Respire
“Can a community-driven French natural cosmetics brand scale from DTC deodorants into a full dermo-cosmetics line distributed across pharmacies and direct channels?”
Founded2018
HQParis, France
FoundersJustine Hutteau
IndustryE-commerce / DTC brand
The story
Founded in 2018 via crowdfunding, Respire began as a French DTC natural deodorant brand emphasising clean formulations and community-building. The brand expanded into pharmacies (2,000+ partners) while maintaining its DTC e-commerce channel on Shopify. By 2024-2025 it broadened its product range into face serums, suncare, and body care, evolving into a full dermcosmetics brand. Embedded finance is limited to DTC checkout tooling; there is no BaaS, lending, or payroll fintech layer evident.
Last 12 months
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Product timeline
2018
Respire launched via a crowdfunding campaign (financement participatif) as a natural cosmetics brand focused on deodorants.· pivot
2022
Expanded distribution to over 2,000 pharmacy partners across France, becoming the #1 natural deodorant in French pharmacies.· banking
2024
Launched new skincare lines including solar/suncare products and face serums, broadening beyond deodorants into dermcosmetics.· pivot
The stack
Accounting gap: minor