Dennis Paphitis founded Aesop in 1987 in Melbourne, initially as a small line of hair and skin care products mixed with plant-based ingredients. Paphitis, a hairdresser by trade, was driven by a fascination with the sensory and aesthetic experience of his products. Aesop's rise from a local salon’s side project to an international luxury skincare brand is rooted in its commitment to thoughtful design, quality ingredients, and a profoundly intellectual approach to beauty. Each store’s unique architecture and the brand's meticulous attention to detail have made Aesop a hallmark of sophisticated, sustainable luxury in the skincare world.

Skincare giant L’Oréal paid $3.7 billion to acquire the company in 2023.