Behind the scenes at the Yves Rocher head office in Paris

As an editor of one of Canada's most beloved magazines, on occasion I'm fortunate enough to be to be invited to experience an insider's look into mega beauty brands. In early spring an attractive envelope was lying on my desk prominently featuring the lime green Yves Rocher logo; inside was an invitation asking me to travel to France to visit the Yves Rocher head office in Paris and trek to the village of La Gacilly, where a majority of the manufacturing and harvesting is done. Of course, my answer was "Oui!" Here's my four day diary of my extraordinary journey, where I learned about the company's history and future plans for Yves Rocher, France's biggest beauty brand.

Day 1
I arrived in Paris at 10:30 a.m. on a gorgeous spring morning. At Charles de Gaulle International Airport, our impeccably chic Parisian hosts greeted me. With itinerary for the week in hand, I was briskly shuttled off to my hotel located in the heart of the Montparnasse quarter. The other editors and I hustled up to our rooms for a quick wardrobe change. The plan was to head over to the Yves Rocher's head office. But first, we eat!

Gazing out the window on the way to the River Café, a quirky restaurant on a docked canal boat, I was captivated by the established neighborhoods, stylish residents and breathtaking landmarks. After lunch we strolled across the street to the Yves Rocher head office and met the rest of the team.

Following a few presentations I learned that the corporation has remained an independent family-run operation, harvesting, manufacturing and retailing its own products. Plants are the driving force behind the brand. Yves Rocher was the first creator of botanical beauty, greatly aiding its success over the last fifty years.

Next up was a quick trip back to the hotel to get gussied up for dinner. We all headed down the street to the largest brassiere in Paris named "La Coupole". The last thing I remember is falling into bed in my petite boutique-style room. Jet lag, a full tummy and perhaps one to many glasses of Chardonnay fueled my deep sleep.

Page 1 of 3 - read more about Yves Rocher on page 2!