Estee Lauder began by selling four homemade skin care products and in 1930 married Joseph H. Lauder, who became her partner in the business. They remained partners in life and business until Mr. Lauder's death in 1982. She loved to sell, and those talents led to a counter at New York City's Saks Fifth Avenue in 1948, which was soon followed by contracts at other leading department stores. In 1960, the Company began business at Harrods of London, the first of many international accounts. Today, The Estee Lauder Companies' brands are solid in over 14,000 stores in over 130 countries and territories worldwide. The Company's fiscal 2003 sales were $5.12 billion.

Although she demonstrated her success in the skin care industry, Mrs. Lauder went on to become a noted fragrance expert as well. "The lingering scent of a beautiful woman as she passes by is one of those memories that unaccountably live forever," she said. Under her direction, the Company introduced Youth Dew in 1953, and numerous other fragrances, including Private Collection in 1973, White Linen in 1978 and Beautiful in 1985. The Estee Lauder Companies now markets more than 70 fragrances.

Mrs. Lauder left more than a legacy of business success; she created a culture of beauty and customer service that changed the cosmetics industry forever. She taught her sales force meticulously, personally coaching them during her attendance at nearly every opening of a new Company door. Her advice on one-to-one marketing was memorable: "Telephone, telegraph, tell a woman," she often remarked. Mrs. Lauder was also a passionate advocate of sampling who used her early promotional budgets to give free gifts at counters and fashion shows. She pioneered the "gift with purchase" by giving customers free packets of other products.

Among her many contributions was the choice of Estee Lauder's signature blue, which she believed would coordinate with the decor of most bathrooms and bedrooms. In every detail, she sought to make her clients beautiful. In addition to handling the challenges of a multi-national corporation, Mrs. Lauder worked tirelessly to shape the image of beauty in the United States and abroad. She insisted that advertising portray beauty that was both inspirational and approachable. "Whether you are the chairperson of the board or you want to charm him, you need beauty and femininity as well as wisdom and strength," she said.

Mrs. Lauder was widely acclaimed both within and outside her field. She was awarded both France's Legion of Honor and the Gold Medal of the City of Paris. She was one of the American Business Women's Association's 10 Outstanding Women in Business in the United States in 1967. Cosmetic Executive Women presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989, and The American Society of Perfumers awarded her its first Living Legend award in 1994.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company's products are sold in more than 130 countries and territories under well-recognized brand names, including Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Origins, M-A-C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Aveda, Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, kate spade beauty, Darphin Paris, Michael Kors and Rodan & Fields.