The House of Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in 1921. Inspired by the beautiful luggage he had seen on travelers while working at the Savoy Hotel in London, Gucci returned to Florence with the aim of combining the refined elegance of the well-to-do travelers with the craftsmanship of traditional Florentine artisans.

The company's equestrian-inspired leather goods were highly sought after, and when leather was in short supply during World War II, Gucci expanded the brand's aesthetic offerings with innovative uses of hemp, linen, and jute. Guccio Gucci passed away in 1953, but his sons and grandson oversaw the company's successful expansion into a globally renowned luxury goods manufacturer. The company's "double G" logo was adopted in the 1960s.

The company's first perfume, Gucci No. 1 for women, was introduced in 1974. Since then, several fragrances for men and women have been launched, many of which have achieved legendary status among perfume collectors, including Gucci 3 and L'Arte di Gucci. Tom Ford served as the company's creative director from the mid-1990s through the early 21st century. Frida Giannini took over from Ford as creative director and Alessandro Michele has been at the helm of the company since 2015.