A Fragrant Journey with Read Fragrances founder, Mabel Frias
Let's start this story from the beginning. A prologue per sé, with Read Fragrances founder, Mabel Frías. Building this company from the ground up, Mabel knew that the heart of any great brand is a resonant story. For Read Fragrances, Mabel wants each fragrance to tell a different tale, building a community united in a love for literature, signature fragrances, and women-led businesses.
What is your relationship with fragrances, and how did it start?
Fragrance has always been my love language. I grew up in a Latino-American household where scent marked every new chapter of life, and was a part of my daily beauty routine. Early on, I realized scent was not just about beauty — it was memory, identity, and storytelling. My relationship with fragrance deepened when I began exploring how scent evokes emotion, heals, and inspires creativity. I am a perfumista, and I have an extensive fragrance library rich with fragrances for every mood and occasion.
Why did you choose the name “Read Fragrances”?
I wanted to create a brand that celebrated scent as literature—where every fragrance reads like a story. “Read Fragrances” bridges two of my passions: storytelling and sensory experience. Each collection is designed as a chapter in an unfolding narrative, inviting you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. The name is also a love letter to curiosity—to the idea that scent, like a good book, expands our inner world.
Name three books that remind you of each fragrance.
- Wild Mimosa is freedom, renewal, and creative awakening. This scent reminds me of the book “The Mountain Is You” by Brianna Wiest. Both speak to transformation through courage and emotional awakening. Just how Brianna turns pain into power, Wild Mimosa symbolizes blooming from struggle. It reminds me strength can be soft, wild, and feminine at the same time. Self love is the greatest life project of all, and when we master this, it feeds into all the things we do and those whom we choose to love.
- Sweet Violet is healing. reflection, and power in motion. This scent reminds me of the book “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk. It's a book that connects emotional healing to the body—exactly where scent lives. Sweet Violet mirrors the idea of healing through sensory experience. A scent that reminds me how healing isn’t linear—it’s felt, like fragrance. Sweet Violet is the wise woman’s scent—gentle, intuitive, powerful.
- Bold Poppy is confidence. passion. and positive energy. This scent reminds me of the book “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero. The tone of this novel, and the fragrance both say: own your energy. It’s bold, witty, and full of momentum—exactly how Bold Poppy feels. Bold Poppy is my confidence scent—it says I’m here, and I’m not apologizing for it. Each pairing reflects the emotional texture of the scent—empowerment, rebirth, nostalgia, or tenderness.
How do fragrances and books overlap?
Both are deeply immersive art forms. A great book pulls you into another world through words; a great fragrance does it through scent. Both have chapters, characters, and moments of emotional resonance. They awaken imagination and memory, helping us feel seen or transported. I like to think of fragrance as a story you wear—one that changes slightly every time you return to it.
What is the ultimate story you would like to tell with Read Fragrances?
The story of rebirth—of people reclaiming their power, creativity, and softness. Read Fragrances is an invitation to re-read your own story with love and intention. It’s about transformation through scent, art, and emotion—a movement that celebrates growth, beauty, and the courage to begin again.
Describe how each of these scents makes you feel.
Wild Mimosa makes me feel free, luminous, and grounded. It's like a morning light after rain—an ode to self-discovery and new beginnings. Sweet Violet is strong, nostalgic, and soulful. It’s like the quiet strength of love—tender yet enduring, like the final line of a favorite poem. Bold Poppy makes me feel confident, passionate, and unapologetic. It’s like a floral fire—a reminder to stand tall and bloom boldly even in adversity.
Find your new beginning at Read Fragrances, where scents tell stories, and stories become life.