?
Interparfums envisions remaining the world's most creative, agile, and trusted independent fragrance partner, bridging the artistry of French haute perfumery with global commercial execution to deliver unforgettable olfactory experiences to consumers worldwide.
How did Inter Parfums start?
Inter Parfums was founded in 1982 in Paris (as Inter Parfums SA) and New York (as Jean Philippe Fragrances) by Jean Madar and Philippe Benacin. They realized a massive inefficiency in the luxury market: fashion designers knew how to make clothes, but had no idea how to chemically manufacture or globally distribute perfume. They built a company to do the dirty work for them.
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