We construct an associative product on the symmetric module S(L) of any pre-Lie algebra L. It turns S(L) into a Hopf algebra which is isomorphic to the enveloping algebra of LLie. Then we prove that in the case of rooted trees our construction gives the Grossman-Larson Hopf algebra, which is known to be the dual of the Connes-Kreimer Hopf algebra. We also show that symmetric brace algebras and pre-Lie algebras are the same. Finally, we give a similar interpretation of the Hopf algebra of planar rooted trees.