Why Our Founder-Led Book Club Is More Than a Monthly Read
Books are portals—quiet doorways into new lives. For some, they offer refuge from a world humming with noise and clutter. For others, they grant permission to imagine freely, to follow whimsy wherever it leads, if only for a few chapters.
At Read Fragrances, our devotion to books is as deep as our love for scent. Just as we celebrate each floral note in our fragrance library, we champion stories that expand the mind and soften the spirit. Beginning February 2026, we’re placing a permanent bookmark in this love affair with literature by launching On That Note—an exclusive online book club led by our founder and librarian, Mabel Frias.
Part masterclass, part intimate conversation, On That Note is not your typical book club. It’s an invitation into our quiet moments and milestone chapters—an inside look at a fragrance brand reimagining how we connect, reflect, and grow together.
What’s Mabel Reading?
Last year, Mabel shared three books that shaped her inner world: The Mountain Is You by Brianna West, The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., and You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. While distinct in voice, each carries a shared truth: self-liberation.
These reads explore self-sabotage and limiting beliefs, the ways trauma conditions the nervous system, the power of taking ownership without shame, and the importance of integrating mind and body to ultimately return to oneself. Mabel recommends these titles for anyone ready to heal deeply, reclaim agency, and live with intention. It’s the Year of the Fire Horse—so perhaps that “anyone” is you.
Already turning those pages? Mabel shares three more favorites below.
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Rising Strong by Brené Brown
If 2025 asked everything of you, this #1 New York Times bestseller is a worthy companion. Brené Brown explores what it truly means to rise after failure and emotional upheaval, weaving research on vulnerability, courage, and resilience into a powerful guide for growth through struggle.
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The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
With a title as playful as its premise, this book chronicles a year-long experiment in joy, fulfillment, and well-being. Through personal narrative and practical insight, Rubin offers a thoughtful blueprint for intentional living—one small habit, one joyful choice at a time.
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The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
A national bestseller, this gentle and soulful read is a guide for decision-making during seasons of uncertainty. Freeman invites readers to slow down, listen inward, and take the next small step when life feels unmoored.
Why You Should Join On That Note
In a digital world where loneliness has become an epidemic and traditional communities are fraying, meaningful connection feels more precious than ever. On That Note reimagines the modern book club—meeting virtually (with IRL gatherings on the horizon) and offering aspiring entrepreneurs a rare opportunity to connect with a founder who has scaled a beauty brand to 3,500 stores across North America and Puerto Rico.
Time is our greatest luxury, and Mabel offers it generously. Additional benefits include:
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First-look access to new book selections and Read Fragrances launches
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Exclusive invitations to in-person events
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Complimentary product samples and collaborative gifts with other lifestyle brands
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New friendships across cities—and continents
Make a note to join On That Note, our private Facebook community for bibliophiles, perfumists, and those who love them both.
See you soon—right where the story begins.