Bees are dying at unprecedented rates, and most people don’t realize how this connects to everything from their morning coffee to the outdoor gear industry. Since 2007, we’ve lost bee colonies at 35% annually—a collapse that threatens food security, ecosystem stability, and even businesses that seem completely unrelated to agriculture. When a fragrance company starts funding bee research, it’s worth paying attention. It means the crisis has reached industries we never expected.

Most of us don’t associate perfume companies with conservation efforts. But Michel Germain is proving that business success and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand.

The Bee Crisis That Connects Us All

Since 2007, the world is experiencing a loss of colonies 35% annually, a rate greater than ever before. This crisis is being reported in the Americas as well as Europe and around the world. For outdoor enthusiasts, this represents more than statistics—it’s about the health of every ecosystem we explore.

Most fragrance ingredients, and most importantly over 75% of the world’s food is a result of bee pollination. Think about that during your next backcountry meal. The nuts in your trail mix. The fruits in your dried provisions. The vegetables that fuel your adventures. Bees made most of it possible.

Honey bees are the most valuable insects to humankind. Without them, the wildflower meadows we hike through would look dramatically different. The fruit trees we camp beneath would struggle to reproduce. The diverse plant communities that support wildlife would collapse.

Where Fragrance Meets Ecosystems

The connection between bees and perfumes weaves together nature’s pollinators and the art of fragrance creation. While bees may not be directly involved in the production of perfumes, their role in the pollination of flowers and the creation of natural scents cannot be underestimated.

Flowers contain precious essential oils which give them their distinctive fragrances. Bees play a vital role in the production of these oils. As bees visit flowers to collect nectar, they inadvertently pick up pollen on their bodies and transfer it from one flower to another, enabling pollination. This process triggers the release of essential oils within the flower, intensifying its scent.

Jasmine, rose, and lavender are just a few examples of flowers that heavily rely on bees for pollination. Without bees, their populations could decline. Michel Germain’s fragrances feature these bee-dependent botanicals extensively—from French Lavender & King’s Glove to fragrances containing jasmine and rose absolutes.

The company understands that protecting these source plants means protecting the pollinators that make them possible.

Beyond Awareness: Direct Action

Michel Germain doesn’t just acknowledge the bee crisis—they act on it. The company donates to the world’s leading honeybee research centres: The Bee Conservancy (North America), Honey Bee Research Center – University of Guelph (North America), and Bees for Development (Europe).

On World Bee Day (May 20th), 100% of proceeds of the sales from the Michel Parfum Collection will be donated to the mentioned Bee Charities. This isn’t token environmentalism. It’s a direct financial commitment to bee conservation research and habitat protection.

The company’s approach recognizes that perfumers need honey bees, but so does the world. Their business model depends on healthy ecosystems, so investing in ecosystem health becomes both environmentally responsible and economically smart.

Practical Conservation You Can Implement

Michel Germain shares actionable advice for supporting bees in your own outdoor spaces. Plant things that bees like: blue, purple, yellow flowers all attract bees readily. This applies whether you’re planning a home garden or choosing native plants for habitat restoration projects.

Have a source of fresh, shallow water like a bird bath. On long hiking trips, I’ve noticed how crucial water sources are for all wildlife, including pollinators. Even small water features can support bee populations in developed areas.

Eliminate garden pesticides. This principle extends to choosing campsites and recreation areas that prioritize ecosystem health over cosmetic landscape management.

Leave flower and vegetable gardens to go to seed in the fall. Seeding plants are the bees’ last chance to store food for the winter, starvation and survive. This advice challenges our tendency to “clean up” outdoor spaces too aggressively.

Community Impact Beyond Environmental Conservation

Michel Germain’s sustainability efforts extend beyond bee conservation. The company has supported frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic, donating products to UCLA Health and other medical facilities. They’ve worked with Scott Mission to provide “cozy socks” to homeless individuals, recognizing that sustainability includes social responsibility.

This broader approach to giving back demonstrates how environmental consciousness often correlates with community awareness. Companies that understand ecosystem interconnectedness tend to understand social interconnectedness as well.

Their donations to long-term care facilities and community organizations show that sustainability thinking extends beyond environmental metrics to include human welfare and community resilience.

The Business Case for Conservation

Michel Germain proves that conservation initiatives can be central to business strategy rather than peripheral marketing efforts. Their dependence on bee-pollinated flowers creates direct incentives for supporting bee populations. Their customers who appreciate natural fragrances likely also value environmental protection.

Many of Michel Germain fragrances contain notes like lavender, rose, jasmine, and other flowers and plants that can be affected by the decrease in the bee population. This creates a clear business case for conservation that goes beyond corporate social responsibility to basic supply chain protection.

As outdoor enthusiasts, we can support companies that understand these connections. When businesses realize their success depends on healthy ecosystems, they become allies in conservation efforts.

## Lessons for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Michel Germain’s approach offers lessons for anyone who spends time in natural environments. First, understand the connections between your activities and broader ecosystems. The wildflowers you photograph depend on pollinators. The clean water you drink depends on healthy watersheds. The wildlife you observe depends on intact habitat networks.

Second, support businesses that demonstrate genuine environmental commitment through measurable actions. Look for companies that donate specific percentages of profits, support research institutions, and advocate for policy changes.

Third, implement bee-friendly practices in your own outdoor spaces. Whether you’re managing a small garden or participating in habitat restoration projects, your choices can support pollinator populations.

Where Conservation Meets Daily Life

Standing in that mountain meadow, surrounded by the buzz of healthy bee populations, I realized something important. The natural perfumes created by thriving ecosystems represent what we’re working to protect. Companies like Michel Germain understand that business success and environmental health aren’t competing priorities—they’re interdependent necessities.

Their model demonstrates how businesses can integrate conservation into core operations rather than treating it as an afterthought. For outdoor enthusiasts, supporting such companies becomes another way to advocate for the wild places we love.

The next time you encounter wildflowers buzzing with bee activity, remember that healthy ecosystems create natural fragrances more complex than any human creation. Companies like Michel Germain prove that protecting these systems can be both profitable and essential for long-term business success.

Conservation doesn’t require sacrificing quality or commerce. It requires understanding the connections that make both possible.