Kiehl’s traces its roots to 1851 and an apothecary at 13th Street and Third Avenue in New York City. Pharmacist John Kiehl bought the shop and ran it as Kiehl Pharmacy, according to the brand. It later passed to his apprentice Irving Morse, then to Morse’s son Aaron and to Aaron’s daughter, Jami Morse Heidegger, and her husband, Klaus Heidegger. L’Oréal bought the company in 2000.
The products
Kiehl’s calls Original Musk Oil its signature scent. Other long-running staples include Lip Balm #1, Ultra Facial Cream and Creme de Corps.
Recent news
In May 2025, Kiehl’s became the official amenities partner of Life Time, the luxury gym chain, starting with nine New York City clubs, with West Coast clubs to follow, Glossy reported.
Local stores
The brand’s store locator lists Southern California shops on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, at Westfield Century City, at the Original Farmers Market on West Third Street in Los Angeles and at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, along with Brea Mall, Del Amo, Topanga and Sherman Oaks Fashion Square.
Where to find it
Kiehl’s sells through its own stores, kiehls.com and Sephora, which has carried the brand since 2017.
Sources
- Kiehl’s: Heritage
- Fortune: L’Oréal’s acquisitions, including Kiehl’s (2017)
- Glossy: Kiehl’s and Life Time
- Kiehl’s: Santa Monica store
- Kiehl’s: South Coast Plaza store
Featured photo: Plot Spoiler via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. The photo shows the entrance to the original Kiehl’s store at Third Avenue and 13th Street in New York City.
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