Maison Louis Marie
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Conscious
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
learn more about these certifications*
overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
7 out of 10
9 out of 10
7 out of 10
about
Maison Louis Marie is a luxury fragrance and personal care brand that emphasizes clean, non-toxic formulations and environmental responsibility.
highlights
PCR packaging efforts
Climate Neutral certified
Vegan fragrances
1% for the Planet member
sustainability
score:
7 out of 10
details:
Packaging
All product boxes are made from 100% recycled fiberboard and FSC-certified paper and prints with 100% soy-based inks. Perfumes, perfume oils, and candles are packaged in glass containers instead of plastic, and they never use cellophane shrink-wrap on boxes. Where plastic is necessary (e.g. for lotion or diffuser bottles), the brand has transitioned to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. In fact, by early 2022 they had replaced all PET plastic containers with 100% recycled plastic versions.
Maison Louis Marie is also moving toward refillable packaging. The company has plans to offer refill solutions for lotions, washes, and diffusers by 2025, which could reduce the plastic packaging use of those products by an estimated 75%.
Ingredient Sustainability
The formulators intentionally use synthetic alternatives for certain natural materials to prevent ecological harm. For example, rather than over-harvesting rare plants or endangered botanicals for fragrance, they will use safe synthetic versions. This practice shows up in choices like using synthetic musk (to avoid animal-derived musk) and potentially using cultivated or synthetic sandalwood in lieu of sourcing from endangered sandalwood trees.
At the same time, the brand incorporates plenty of plant-derived inputs from low-impact crops: its lotions and body care feature organic plant oils (jojoba, sunflower, avocado) and herbal extracts (green tea, cucumber, chamomile, etc.) rather than petrochemical emollients.
Additionally, some synthetic compounds used could carry environmental baggage: for instance, the Bois de Balincourt deodorant formula includes a petroleum-derived solvent (isohexadecane) and a polyacrylate thickener. These types of ingredients, while safe and effective, are not biodegradable and can be considered microplastics or petrochemicals. The presence of Polysorbate 80 in formulations (a synthetic emulsifier) is another example. It’s effective, but ethoxylated ingredients may have pollution concerns from their manufacturing process. Fortunately, the brand’s candle wax is a renewable soy-based blend.
Energy Use and Footprint
The company joined Climate Neutral and has been certified since 2021, meaning it measures its greenhouse gas emissions annually and offsets them to achieve net zero carbon emissions for its operations and products. In 2023, for example, Maison Louis Marie’s total measured footprint was about 458 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent and the brand offset 100% of that impact through verified climate projects. The company has a publicly stated emissions reduction target of cutting its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (from the 2021 baseline).
Waste Management
While detailed information isn’t provided about factory or office waste, the Climate Neutral profile suggests a mindset of efficiency (e.g., moving to a solar-powered HQ). Maison Louis Marie has committed to developing refill options for its lotions, washes, and diffuser oils, aiming to cut down associated plastic packaging by ~75%.
We found no evidence of waste-related greenwashing; the claims (recycled content, recyclable packaging) are specific and verifiable.
Business Model
Since its founding, Maison Louis Marie has grown organically and remained independent (no big corporate parent or venture capital push for rapid expansion). Maison Louis Marie is not a fast-fashion type beauty brand. It’s building a brand for longevity, focusing on quality formulations, a consistent aesthetic, and repeat customers who value the product. They integrate slow principles (heritage inspiration, local production, refills) with some circular practices.
non-toxic
score:
9 out of 10
details:
The brand bans a wide array of potentially harmful chemicals and emphasizes ingredient safety for both the user’s health and the environment. Maison Louis Marie clearly goes beyond regulatory requirements (for example, the EU bans ~1,300 ingredients; this brand voluntarily avoids even more).
Contrary to the assumption that “natural is always safer,” the brand acknowledges that some natural essential oils contain allergens or sensitizing compounds. Maison Louis Marie therefore uses a combination of “safe synthetics” and natural ingredients to formulate the gentlest possible fragrances. For instance, if an essential oil component (like a certain terpene) might trigger skin reactions, they might replace or reduce it in favor of a synthesized counterpart that is less irritating.
The brand discloses all its ingredients on product labels (for example, the perfume oil ingredients list includes the carrier oils and even the naturally occurring fragrance allergens like linalool and geraniol. This kind of transparency is not legally required for fragrances in the U.S.
social responsibility
score:
7 out of 10
details:
Maison Louis Marie’s products are made in the USA – specifically, the company is based in Los Angeles, and the co-founder’s background is in domestic manufacturing. This suggests that the production (like candle pouring, fragrance compounding, filling and packaging) happens under U.S. labor laws and standards.
The brand does not disclose any code of conduct for its raw material suppliers or any fair trade certification for ingredients. For example, if they source vanilla, sandalwood, or citrus oils from abroad, we don’t know if those were sourced from suppliers with fair labor practices or community support.
The brand does no animal testing on its products or ingredients, and this is verified by third-party organizations. Maison Louis Marie is listed by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program.
Maison Louis Marie’s social responsibility efforts are largely concentrated on environmental giving and partnerships, which align with the brand’s sustainability focus, through 1% for the Planet contributions.
