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Léon Givaudan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emmanuel Léon Givaudan (1875-01-12)12 January 1875 |
| Died | 25 March 1936(1936-03-25) (aged 61) |
| Occupation(s) | Chemist,entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder ofGivaudan |
| Spouses |
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| Parent(s) | Evariste André Givaudan Marie Thérèse Aurore Givaudan |
| Relatives | Xavier Givaudan (brother) |
Léon Givaudan (12 January 1875 – 25 March 1936) was aFrenchchemist andentrepreneur who founded theperfume and flavor companyGivaudan. He established the company's operations inSwitzerland, where it became a major producer ofessential oils and syntheticperfumes.
Léon Givaudan was born on 12 January 1875 inCaluire-et-Cuire, acommune in theRhône department ofFrance. He was the son of Evariste André Givaudan and Marie Thérèse Aurore Givaudan (née Givaudan), and the brother ofXavier Givaudan. Givaudan studiedchemistry inLyon andZurich.[1]
From 1895, Givaudan began manufacturingessential oils and synthetic perfumes in a makeshift laboratory in Zurich. In 1898, he leased 6,200 square metres from the city ofGeneva. The following year, in 1899, the Givaudan company established itself inVernier, on the banks of theRhône, near theChèvres plant, the first majorhydroelectric installation in the region.[1]
The first products manufactured by Givaudan aimed to achieve maximumolfactory purity. These includedbenzyl alcohol,cinnamic alcohol, and variousacetates. The company focused on producing high-qualitychemical compounds for use inperfumery and thecosmetics industry.[1]
In 1914, Givaudan was mobilized into theFrench Army duringWorld War I. During his military service, he brought his brother Xavier Givaudan to Switzerland to manage the company in his absence. At the end of the war, Léon Givaudan moved toParis, where he remained for the rest of his life.[1]
Givaudan wasCatholic and married twice: first to Lillian May Noetzli Maclise, and later to Anne Marie Henriette Eugénie Adèle de Ville.[1]
Léon Givaudan died on 25 March 1936 inNeuilly-sur-Seine,Île-de-France, France.[1]
This article incorporates text from afree content work. Licensed under CC-BY SA. Text taken fromLéon Givaudan, Ingrid Liebeskind Sauthier, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.