As the holiday season approaches, gift-giving becomes a delicate art: choosing a present that truly has meaning. For this Christmas wishlist, HEC Stories has brought together ten singular ideas created by alumni who innovate and share a vision. Fragrances, beauty, books, experiences, fashion, or gastronomy—each selection tells a story, blending craftsmanship, commitment, and elegance. An invitation to give differently—objects and experiences that last, inspire, and resonate with exceptional journeys.

1 – Le Foin, the new fragrance by Ning Li (H.04)

After founding Made.com, then Good Brands, one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs of his generation created Typology, a skincare brand that has become a benchmark for its minimalism and transparency in its formulations.

More recently, Ning Li (H.04) unveiled SUJET, his latest venture, a perfume house that celebrates the earth and those who cultivate it.

With this first fragrance, “Le Foin,” he reinterprets the warmth of a freshly cut field. The opening of black pepper and blackcurrant brings a vibrant freshness, the heart blends incense and smoked hay, and the patchouli–vetiver base delivers a woody, soothing depth.

2 – Aroma-Zone, a skincare ritual inspired by nature

Precious face oil, hand cream, lip balm—Sabrina Herlory-Rouget (H.05) has been leading Aroma-Zone since 2014. Under her guidance, Aroma-Zone has established itself as a committed and transparent brand, deeply connected to its community.

For this 2025 wishlist, the brand presents the “Mes cinq pépites de Noël” gift set, a selection of iconic treatments brought together to offer a complete ritual—sensory, effective, and 100% natural.
A perfect gift for clean beauty enthusiasts, combining plant-based oils, repairing care, and delicately scented textures that evoke the simplicity of authentic well-being. A generous, committed, and accessible present that reflects Aroma-Zone’s DNA: putting nature within everyone’s reach.

3 – Jalil Benabbès-Taarji (H.83): the iconic Moroccan weekend to gift

In the heart of Marrakech’s medina, El Fenn is a mythical address whose doors are not to be missed. This arty and refined hotel, blending Moroccan architecture, contemporary design, and a bohemian atmosphere, offers one of the city’s most inspiring experiences: lush patios, turquoise pools, an intimate spa, and a spectacular rooftop with views over the Koutoubia and the Atlas Mountains.

El Fenn is a gentle escape dedicated to rest, sunshine, and the beauty of the setting—ideal for those who dream of escape.

4 – Mauliébris, the art of French luxury in service of hair jewelry

Headbands, scrunchies, hairpins, and hair clips—these everyday hair accessories become subtly luxurious and highly desirable when signed by the founder of Mauliébris, launched two years ago. Handmade in the Jura region, the brand works with acetate and gold-plated brass to create its hair ornaments. It was during her time at the HEC Junior Enterprise that Axelle Raffin (H.13) discovered this world. Among the collections, the Ligne Knot Or has quickly established itself as an emblematic line.

5- Eric Bompard, le cachemire comme refuge

An iconic house, now led by its CEO Laurence Lévy (H.05), Eric Bompard continues to uphold the high standards, creativity, and textile craftsmanship that have defined the brand for nearly forty years. Each piece is conceived as a lasting essential, combining the finesse of the materials, precise cuts, and incomparable softness.

From this wardrobe, one can choose the maxi cable-knit cardigan (ref. MO4140), an enveloping piece made from 100% cashmere. Its ribbed finishes, impeccable knit, and mother-of-pearl buttons make it a staple of the winter wardrobe.

6 – La Rosée, clean beauty to gift for Christmas

Co-founder of La Rosée, Mahault de Guibert (H.13) champions a simple, natural, and committed vision of beauty. In 2025, the brand unveils its first makeup line: formulas made from 100% natural-origin ingredients that enhance the complexion while caring for the skin.

Among the new launches, the Compact Care Powder with organic apricot oil evens, mattifies, and smooths the complexion thanks to natural pigments infused with hydrating and protective actives. Refillable and made in France, it delivers a luminous matte finish for up to eight hours.

7 – The beautiful children’s book to slip under the tree

Charlotte Colmet-Dââge Duverne (H.04) has made childhood her field of entrepreneurship. After a formative experience at Gallimard Jeunesse, where she took part in the launch of the Harry Potter series, she founded Marcel & Joachim, a children’s publishing house known for its bold design and careful production. Conceived as true art objects—oversized formats, vibrant colors, selected papers—the brand’s books appeal to both children and parents, finding their place in bedrooms as well as living rooms.

We highlight two of her successes: Noël à l’envers (Gallimard Jeunesse), a playful and frugal fable where magic works… in reverse; and Le livre géant des tout-petits, a large album–play mat designed to be placed on the floor and explored by sight and touch.

8 – Vincent Beaufils (H.75): understanding business leaders, a gift to think about the economic world

For forty years, Vincent Beaufils (H.75) has been one of the sharpest observers of French capitalism. Editorial director of Challenges and a familiar figure at Matins HEC, he has spent his career analyzing CAC 40 leaders—their strengths, their vulnerabilities, and the paradoxes that shape their public image. In his book Les patrons sont-ils des monstres ? (Éditions de l’Observatoire), he explores a pressing question: how have those who elevated our companies to the rank of global champions become so unpopular?

Blending investigations, portraits, analyses, and historical insights, the book offers a rare dive behind the scenes of economic power, far from clichés and close to the mechanisms that govern our time.

A stimulating gift idea for those who enjoy understanding the world, brought to life by an alumni who has turned the analysis of business leaders into a demanding and passionate craft.

9 – Flore des Robert (H.04) and Pauline Laurent (H.04): the hairbrush that takes care of you

Crafted in France by artisans with centuries-old know-how and designed using responsible, long-lasting materials, La Bonne Brosse is the best-kept secret of French women who know that brushing is the key to a healthy scalp and beautiful hair. A contraction of care and hair, Cair expands La Bonne Brosse’s offering with hyperactive, clean treatments that combine cutting-edge skincare technology with the vitality of nature.

A strengthening serum to stimulate and reinforce, a natural shampoo free from sulfates and silicones to cleanse gently, and a detangling spray to protect, enhance, and ease everyday styling—this targeted, high-performance routine is designed to reveal the hair’s natural beauty.

10 – Alice Tuyet (H.17): the plant-based as an obvious choice

In Paris, Alice Tuyet has given plant-based cuisine a new place. Founder of Daimant Collective, this alumna has built a precise and sensitive culinary universe, shaped both by her Vietnamese roots and by a rigor acquired early on.

At Daimant Saint-Honoré, her fourth address opened last April, vegan cuisine is expressed without compromise. Here, one bites, savors, and surrenders to the plates without ever renouncing pleasure or ethics: not a single ingredient of animal origin, but a cuisine conceived with high standards and generosity. Plant-based ingredients are treated as noble products, respected in their seasonality and elevated through precise cooking and delicate pairings. Potato millefeuille, lacquered oyster mushrooms, and the now-signature chocolate mousse—the plates speak for themselves.

The spaces extend this vision with the same restraint. Bright interiors, attentive hospitality, and a soothing rhythm: each address offers a coherent interlude, where cuisine is experienced as much as it is tasted.

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