René-Maurice Gattefossé, born in 1881 in Montchat, Lyon, France, was a French chemist whose pioneering work helped lay the foundation for modern aromatherapy. Raised in a family of perfumers, he grew up surrounded by the fragrances and craftsmanship of essential oils. This early exposure sparked a lifelong fascination with chemistry and the remarkable properties of aromatic plants. After earning his degree in chemical engineering, he joined his family’s perfumery business, where he developed a deep understanding of the aromatic compounds that would later define his career.