Have you ever wondered what the word ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ on your cosmetic labels really means? If so, you’re not alone.
This tiny term, often found at the end of ingredient lists, can hide many sins, leaving consumers in the dark about what they’re truly applying to their skin.
In this week’s episode of Green Beauty Conversations, we dive into the murky waters of fragrance transparency with Ashlee Posner, the trailblazing CEO of Lucent Labs and founder of State of Change. Ashlee is on a mission to disrupt the fragrance industry and bring full ingredient transparency to every product we use.
In this groundbreaking episode, Ashlee shares her journey from a frustrated brand owner to a leading advocate for fragrance transparency. Her story is not just about business innovation but also a personal crusade to ensure that every consumer knows exactly what’s in their products.
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about the vague term ‘fragrance’ on your favourite lotion or perfume, this episode is a must-listen.
“People deserve to know what they’re putting on their skin. It’s not just about making fragrances; it’s about ensuring safety and transparency in every ingredient.” — Ashlee Posner
In this episode with Ashlee Posner, you will hear:
- Ashlee’s background and motivation: Ashlee shares how her experiences in chemical engineering and the fragrance industry led her to found Lucent Labs and State of Change, focusing on ingredient transparency.
- The fragrance industry oligopoly: An exploration of how eight major fragrance houses control the market and the challenges this poses for transparency and safety.
- The meaning of ‘fragrance’ on labels: A deep dive into what the term ‘fragrance’ can legally include, and why it’s often used to hide potentially harmful ingredients.
- Building transparent fragrances: The innovative methods Lucent Labs uses to create safer, fully transparent fragrance formulations for modern brands.
- Consumer education and safety: How Lucent Labs is educating both brands and consumers about the importance of transparency and safety in fragrance ingredients.
Key takeouts include:
- The power of transparency: Ashlee emphasises that full ingredient transparency not only builds consumer trust but also drives industry-wide improvements in safety and quality.
- Fragrance-free myths: The misconception that ‘fragrance-free’ means better or safer products, and why transparency is a more effective solution.
- Industry resistance: Despite the resistance from established fragrance houses, Ashlee’s approach is gaining traction with brands that prioritise safety and transparency.
- Consumer trust and education: By openly sharing ingredient information, Lucent Labs helps consumers make informed choices and fosters a greater understanding of what goes into their products.
Meet our guest – Ashlee Posner, CEO of Lucent Labs and founder of State of Change
Ashlee Posner is the CEO of Lucent Labs, the only fragrance house offering transparent, validated-safer fragrance formulations for brands building safer, healthier products. Ashlee is also the founder of the award-winning solid fragrance brand State of Change, a pioneering brand offering skin-loving fragrances with eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging and a focus on 100% ingredient transparency.
With a background in chemical engineering, roles in manufacturing at Estée Lauder and Ahava, and time living in Grasse, France, Ashlee is exceptionally equipped and passionate about building a new protocol for safety in the fragrance supply chain.
Lucent Labs supports brands of all sizes, from pre-launch indie brands to major clients in Sephora and Target, across beauty, hair, and home goods. Ashlee and her team of experts at Lucent Labs are on a mission to prove that transparency and validation are the future of fragrance.
Find out more about Ashlee and Lucent Labs:
- Website: Lucent Labs
- Instagram: @stateof_ashlee, @stateofchangeparfum
Related episodes
- Episode 25: A conversation with Karen Gilbert about fragrance in natural skincare
- Episode 75: How sustainable are essential oils?
- Episode 216: Traceability- ingredients origin
Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.
