You Don’t Have to Break the Bank - Starting a Perfume Brand on a Realistic Budget
The Perfume Making PodcastShow Notes
This week Karen is addressing a question she is asked all the time on social media and through email - “I’m obsessed with perfume and I want to start my own brand, but I don't have the money to invest…can you help me for free?” Well, the answer is yes and no. In this episode, Karen breaks down the hard truths of starting a perfume brand, and whilst you can’t do it for free, it doesn't have to cost the world. Covering what you can start with, what you can do for free and where you need to be realistic Karen is here to share all her years of experience so you can get started on your dream project without breaking the bank. KEY TAKEAWAYS Whilst you can learn for free, it does cost money to start a perfume brand, however, it might not be the amount you are thinking of. Karen discusses the importance of creating a budget and what are the non-negotiables. Starting a new venture can be very exciting and most people have a tendency to do the fun parts first, but this can make you overlook the important parts. Karen explains the importance of setting out your process from the start and doing things in the right order. With so many products available to create in the fragrance category, why would you choose perfume first? Despite its cost, and the learning curve involved, as Karen explains, it is the ideal first product to create. You’ve got the fragrance, but now you need to sell it? From bottle sizes to packing designs, Karen gives her top tips on what that product launch should look like.
BEST MOMENTS “If you’re selling to the public, your product has to be safe, stable, legal and professional.” “Don’t confuse activity with progress.” “Guessing can get very expensive, very quickly.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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This isn’t the usual New Year’s episode about planning, vision boards, and big 2026 goals. Instead, Karen looks at what happens when you need to do less, and how that can be the key to building a more robust perfume or creative business without burning out. She talks honestly about overcommitting (including with AI‑fuelled planning), why she’s simplifying her offers and pressing pause on some things, and how she’s re‑shaping her work around the life she is actually living. If you’re tired of the constant hustle but still want your business to thrive, this episode is perfect. To keep getting access to new content from Karen in 2026, sign up for her newsletter here: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk KEY TAKEAWAYS ● Be honest about how much work you can handle. ● Your creative energy naturally rises and falls. Accept that, go with the flow, and stop beating yourself up about not getting absolutely everything done. ● Our culture says, “new year, new you,” but winter is a season of rest and introspection, so it’s okay if big goals don’t feel realistic right now. It´s OK to set new goals in other months too. ● Drop things that drain you without generating true benefits. Ask yourself, do I have to do this now, or is it just another shiny object or something that is fun and distracts you from doing the more boring things? ● Don´t try to run on empty; make time to refuel. Hobbies, time with family and friends, travel, learning new skills, exercise, and other things that light you up, all top up your creative energy. BEST MOMENTS “I am planning on actually doing less this year on purpose.” “Creativity is not something that you can just squeeze out. You have to let it flow." “Really tap into you and how you work best – that is going to keep you in this for the long-term.” EPISODE LINKS: Bulgaria Perfume Workshop: https://www.roseoverdose.com/perfume-plants-of-bulgaria IAO Awards: https://thegoldenpears.com/home In Person Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes Previous New Year episodes - https://podcasts.apple.com/mt/podcast/reflections-for-growth-learning-from-2024-to-build/id1693602939?i=1000682798977 and https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/making-the-most-of-2024/id1693602939?i=1000640841400 VALUABLE RESOURCES Studio Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes Materials Mastery: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/materials-mastery Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/artisan-perfumery-mastermind
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