A story of floral traditions and cultivation
elevated by a producer with an unconventional path
Between a passion for sport and a deep love of the land, a visionary and creative producer
Laurent Manenti is not quite like other Corsican farmers. A former motorcycle athlete, physical preparation and the extraordinary potential of the human body have always been fundamental to him—values he continues to honor in his work as a firefighter. Sport is deeply rooted in his DNA, intertwined with his passion for the natural riches of his native land, Corsica.
At the heart of this journey lies a profound connection to the terroir, passed down from generation to generation. An ancestral know-how carefully transmitted over time within a family of shepherds who cultivated the land on which their herds were raised. The family farm has been handed down through the years, along with a deep respect for this abundant, unique, and singular nature that defines the Island of Beauty.
Immersed in this privileged environment, rich in endemic flowers, Laurent learned the cultivation and hand-harvesting of plants, absorbing the precious knowledge and practices of his elders. Over time, he enriched this heritage with his own expertise, notably through training in phytotherapy applied to sports performance.
Since taking over the family farm in 2019, Laurent has embodied a balance between tradition and modernity, placing innovation at the service of the body.
Taking over the family farm and the birth of an innovative project:NOI, the successful alchemy of know-how and purpose
Laurent took over the family farm with a clear goal: to preserve this heritage. Letting such cultural and natural wealth disappear was never an option. To achieve this, he combined boldness, creativity, and innovation.
Faced with the high costs of large-scale cultivation, the former athlete imagined a solution that was both ingenious and perfectly aligned with his values: hand-harvesting wild plants naturally growing on his land.
This vision gave rise to the production of essential oils and hydrosols. Inspired by the abundance of endemic plants on his territory, Laurent chose to cultivate, transform, and showcase them. The objective soon became clear: to create organic natural care products derived from these flowers.
In a competitive Corsican market, Laurent brought a distinctive edge by weaving together his sports expertise with the ancestral knowledge passed down through his family. The result was immediate: the birth of the first cosmetic range specifically designed for athletes and physiotherapists, imagined by a visionary producer deeply in love with flowers and his island.
NOI Zitelle di u Sole: Essential oils & floral waters
“Zitelle di u Sole,” meaning “Daughters of the Sun,” is a range name filled with light, joy, generosity, and love—the love Laurent has for his two daughters and his passion for the iconic Corsican immortelle, an endemic flower highly prized in natural cosmetics.
For his essential oils and floral waters, Laurent honors tradition and family know-how through hand-harvesting. On the family land, harvesting is done entirely by hand—a method that respects both the environment and product quality. Manual harvesting (of immortelle, Inula graveolens, and others) allows for precise flower selection, unlike mechanical harvesting, which gathers all plants indiscriminately.
NOI – Natural care for athletes and physiotherapists
Launching a new natural product line without addressing the specific needs of athletes was unthinkable for Laurent. A former competitor turned physical trainer, he and his team designed a full range of products dedicated to physical recovery and comfort, supporting athletes in their daily practice.
Innovative within the market, this range holds a special place in Laurent’s heart. His sporting background, combined with the family knowledge passed down from his father, gives him both the legitimacy and credibility to design natural care products tailored to athletes and physiotherapists.
When Laurent speaks about his sports range, he likes to say:
“Designed for athletes, by an athlete.”