Estee Lauder to buy French luxury perfume brand Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle

US cosmetics company The Estee Lauder Cos Inc yesterday acquired French luxury perfume brand Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, its third acquisition in less than a month in a bid to add another fragrance brand to its portfolio.

Estée Lauder is acquiring Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, the fragrance brand from iconic perfumer Frédéric Malle.

Estée Lauder did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but said that the acquisition is expected to close in January 2015.

The acquisition comes just after the New York-based company acquired Rodin olio lusso, an Italian luxury skin care oil brand and agreed to buy French fragrance brand Le Labo and Brazil's hair colouration and hair care company Niely Cosmeticos Group.

Established in Paris in 2000, the Frédéric Malle collection encompasses 21 fragrances created by 12 master perfumers from around the world. They are sold through five own stores in Paris and New York, as well as through Barney's in the US and Liberty in London.

''Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle represents the epitome of elegance,'' said Fabrizio Freda, president and EO of Estée Lauder. ''Malle's uncompromising dedication to pure perfumery has established him as the most sought after collaborator by the world's most talented perfumers. He has created a true luxury brand that augments our portfolio of prestige beauty products, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our company.''

''The Estée Lauder Companies has great respect for the art of perfumery and for the creativity, dedication and mastery required to create truly exceptional fragrance experiences,'' said Editions de Parfums founder Frédéric Malle.

''The company's commitment to a high standard of excellence and ability to support the growth of entrepreneurial concepts in a way that preserves all that is unique and special makes The Estée Lauder Companies the ideal partner for us,'' he added.