Matière Première closed a second round of funding in which Kering Beauté acquired a minority stake in the brand. Kering hopes to expand the brand by strengthening its online and e-commerce presence. 
 
Matière Première is a French niche fragrance brand that was founded in 2019 by Aurélien Guichard, Cédric Meiffret, and Caius von Knorring. The founders will remain as majority shareholders. 
 
With the acquisition, Matière Première will open 20 standalone stores in the U.S., UK, France, Germany, the Middle East, and China. 
 
The brand offers fragrances made from ingredients sourced from Guichard’s farm in the Grasse Region of France. Matière Première also creates hair perfumes and hand and body creams with the same notes as its fragrance line. 
 
In October 2020, Matière Première closed its first round of funding, raising $1.4 million. 
 
Kering invested in Matière Première to enhance its beauty division. Raffaella Cornaggia, formerly of L’Oréaland the Estée Lauder Companies, will lead the company’s beauty arm. 

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