Laurice Rahmé

Laurice Rahmé is a French born, American businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is the founder, creator and president of Bond No. 9 New York Fragrances.

Early years

Rahmé was born and educated in Paris, France. At a young age, she took an interest in arts and culture, having access to the best museums in France.

She is a graduate of Université de Vincennes. After university she studied art history at the École du Louvre in Paris.

She began her professional life as an antiques dealer in Paris. Rahmé quickly excelled. Her success allowed her to open her own shop in Les Halles, on the corner of the Rue Saint-Denis and Rue de la Cossonnerie.

However, she wanted to travel the world, and she knew a foray into the beauty industry would be a passport to do this. In her own words, “At that time one job you could get as a young girl in Paris who wanted to travel was in the beauty industry.”

It was at this time that she made the decision to pursue a career in beauty.

Career

In 1973, Rahmé joined Lancôme as International Training Director, tripling the company's skincare business in the Middle East. In 1976, she assumed the role of Director of the Lancome Institut de Beauté, and relocated to L’Oréal USA's (then Cosmair, Inc.) headquarters in New York, NY, USA.

Laurice's true passion for fragrance began she met with fragrance designer Annick Goutal. Goutal became a mentor, and hired Rahmé to become Partner and President of operations in New York.

From 1989 to 1995, Rahmé was responsible for introducing the small French company to the US, and for creating a unique niche marketing approach focusing on the brand's jewel-like boutique allure. Recognition and rapid growth followed, and the strategy transformed a small-scale business into an international success story.

Following her success with Annick Goutal, Ms. Rahmé became US distributor of Creed fragrances in 1995.

Bond No. 9

In 2003, Laurice Rahmé launched her own fragrance company, Bond No. 9. Its mission is to restore artistry to perfumery, and give a scent to each neighborhood in Manhattan.

In 2011, Ms. Rahmé launched the I LOVE NY by Bond No. 9 collection. It is a smaller collection of fragrances produced in partnership with the State of New York. The perfume bottles bear the iconic "I Love NY" logo designed by Milton Glaser.

Personal life

Laurice Rahmé currently lives in New York City, which she considers her home.

She is an accomplished cook.

Legal Issues

Two former employees filed a federal suit against Rahmé in 2012 for claims of racism against customers and employees. Rahmé allegedly used a secret code to alert security of when African-American customers entered the store. Rahmé admitted that the code "We need the light bulbs changed" was used to alert security of suspicious individuals, irrespective of race, but also stated that all robberies up to that point were committed by African-Americans. The litigants withdrew the suit two years later without retracting their claims, stating that the suit had become too time-consuming and expensive.

Awards and distinctions

Ms. Rahmé has sat on the Board of Directors for the Fragrance Foundation, and was named "Business Woman of the Year" by the Foundation's Business Advisory Council Committee.

In January 2006, she was given the "Beauty / Fragrance Entrepreneur Rising Star Award" at the 9th annual Rising Star Awards, sponsored by Fashion Group International (FGI).

In November 2012, Ms. Rahmé received the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) "Innovator of the Year" award.