<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001250</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450328</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAL 2008 Marital Trust</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1540 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036-4039</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90659684</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>90659684</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by LAL Family Partners L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">For estate planning purposes, the Evelyn H. Lauder 2011 Marital Trust, as successor to the LAL 2008 Marital Trust (the &quot;LAL 2008 Trust&quot;), was divided into two trusts:  the Evelyn H. Lauder 2012 Marital Trust One (&quot;EHL Trust One&quot;) and the Evelyn H. Lauder 2012 Marital Trust Two (&quot;EHL Trust Two&quot;), each of which is an irrevocable trust.  As a result of the division, the LAL 2008 Trust terminated and ceased being a stockholder of LAL Family Corporation (&quot;LALFC&quot;), which is the sole general partner of LAL Family Partners L.P. (&quot;LALFP&quot;), and EHL Trust One and EHL Trust Two became stockholders of LALFC.  EHL Trust One and EHL Trust Two are filing a Form 3 with the SEC on the date hereof, which continues to report the shares of Class B Common Stock directly owned by LALFP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There is no exercise or conversion price for the Class B Common Stock. Shares of Class B Common Stock (i) may be converted immediately on a one-for-one basis by the holder into shares of Class A Common stock and (ii) are automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis upon transfer to a person or entity that is not a &quot;Permitted Transferee&quot; (as defined in the Issuer's Restated Certificate of Incorporation) or soon after a record date for a meeting of stockholders where the outstanding Class B Common Stock constitutes less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As adjusted for Issuer's stock dividend.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Spencer G. Smul, Attorney-in-fact, for LAL 2008 Marital Trust</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
