Inspiring Women: Those Who Change the World, from Yesterday to Today

Posted on: 25 • 03 • 2026
 

March 8th is often seen as Women’s Day, when in fact it is International Women’s Rights Day. This day of feminist mobilisation is far more than a commercial event: it is a key moment to denounce the discrimination, inequalities, and violence faced by women.

March 8th: Understanding International Women’s Rights Day

This date has its roots in various women’s demonstrations, including labour movements: the very first demonstration for women’s right to vote took place in the United States in 1909.

In 1910, Clara ZETKIN, a German socialist and feminist activist, was the first to propose the idea of a day dedicated to women’s rights, which would serve as a campaign to secure women’s right to vote. On 19 March 1911, for the first time, an International Women’s Rights Day was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.

From 1913 onwards, at the end of February, women across Europe and Russia held gatherings to protest against the war and express their solidarity with one another. Then in 1917, a demonstration by Russian women demanding bread and the return of their husbands from war marked an important date on the calendar. In commemoration, Russian President Lenin dedicated 8 March as Women’s Rights Day. The UN officially recognised this day in 1977, setting the date as 8 March.

In France, it was officially recognised in 1982 under François Mitterrand. It is important to remember that this day is intended and dedicated to women’s rights, and not to the celebration of the sexist stereotypes surrounding women.

Portraits of Pioneer Women Who Shaped Their Era and Inspired the History of Terre d’Oc

Germaine Cellier, France’s First Female Perfumer

Born in Bordeaux in 1909, she developed a passion for fragrances from an early age and began studying chemistry in Paris in the 1930s. Qualified as an assistant chemist and assistant bacteriologist, she was recruited by Roure Bertrand, a major supplier of raw materials for the perfume industry. She quickly built a reputation as a talented creator in a world dominated by men.

In 1940, her meeting with Robert Piguet marked a turning point in her career. She went on to create the perfume “Vent Vert” for the House of Balmain, “Coeur de Joie” for Nina Ricci, and “La Fuite des Heures” for Balenciaga. Her career paved the way for many female perfumers in a profession long reserved for men, making her one of the historic figures of modern perfumery.

Yu Hui Tseng, La grande dame du thé

The first female tea master, she was born in Taiwan into a family deeply rooted in tea culture for generations. She studied the Gongfu Cha* ceremony under Master Zhang Tianfu and became one of only ten Gongfu tea masters in the world, and the only woman in this circle, which was then exclusively male.

Based in Paris, she founded the Maison des Trois Thés in 1994, an internationally renowned boutique offering more than 1,000 varieties of tea, as well as the largest tea cellar in Europe, where over 500 teas are stored and aged.

For Master Tseng, tea is more than just a drink: it is a sensory experience, cultural and spiritual. She embodies a pioneering figure, proving that a woman can become a global authority in a world that is both traditional and long dominated by men. She moved tea beyond the image of a simple beverage, presenting it instead as an object of culture, tasting and connection.

*Gongfu Cha: the art of tea, a Chinese method of tea preparation

At Terre d’Oc, Products Born from the Talent of Women

"Every fragrance and every cup has an impact"

Discover, through our products, how they help support and empower women, both within Terre d’Oc and across our partner supply chains.

To illustrate this commitment, we have chosen to highlight our argan supply chain in Morocco through the “Nerolina” skincare oil, our fragranced incense from India, as well as our Assam tea from India through our organic Chai Masala & Spices black tea.

These products embody a concrete commitment to fairer working conditions and a positive impact on the daily lives of

Giving a Voice to the Women of Terre d’Oc

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Les femmes citées par nos collaborateurs sont des femmes qui ont permis de rendre le quotidien des femmes plus léger grâce à leurs actions menées sans relâche.

Gisèle Halimi est une avocate, militante féministe et femme politique franco-tunisienne. Animée par une volonté constante de faire évoluer le droit et l’opinion publique, elle s’est battue pour la libéralisation de l’avortement et la criminalisation du viol.

Simone Veil est nommée ministre de la Santé par le président Valéry Giscard d'Estaing en 1974, qui la charge de faire adopter la loi dépénalisant le recours à l'interruption volontaire de grossesse (IVG), loi qui sera ensuite couramment désignée comme la « loi Veil ». Elle sera également première présidente du Parlement européen, et la première personne élue à ce poste au suffrage universel, une fonction qu’elle occupe de 1979 à 1982.

Through their journeys, their struggles and their expertise, women continue to shape the world, yesterday as they do today. At terre d’Oc, this commitment comes to life every day through supply chains, creations and collaborations that celebrate their talent and contribute to their independence. An invitation to celebrate, support and shine a light on these inspiring women, far beyond 8 March.

 
Posted in: Commitment

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