Where it all began
A story of friendship, sharing, liberation
In 2015, Bethsabée, then a sex journalist, wanted an intimate balm "after love & every day", realizing that there was no healthy care on the market to soothe the vulva after sexual intercourse, a day in slim-fit clothes, menstruation, cycling… Cécilia, then a sales director, was captivated by the concept of the After-Love Balm , and offered her the opportunity to embark on the great adventure of ethical entrepreneurship.
Our mission: to break taboos, respect our bodies, and promote well-being in all circumstances. Because intimate and sexual well-being is, for us, a universal right. And every part of our body deserves the attention necessary for its flourishing. We created our treatment to alleviate intimate discomfort. To encourage open communication, lift shame and taboos, and freely express what is felt but never clearly spoken.
Who is BAUBO?
Baûbo: happiness is in the vulva
Sometimes a servant, sometimes a queen, sometimes a goddess, the myth of Baubo reminds us of the positive strength of female sexuality, the importance of joy, and the healing power of the vulva.
When Baubo meets Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvests, in Eleusis near Athens, the goddess is distraught over the disappearance of her daughter Persephone – abducted by Hades. Welcomed into Baubo's home, the sorrowful Demeter refuses all food and drink, causing a drought to sweep across the entire land.
A free-spirited and wise spirit, Baubo whispers in Demeter's ear, then suddenly lifts her tunic, revealing her genitals. Surprised, Demeter bursts into laughter, then finally agrees to drink—and in this gesture, the cycle of the seasons is reborn with her. Baubo, with her bawdy words whose secret will never be revealed, rouses the goddess from her slumber and restores feminine balance. Since then, depicted as a grotesque yet endearing woman-vagina, a face on her torso and a vulva for a mouth, Baubo is our "sacred madwoman," an ancestral healer and entertainer.
The Eleusinian Mysteries, in the temple of Demeter, would long celebrate Baubo, encouraging women to live joyfully, dance, liberate themselves sexually and contemplate death without fear in the great cycle of life.
Inspired by this forgotten mythical figure, BAÛBO today combines seriousness and lightness to make vulvas happy, and more: to intimately blossom women and men, by doing themselves good.
Baubo's missions
THE VULVA WITHOUT TABOO
NATURAL SKINCARE
WITH VIRGIN OILS
Proven effectiveness
TOTALLY ORGANIC
Eco-designed PACKS
MADE IN FRANCE
INFORMATION IN BRAILLE
SOCIAL INTEGRATION
OUR DONATIONS TO GSF
B CORP ENTERPRISE
Intimate and sexual irritations are taboo , yet terribly common.
We conducted two major studies on vulvar pain and discomfort.
The first one, in 2018, confirmed our intuition about women's needs and propelled our launch.
The second, Vulvar pain? conducted with Vulvae (ex Medfem) is to date the largest French study on vulvar pain , with nearly 2000 respondents.
Behind this simple phrase of " 100% natural " lies our deep desire to use only the best ingredients for our balms.
We systematically traced the manufacturing chain back to ensure our products were 100% natural, using, for example, preservatives made from radish and stevia. We rejected mineral oils derived from petroleum distillation and, more generally, any petrochemical ingredient: silicon, petroleum, phenoxyethanol, etc.
Finally, our formulas are not tested on animals – which is also prohibited in Europe – nor are our raw materials.
We use unrefined, organic virgin oils. What difference does that make? An oil is considered "virgin" when it is extracted from the plant by physical pressing. Conversely, if the extraction is done using solvents, it is a "refined oil," meaning a standardized oil with its fatty acids altered by chemicals.
Our oils are virgin: neither treated nor colored. This is why the yellow color of our balms may vary from batch to batch.
Our products also have a high concentration of active ingredients because these beneficial oils are not "drowned" in wax. This makes them particularly effective and unique on the market.
We felt it was essential to test our balms in order to prove their effectiveness.
Our products are tested gynecologically (Vulva Balm, Intimate Soap and Intimate Serum), on anal mucosa (Q Balm) and dermatologically (all our products) by independent laboratories in France and Spain to ensure impeccable quality, but also real effectiveness.
The results of our tests are unanimous : more than 90% of the testers (both women and men!) found their mucous membranes soothed.
In short, at BAÛBO, we don't joke around when it comes to our sensitive skin and our comfort.
For us, being organic is the foundation . Not the goal.
Our products are COSMOS ORGANIC certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to the COSMOS standard, the most demanding organic label in Europe – and our balms far exceed the 20% organic content required for the label, with levels reaching up to 100% organic !
At BAÛBO, our choices of ingredients and manufacturing reflect our ecological commitments.
Jars: 50ml balms in 90% recycled glass jars, reducing CO₂ emissions by 36%. Their dark tint naturally protects the formulas.
Caps: Caps made from post-industrial recycled plastic and lids made from plant-based plastic. Everything is 100% recyclable .
Cases: FSC paper cases, without glue or lamination, for reduced impact and easy recycling.
Package: FSC cardboard package containing 80% recycled fibers, reusable and fully recyclable.
Producing in France is more expensive .
But we are committed to manufacturing as locally as possible.
Our suppliers help us every day to create our healthy and ethical balms .
Thanks to them, BAÛBO skincare products are manufactured, packaged, prepared and shipped by 100% French SMEs.
We are very proud!
No one wants to make a mistake and apply the wrong product to their vulva… To avoid this kind of accident, a braille disc is located under our jars, so that visually impaired people can be completely independent in using our products at home. We are currently the only cosmetics company to offer this easy-to-use option for this community.
It's very important for us to use BAÛBO to create value and a positive impact on society. Choosing a social enterprise to send your parcels, rather than a traditional logistics company, is one way to do this.
In concrete terms, these are people without training, or with a disability, seniors, long-term job seekers, refugees, etc. who prepare your orders and thrive in a stable job for at least 2 years, before taking flight towards a permanent job.
2% of your purchases donated!
Since 1995, Gynecology Without Borders has supported the health and dignity of women worldwide. For every BAÛBO product purchased, 2% is donated to them .
Mission CamiFrance
These donations fund the medical, psychological and social support of women in exile or in great precarity: monitoring of pregnant women, support for victims of violence, gynecological care.
The mission also helps children and unaccompanied minors.
BAÛBO has been a certified B Corp since its inception, the most rigorous label for assessing a company's eco-responsibility and ethics. B Corps are companies with a positive impact : they use their strength to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy .
Founded in 2006 in the United States, the B Corp label brings together, in more than 74 countries, companies that want to reconcile profit and positive impact on society or the planet.
B Corporation certified companies come in all sizes and sectors: they have in common that they seek, through their business model, not to be the best in the world but the best for the world .
BAÛBO is one of the first 100 French companies to have obtained this certification.
Our visit in 5 juicy moments
Behind the scenes at QVEMATV
Two auditions for one victory...
We didn't apply, but "Who Wants to Be My Partner?" came to us... twice! In 2022, the production team spotted us and validated our profile, but the network didn't approve.
In 2024, a new member of the casting team contacted us again. It's a match! This time, it's the right one!
Moral of the story: when opportunity knocks twice on your door, you're on the right track.
The confidence boost before going on set
Ombline, the brilliant producer of the show, grabs me and looks me straight in the eye: “Bethsabée, I’ve been using your products for 2 years, they’re amazing, now’s YOUR moment. You’re not leaving here empty-handed!!!”
I took it as a feminist challenge, my ultimate mission: to proudly talk about "vulva" and "anus" on TV, during prime time. We were obviously NOT going to do a live demonstration, but it was a real joy to talk about hygiene and intimate parts without taboo, without beating around the bush.
A mix of adrenaline, fun, and memorable moments – just our style!
Behind the scenes at QVEMA
Commando-style preparation
To prepare for QVEMA, we don't do things halfway: solid figures, Excel spreadsheets worthy of a thesis, business coach and coaching for the pitch (1 minute 30 and not a second more)... All this to use very little of it on screen (except for the pitch of course)!
But this exercise gave us a clear vision, solid arguments, and a good dose of confidence. In short, it was worth it.
Behind the scenes at QVEMA
A film shoot... and a baby?
Cecilia, heavily pregnant and eight days from her due date, was supposed to miss filming. At the last minute, they improvised a video call with her on set.
DIY? Yes. Genius? Also!
Meanwhile, on the big day, Bathsheba juggles the cramps of the first day of her period .
Because being a woman in business, and on TV, means managing a lot of things, including hormonal changes, or the final stretch of pregnancy!
Behind the scenes at QVEMA
Alice Lhabouz wants to be our partner!
When we saw Alice Lhabouz , the show's new investor, we thought before our appearance: "She's the one who could finance us, for sure! Her profile is a perfect match for us." Spoiler alert: we weren't wrong!
After Alice's proposal, we discussed it privately with Cecilia, but the exchange was lightning-fast: two seconds flat. Why? Because we clicked with Alice instantly. So we said yes, thrilled, without hesitation. It was obvious!