Product and advice

Please note our gift wrapping services are temporarily unavailable due to a system upgrade. During this time we are offering a complimentary Aesop cotton bag in all orders.

Gift orders are wrapped in our signature cotton bag which is made from 100% recycled and organic fibres. Please note the size and variations may occur. You can find out more about our gift-wrapping service here.

Aesop Digital Gift Cards can be redeemed to the nominated value online at aesop.com.au or within an Aesop Signature Store within Australia only (excluding Click and Collect orders). It cannot be refunded or transferred to another recipient.

Digital Gift Cards are valid for 36 months from the date of purchase within Australia.

How to redeem your Digital Gift Card:
Digital Gift Cards are not applied in the promotional code box, but later in the checkout experience. Once you reach the payment method stage, you can enter your Digital Gift Card details by selecting 'Pay with Gift Card'.

Digital Gift Cards are valid for 36 months from the date of purchase within Australia. Click here to read our Terms & Conditions.

You can check the balance of your digital gift card here.

Enter the gift card number, followed by the PIN.*

*If you have a physical card, your 4-digit PIN is located on the back of your gift card next to the barcode. If you received your gift card via email, it is listed beneath your voucher number in the email.

We offer standard shipping via Australia Post. Standard shipping is free of charge and delivered on business days (Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays).

Express shipping is temporarily unavailable.

Standard

Expected lead delivery time

Metro - Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide: 2 to 3 business days
Metro - Brisbane, Hobart: 3 to 4 business days
Rural - VIC, NSW, SA: 3 to 5 business days
Metro - Perth, Darwin: 4 to 6 business days
Rural WA, NT, QLD: 5 to 10 business days

*Lead time excludes dispatch. Delivery of orders to remote areas or high order volumes may take longer than expected.

All orders are shipped by Australia Parcel Post from our Melbourne Distribution Centre, and information relating to tracking & delivery will be sent to you via email as soon as your goods have been shipped.

Our delivery time frames are estimates only and may vary with public holidays, possible courier delivery issues, and other influences (such as severe weather conditions) that are beyond the control of Aesop.

If you want to check the status of your order and are a registered user, please log in to My Account to check the progress of your order. If you want to track the shipment of your order, use the tracking number included in your shipping confirmation email and track it via the Australia Post website. For any questions about your order, please contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.

At this time, we do not ship internationally out of Australia.

If you wish to have your order shipped to someone living in another country, please select the country from the list below.

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From here, you will be redirected to the Aesop website that services your chosen region, and can proceed to order your items. Note that prices will be displayed in the destination’s currency. If you cannot find your preferred destination, regrettably, we do not ship to that country at this time.

All orders are shipped from our Melbourne Distribution Centre.

We are pleased to accept PO Box and Parcel Locker addresses for all Australia Post deliveries.

You may not order more than 10 units of any item per size, and per day via the website, and your total product price paid per day may not be more than $2000 per customer. You may not order more than 10 Products with the same SKU in one calendar month.

If an order is more than these limits, we have no obligation to fulfil the order. We may update these limits from time to time.

All prices on the Aesop Australia website are inclusive of GST.

The GST amount will be displayed on the invoice accompanying your shipment email.

Complimentary samples are included with all online orders.

You will be prompted within the checkout to select an offering from a collection of samples available.

Click and Collect is available at select stores only. To see which stores offer this service, visit our store locator. All products can be purchased for Click and Collect, excluding Gift Cards and any unavailable products.

You will receive an email when your order is ready for collection. Please ensure you have this ready upon arriving at the store.

If you can't collect your order on the day it is ready, please notify your store of your expected collection date using the email or phone number in the collection email.

Some of our products are classified as Class 3 Flammable Liquids for the purposes of transportation. Any parcel that we ship containing these products will be packaged and labelled appropriately to comply with Dangerous Goods safety regulations.

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Every online purchase is spritzed with a Fragrance from our range.

Our entire Fragrance range is available on aesop.com.au, and our Consultants are available to guide you and answer any questions.

For inspiration, we invite you to read Aesop’s Guide to Fragrance or read Aesop’s History of Fragrance.

If your order contains a damaged item, please contact us. To expedite your request, please have your order confirmation number available and accompanying photos which clearly depict the damaged product(s).

We will always do our best to accommodate your concern as efficiently as possible. If an item has been damaged in transit, Aesop will provide you with a replacement or a full refund*.

*Please note that this applies only to orders placed on aesop.com.au. For purchases made through an Aesop signature store or third-party retailers, we advise you to contact the place of purchase for assistance.

While we aim to ensure that all orders are delivered within our communicated timeframes, external factors may impact your delivery. Please refer to the below table in the instance your order is not received.

My order is late*

Most late parcels arrive within 5 business days of their expected delivery date. If your delivery is taking longer than expected, please check the below before initiating an investigation:

Verify delivery address 
Confirm the delivery address details are correct. This will be listed in your order confirmation email, or verified by our Customer Service team. If you are sending your order to a gift recipient, please ensure the receiver's details match what you have entered at checkout.

Card or notification received
Your parcel may have been delivered to the Post Office or a collection point. Please check if a notification card was left on your premises, or if you've received an email, app or SMS notification.

Delivered to a safe place
Check if your item has been left in a safe place. This could be under or behind something on your delivery premises, or in your mailbox.

Known service delays
Interruptions to dispatch timeframes will be communicated on the Aesop website, and any carrier interruptions will be listed on the relevant carrier websites.

My parcel's tracking details are not updating

Allow for processing time between tracking updates
For most parcels, carriers provide only milestone updates, which means it may take some time before a new tracking update is displayed. Your parcel will continue to travel to the delivery address despite the time between tracking updates.
If your tracking number has not updated in five business days, please contact us with your order details to facilitate a resolution.

My parcel's tracking details indicate it has been delivered, but I have not received it

Accepted on your behalf
Check if someone else at home or at your delivery premises accepted or signed for the item on your behalf. If you live or work in a large building, check with building management or the mailroom to see if they have received it.

My order may have been stolen

If you have assessed the above, and believe your parcel has been stolen, please contact us with your order details to facilitate a resolution.

*Shipping timeframes are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. Orders placed after 12pm on a Friday, or the weekend, will be processed the following business day. Business days include Monday to Friday, excluding Public Holidays. Further processing delays may occur over peak periods.

We're sorry that the package you received is incorrect. Please contact us and provide the following information to one of our customer service team consultants.

Order number (this can be found in your order confirmation)
The name of the missing product
Clear image of all product/s received in one photo
Our customer service team will investigate and provide further information.

To enjoy your purchase as soon as possible, please double-check that you have entered the correct and full delivery address. We are unable to modify or cancel an order once it has been placed.

Please contact us below if you wish to cancel your Click and Collect order. We are unable to amend the store you have selected to collect your order.

Should you wish to change your collection, please contact us below and we will cancel and refund your order. You can then place another order, selecting your preferred store.

To support this process, please provide us with your order number (which can be found in your order confirmation).

We are happy to offer free change of mind returns with a full refund on any product you’ve purchased from (to the extent permitted at law). Exchanges cannot be facilitated.

Returns must be requested within 30 days after the date of delivery. Once our Customer Service team has contacted you and provided a returns shipping label, the parcel must arrive back at our warehouse within 30 days to qualify for a full refund.

Items must be in original and unused condition. Any Gift With Purchase received with an order must also be returned for a full refund. We do not offer refunds simply for change of mind returns that are 30 days after delivery.

We will accept returns outside of the above conditions in the case of allergic reactions, damaged products, incorrect items or faulty items.

We only accept returns purchased from www.aesop.com.au, exchanges cannot be facilitated. Aesop products purchased in all other locations (including Aesop signature stores or other retail stores, including department stores) must be returned to their original point of purchase.

Click and Collect orders must be returned through Customer Service and must be refunded in full. Exchanges and partial refunds cannot be supported.

Confirm that you meet our return conditions (see returns policy). Contact our Customer Service team via our contact us page and select “Returns”.

To expedite your request, please include the following details:

-Order number
-Address
-Date of product purchase
-Product(s) requested to be returned
-Return reason
-Product condition (unopened, used, damaged, faulty)

A customer service consultant will get in contact with you.

For change of mind returns, a customer service consultant will submit your return and email you the return shipping label

For orders with other issues, a customer service consultant will request that you provide a photo and any other relevant details. For more information, see the section “Issue with your order”.

Package your item securely
To reduce waste, you can re-use the Aesop packaging, if you no longer have this, you can use a similarly sized box.

Drop off your return at any Post Office
You can print your return shipping label at the post office - simply present your returns label email on your phone. Please note that from the date of receiving the return shipping label, the parcel must be posted within 30 days to qualify for a full refund.

You can track the delivery of your return to our warehouse via the Australia Post Portal
Simply enter the tracking number you received via email when you booked your return at the Post Office.

Once the parcel arrives at our warehouse, our returns team will inspect the condition of your return
If accepted, the refund will be processed, and you will be contacted via email. Refunds take approximately 10 business days to be credited to your account. If you need further information regarding the return of any Aesop products, please do not hesitate to contact us, and it would be our pleasure to assist you however we can.

Due to different currencies, prices and taxation laws, we are unable to coordinate a refund for an Aesop product that has been purchased in a market other than the country of purchase.

In the event that a product you received as a gift is not suitable, we would be pleased to coordinate a refund on the original form of payment.

All returns must be made within thirty days of purchase.

To make a return, please contact us and provide the following details to expedite the process:

Order number
Address
Date of product purchase
Product(s) requested to be returned
Return reason
Product condition (unopened, used, damaged, faulty)
For more information regarding returns, please view our returns policy.

For all press related enquiries, please submit a Press and Marketing Enquiry form via the contact us page.

Please submit an application by selecting Wholesale and Amenity Enquiry form on our contact us page.

Due to the high volume of enquiries we receive, please be aware applications can take between three to four weeks to process. We thank you in advance for your patience.

Aesop workplaces are distinguished by a rare blend of courtesy, cordiality and intellectual energy. We seek skilled individuals who can bring a wealth of life experience and inspired ideas to our table. As a company, we nurture curious individuals who share our interests in design and incisive enquiry across all fields.

To apply for an advertised position, please visit our careers page and follow the prompts.

If you experiencing issues at checkout, please contact our customer service team and provide clear screenshots (including any error messages you are seeing).

Always-on:

Samples with every order
With every order, you will receive complimentary samples from our skincare range - simply select from the available samples at the checkout page.

The Aesop Gifting Service
Aesop is a favourable destination for finding something special for a cherished person - explore our Gifting Service, where you can learn about our complimentary gifting options or offer personalised gifting advice.

Gift Kits & Travel
Discover our range of curated kits for Skin, Body, Home and Travel that offer a reduction from the products' individual prices.

Complimentary Returns*
We hope that you continue to derive pleasure from our products, but understand if a product may not be suitable for you. Therefore, we accept returns within 30 days of purchase*, free of charge.

*Please note that this is in accordance with our returns policy.

Notable:

We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter for our limited online offers that include:

-Discount bundles
-Gift with purchase
-Seasonal discounting events
-Complimentary Shipping
-Online exclusive products and objects

You can reset your password by selecting 'Forgotten Password' in the log in section.

You do not need to create an account to shop online; rather, you can purchase as a guest.

However, creating an account will allow you to move more swiftly through the purchasing process: you will be able to save your personal details, store multiple delivery addresses, peruse past orders and if you choose to, receive special Aesop customer event invitations and new product information.

Creating an account only takes a few minutes and you can do so by clicking here.

If you wish to delete your online Aesop account, please select the Privacy Form that can be found on the contact us page.

If you would no longer like to receive emails from us, then scroll down to the bottom of an email you have received from us and click the 'Unsubscribe and update preferences' link. Then untick 'Receive email communications'. Click 'Save preferences'.

Alternatively, you can log in to your account and, under the 'My account' tab and untick Email under 'Marketing Communications'.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Apple Pay, PayPal and Afterpay.

If you have a valid Aesop Gift Card, you may also choose to redeem this online to pay for your order. Split payments are available if your order value exceeds the balance on your Gift Card.

Paypal is not available when purchasing an Aesop Digital Gift Card.

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS
Customers using foreign credit cards issued in many countries can place orders on this website provided that the "Ship-To Address" is in Australia. We do reserve the right to decline orders made with credit cards issued from specific countries. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Credit Card, Apple Pay, PayPal & Afterpay information entered on the site is secure and safe. All orders placed on this website are encrypted, thereby protecting any credit card information that is submitted at the time of the order.

Yes, we accept Afterpay as a payment method. It is available at Aesop.com and Aesop signature stores in Australia. Afterpay allows your purchase to be split into 4 payments, payable every 2 weeks.

To make a purchase using Afterpay, you will need:

An Australian debit or credit card
To be over 18 years of age
A valid delivery address in Australia

To use this service:

Add items to your shopping bag and check out as normal
Select Afterpay as your payment method – you will be redirected to Afterpay
Register or login to your Afterpay account and confirm payment
Your payment schedule will be emailed to you

Important information:

Afterpay is an interest-free payment plan option.
Transaction value limits apply to Afterpay purchases made at Aesop.com.au
The funds for the first payment must be available on your nominated card at the time of checkout.
For first-time Afterpay customers online, or customers yet to complete a full payment cycle using Afterpay, the first payment will be taken at the time of purchase, with the remaining three payments deducted each fortnight over the remaining 6 weeks.
If you wish to return your goods, complete the online returns process as per the normal returns policy outlined under Shipping & Returns – if eligible for a refund, your initial payment will be returned in full and the remaining payments cancelled at no charge.
When you link your Afterpay account to a debit or credit card, please be aware that standard fees and charges may be applicable. Please refer to your card issuer’s terms and conditions for full details.

* If a payment is due from you but not received by Afterpay in accordance with the payment schedule, you will be charged late payment fees. For full terms and conditions, please visit the Afterpay site.

Yes, we offer PayPal as a payment method. By using PayPal, you can pay for your purchase in 4 interest-free instalments. Your first instalment is due at the time of your purchase. The next 3 instalments are due every 2 weeks.

To use PayPal, you will need to create an account with PayPal and link it to your card or bank account.

At checkout, select PayPal as your method of payment.

A pop-up window will allow you to enter your PayPal login details, where you will be asked to authorise the transaction.

Once payment has been confirmed, you will receive your confirmation email and order number.

3D-Secure authentication may be required when completing an online purchase through Aesop.com.

The intention of this extra step is to add a layer of shopper protection by confirming a cardholder’s identify with a unique single-use password, SMS code or temporary PIN.

How 3D-Secure works:

Card information is captured when the cardholder enters their payment details.
The system will verify whether the card or cardholder is enrolled in 3D-Secure. If you have not enrolled in 3D-Secure, please contact your financial institution for support.
Upon confirmation of 3D-Secure enrolment, the cardholder will be directed to a pop-up 3D-Secure page hosted by the card issuer.
On the issuer’s platform, the cardholder is prompted to follow steps to complete the authentication.
Upon successful authentication of the cardholder, they are redirected back to the merchant's website for payment confirmation and the completion of the order.

All payment methods are accepted for Click and Collect, excluding Apple Pay Express and Aesop Gift Cards.

We understand that many women seek alternatives to botanically rich products during pregnancy; however, to our knowledge there is no risk associated with using any Aesop formulation in the manner we recommend during pregnancy.

Aesop is committed to providing accurate information, however, this information is not intended to replace advice from your qualified medical practitioner.

We recommend that you speak with your obstetrician or dermatologist should you have any concerns regarding your particular circumstances.

The ‘best before’ measure of your Aesop product is determined by the time of opening. The jar icon on the side of the label indicates the number of months the product will be at its best once open. For example, 12M equals one year from date of opening, 9M equals nine months from date of opening.

Generally speaking, and unless a shorter expiry date is printed on the product, Aesop products have a recommended shelf life of at least 36 months after manufacture with additional time as specified in the Period After Opening (PAO), noting that the PAO will vary by product. For our sunscreens, we recommend opening within 36 months. Beyond this point, the aroma and texture of the formulation may vary, and its effectiveness—particularly relevant for active ingredients and sunscreens—may decrease. For best results, we recommend prompt initial use and observation of product specific storage recommendations.

We have several fragrances that sit across four aroma profiles: floral, fresh, woody and opulent.

You can view all Aesop Fragrances here.

For some inspiration and further information, we invite you to read about Aesop’s Guide to Fragrance or read about Aesop’s History of Fragrance.

Selected Aesop locations across the globe also possess a dedicated space for olfactory exploration and discovery, creating a unique portal into Aesop’s ever-growing range of Fragrances.

We invite you to engage with our experienced Aesop consultants for an in depth, personalised consultation, to assist you in finding the ideal Aesop fragrance.

Please note, that bookings are not required.

Participating stores:

Aesop Sydney City
Aesop Mosman Park
Aesop Collins Street II

We recommend you keep your products in a cool place away from direct light, or better yet, in the refrigerator. This advice applies for all Aesop products, regardless of whether they are contained in glass, plastic or aluminium. The label on your Aesop product displays an icon, next to the batch number, that tells you how many months your product will be at its best.

It is best to use clean hands when dipping into jars, or to use a teaspoon or small spatula to scoop out product for use.

All cosmetic ingredients have the potential to irritate sensitive skin regardless of the amount present in an individual product or the method in which it is used. Irritations can sometimes occur in the regular course of our daily lives, even where we have used and enjoyed a product successfully for many years.

The trigger for a reaction can be an unexpected one and may not necessarily repeat itself in the same way. We ask that you consider any changes to your regular routine that may have triggered the reaction (dietary, contact with possible allergens such as household cleaning liquids etc.). Where one experiences an adverse reaction to any cosmetic preparation, the best course of action is to discontinue use and if necessary, consult your medical practitioner to establish whether you have experienced an irritation or an allergy.

In the unlikely event that you experience an adverse reaction to an Aesop product, please discontinue use and return it to the place of purchase or contact our customer service team.

Skin sensitivities can be unpredictable. If you have experienced a reaction, we recommend you stop using all products for a full week. This will give your skin the chance to recover from whatever was aggravating it.

You may wish to test the Aesop products you have on separate patches of skin away from your face. Allow twenty-four hours to assess your skin's response. If you find there is no reaction, repeat the process. Again, allow twenty-four hours for assessment.

If neither of these test results in an adverse reaction, apply a small amount of your product to your face. Use less product than you normally would in the first instance, then slowly increase the amount. If your skin reacts or symptoms persist despite not using any products, we suggest you consult with a dermatologist.

If you are a first-time user of Aesop or you are experimenting with new Aesop products, we recommend you speak with us for a consultation. Our consultants are available by telephone or Live Assistance. Consultations will assist you in ascertaining which products are best suited to your skin.

Aesop Facial Appointments offer a series of unique treatments to balance, stimulate and intensely nourish the skin through touch, taking into consideration the relationship between the mind and the senses.

Prior to your treatment, a Facial Therapist will perform a consultation to understand your aims and concerns, and to determine the customized formulations best suited to your skin.

During each appointment, an Aesop-Trained Facial Therapist will apply pressure to the face in rhythmic, cursive motions, delivering generous doses of Aesop formulations, and helping to restore calm to the skin.
To ensure a well-rounded skin care regimen, it is recommended you enjoy a Facial Appointment every four to six weeks.

Available at participating stores
Aesop Paddington
Aesop South Yarra
Aesop Mosman

Make a booking

Please visit this page to make a booking.

Cancellation Policy
We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you miss your appointment, or cancel with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged the full price of your appointment.

We are meticulous in selecting and sourcing ingredients for our products. Our first considerations, always, are the health and safety of our customers and the welfare of the natural environment. Our primary objective is to ensure that our range is formulated using only the safest ingredients of the highest quality.

Accordingly, all ingredients utilised in Aesop formulations are extensively researched with respect to their safety, stability and efficacy. This is standard procedure for every ingredient under consideration, regardless of type; each is included only when its safety and efficacy have been thoroughly evaluated. This procedure also verifies that ingredients are of vegan origin and have not been tested on animals.

In addition to this stringent research, our products are tested for safety during the development process, using cumulative irritancy testing on human volunteers. Prior to release, each of our products must also pass a Product Safety Assessment and Toxicological review, conducted by an independent qualified agency.

Preservatives are a necessary and sensible part of all personal care formulations—and crucial to the performance and longevity of our products.

We include preservatives because we use many botanical ingredients which otherwise would not make it to your shelf in their most useful state; however, please be assured the doses of preservatives used are as small as possible. We also use other non-botanical ingredients to help keep products stable, blended and effective. By employing this methodology, we have eliminated the need for larger doses of preservatives, which can irritate sensitive skin types.

We are constantly evaluating new laboratory-made and botanical preservatives as they become available. This ensures our methodologies and formulations employ the very latest thinking and ingredients.

All ingredients included in Aesop formulations are extensively researched for their safety, stability and efficacy. This is standard procedure for every ingredient under consideration for use by Aesop, regardless of type.

The presence of preservatives within our products is clearly labelled, forming part of the ingredient list.

All Aesop products are free of parabens.

Aesop products contain essential oils, selected for the benefits they can offer the skin. Like all the botanical extracts used in our formulations, they are carefully considered and evaluated for safety and efficacy prior to their inclusion.

Essential oils are complex mixtures, and a number of naturally occurring compounds found in essential oils are classified as allergens according to European Union (EU) cosmetic regulation.

The presence of any allergens within a product is clearly labelled—forming part of the ingredient list—in accordance with EU cosmetic regulation.

Further, when formulating our products we take careful note of the findings and recommendations issued by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), ensuring the levels of all essential oils we use—and therefore the allergens they may contain—fall well below the limits recommended by IFRA and other worldwide regulatory agencies.

At Aesop, we are continuously reviewing our product range, introducing new formulations and retiring others.

The decision was made to discontinue the production of Isabelle and Anouk Oil Burner Blends to make way for our two new additions, Josephine and Simone Oil Burner Blends, which are both available now. We invite you to experience them for yourself.

You may also wish to sign up to our communications to receive information about other new product launches or to speak with one of our trained consultants, who will be pleased to assist you in finding Home Care alternatives to your preferences.

We are committed to establishing practices that eliminate waste and support the continued use of our packaging. To this end, our Packaging team are continuing to research refill and circular solutions that demonstrate a tangible environmental benefit while also maintaining product quality.  

As part of this research, Aesop is undertaking a circular packaging solution trial. The trial launched in October 2020 across our stores in Adelaide, Australia and allows customers to bring back a select number of products once depleted. Each returned bottle is collected from store, transported to our laboratory located in Melbourne, cleaned, sanitised, refilled, re-labeled and returned to store for customers to purchase.

In 2021, Aesop conducted its first In-Store Refill Trial, in its South Yarra store in Melbourne. As part of this trial, we are gaining learnings that will help us shape our expansion into other stores and markets in the future. In December 2022, we welcomed Aesop QV as the second location to participate in the In-Store Refill trial.

Currently the products offered in refill format include Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser and Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser. We are looking to expand this range over time.

Whilst the results differ week on week, we are starting to see a trend towards a higher percentage of customers opting for our refill solution over our rPET alternative, showing a high level of engagement from our customers in the initiative.

Further to this work, a replenishment option for the majority of our 500mL hand and body care cleansing products, featuring a screw-cap in place of a pump, is available globally. Each time a customer reuses a pump when replenishing a product results in a 12-gram reduction in plastic.

The following products are currently offered with a screw-cap option; others will follow in the future:

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash 500mL
Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash 500mL
Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser 500mL
A Rose By Any Other Name Body Cleanser 500mL
Coriander Seed Body Cleanser 500mL
Citrus  Melange  Body Cleanser 500mL.
Shampoo 500mL.
Conditioner 500mL.

We invite you to read more about our refill initiative on our Circularity page.

We utilise a number of materials in our packaging, carefully balancing various considerations in order to choose the most appropriate material to house each formulation.

Aesop's packaging codes have remained largely unchanged over the years. Our packaging ethos has always been utilitarian: vessels must be functional, humble and have minimal environmental impact. Guided by these uncompromising principles, we must also ensure there is formulation compatibility, adherence to global compliance regulations and functional simplicity for our customers. Our products are predominately housed in aluminium, glass and recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) plastic.

Aluminium
We favour amber-coloured glass—traditionally used by the beverage and pharmaceutical industries for housing alcohol and medicinal products—partly because glass is inert and does not interfere with ingredients, but also because dark glass affords its contents a degree of UV protection, minimising the need for preservatives. Where possible, we use glass packaging made from recycled content.

In 2023, we transitioned three of our most popular tube-based products to packaging made entirely of 100% post-consumer recycled aluminium. This shift delivers a significant reduction in carbon emissions: a 7% reduction for 75ml tubes and a 12% reuction for 100ml tubes.

Amber-coloured glass
We favour amber-coloured glass—traditionally used by the beverage and pharmaceutical industries for housing alcohol and medicinal products—partly because glass is inert and does not interfere with ingredients, but also because dark glass affords its contents a degree of UV protection, minimising the need for preservatives. Where possible, we use glass packaging made from recycled content.

Plastic
Our decision to use plastic is not made lightly, rather it is based on a holistic convergence of our packaging principles, stringent compatibility testing, and the pragmatic acknowledgement that this material offers a lightweight, eminently portable and safe option for products frequently used for travel or in wet areas.

Recycled PET provides a lightweight, durable and safe material to house our formulations. Bottles are manufactured using a minimum of 97 per cent recycled content sourced from post-consumer kerbside recycling. In partnering with our suppliers, Aesop, through the use of recycled PET has helped create demand and value for material that would otherwise be going to landfill, which in turn helps to create circular systems.

Recycled PET affords additional environmental savings, minimising product wastage from breakages and freight emissions when compared to a heavier material such as glass. When compared to virgin PET material, recycled PET provides an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Paper & Cardboard
Where paper or cardboard are used in our retail product packaging, we select stock that is recyclable and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) or Program for the Endorsement of Forest. The FSC® and PEFC labels verify that materials used for these products have been responsibly sourced. To learn more, please visit fsc.org and pefc.org.

A great number of our products are packaged in pharmaceutical-grade amber glass, as many formulations contain a high concentration of active botanical extracts, the stability of which cannot be guaranteed if they are housed in plastic.

We do make an effort to use recyclable plastic or aluminium containers where we are confident this will not compromise the product.

We strongly encourage our customers to repurpose their Aesop packaging. Our jars are well suited to reuse as storage containers for many small household items, from paper clips to staples to hairpins. Aesop Mouthwash bottles make serviceable and attractive vases, as well as worthy vessels to house oils in your pantry.

Should you not have an ongoing use for your Aesop container, and have access to recycling services, we recommend separating components and placing any unwanted Aesop glass, aluminium, cardboard and recycled PET containers into municipal recycling bins or alternative local container recovery systems, as these items are commonly recyclable.

We recommend seeking guidance from your local council or government website regarding local recycling capabilities and relevant instructions.

We have also introduced our Rinse and Return program, offering a convenient local drop-off point for customers to return their used packaging to recycling centres.

We use RSPO-certified ‘segregated’ sustainable palm oil in our Bar Soaps (150g) and Refresh Body Cleansing Slab (310g). Other products within our range use certified sustainable ‘mass balance’ ingredients where they are available, and we offset our remaining palm oil and palm-derived ingredient consumption via the ‘Book and & Claim’ model run by RSPO.

We recognise the complex ethical, social and environmental issues associated with the production and consumption of Palm Oil and the significant impacts on biodiversity. Though it may seem that the best solution to this issue is to replace palm oil with other types of vegetable oil, sadly it is not that straightforward or simple. When farmed sustainably palm oil offers an efficient crop compared with other vegetable oils, and boycotting palm or looking to replace its use is not the solution to addressing this complex issue—this would lead to further socio-economic, ethical and environmental implications.

We support and use Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)-certified ingredients in our formulations because we are acutely aware that switching to an alternate source would result in greater land being consumed.

We are working towards sourcing only certified sustainable materials from RSPO-certified supply chains as demand for and availability of these ingredients within the cosmetic industry increases—we have an ambitious goal: by the end of 2025 all our palm oil must be at a minimum RSPO mass balance.

Should you wish to learn more about certified sustainable palm oil, we invite you to:

Watch this video ‘How can palm oil be more sustainable?’
Visit the RSPO Website.

All Aesop cleansing products contain surfactants which comply with the ‘ultimate biodegradability’ status of the EU Detergents Directive and are compatible with septic tank waste systems. Our products are also phosphate-free and therefore suitable for use in water-recycling systems. To read more about the ‘ultimate biodegradability’ status, please see the EU Detergents Directive.

We do not use these words to describe our products.

Many of the ingredients we use are ‘natural’ by definition, but some are not. Since Aesop’s inception, we have been fascinated with the benefits that plant-based products can have for the skin; however, we also appreciate the remarkable results that science can deliver.

Accordingly, we choose to incorporate high-quality, scientifically validated and skin-friendly ingredients in our products to perform specific functions, from a selection of reputable sources.

Yes. No animal-derived ingredients (such as beeswax, honey or lanolin) are used in Aesop products.

We are proud to be Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny approved.

To find out more about Leaping Bunny please visit Cruelty Free International’s FAQs here.

Yes, Aesop is a Certified B Corporation ®. The globally-recognised credential publicly endorses businesses as making an impact beyond profit by building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

As a Certified B Corporation ®, we meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

To learn more about our approach to the environment, we invite you to visit our Sustainability page.

For further information about B Corp Certification, please visit the B Corp website.

During their development, Aesop products undergo a series of rigorous and stringent tests to evaluate their safety, stability and efficacy. These tests are repeated a number of times in order to fully validate each formulation prior to launch.

All products are assessed for safety during our product development process using cumulative irritancy testing on human volunteers.

Before any product is released to the public, the formulation must pass a Product Safety Assessment and Toxicological review, conducted by an independent, qualified agency. This involves the consideration of a formulation both as a whole and in terms of its individual ingredients. These are complex, detailed and thorough assessments based on an assessor’s experiential knowledge as well as industry standards.

We have never tested our products or ingredients on animals, and we do not use animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey or lanolin in our formulations. We are proud to be Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny approved.

To find out more about Leaping Bunny please visit Cruelty Free International’s FAQs here.

Our cleansing products are phosphate-free and suitable for use in water-recycling systems.

Aesop has never  tested  its products or ingredients on animals,  does not use animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey or lanolin  in  its formulations, and has never conducted nor commissioned animal testing for any product. In  recognition of this,  Aesop is Cruelty-Free  International  Leaping Bunny approved.   

All new ingredients are reviewed by our Research and Development team prior to use. We research the registration status of these ingredients in world markets and note any past testing.   

Before we consider entry into a new country, we extensively review the regulatory requirements to ensure that compulsory animal testing on our products is not required.