In 1792 Louis Marie Aubert du Petit Thouars, a French botanist, was exiled to Madagascar, La Reunion and Mauritius, returning to France 10 years later with a collection of over 2000 plants. 200 years later and his ancestor Marie du Petit Thouars (born in Belgium, based in California) is continuing the family tradition, making candles and fragrances from natural botanicals. Maison Louis Marie is made in LA.