An experience shaped by culture, creativity, and community
In business, certain moments feel bigger than a sales or marketing activation. They become milestones—moments that remind you why you started in the first place. For Read Fragrances, Essence Festival of Culture 2026 was one of those moments.
For the very first time, we introduced Read Fragrances to the Essence community, and I couldn't imagine a more meaningful place to do it. Essence Festival has long represented the intersection of culture, creativity, community, and micro to macro women-led businesses. Bringing together artists, creators, brands, founders, and families from around the world, Essence proves why we must celebrate the infinite possibilities that are ignited when we invest in one another.
For a brand whose mission is rooted in helping shape their own scent stories, it felt like the perfect first chapter.
More Than a Weekend Pop-Up
Our pop-up wasn't simply about selling fragrance–thank you to all of our newly minted readers who shopped with us. It was about inviting people into our fragrance story.
Every conversation was an opportunity to hear someone's story, and each spritz became a new scent memory in the making. Watching guests slow down, discover a new signature scent, and smile after finding one that felt like "them" reminded me why fragrance is such a personal experience, and showed me how a product can transform into a personal story.
For many visitors, this was their first introduction to Read Fragrances launch chapter, New Bloom, a spring and summer-ready, floral fragrance collection that features three distinct scents crafted for her and him, too. They explored our collection, learned about what inspired us, and experienced firsthand what we've been building over the past year.
Our customers made one thing very clear: discovery comes long before a commitment. Naturally, the Discovery Set was our best-selling product of the weekend, the perfect travel-sized introduction to each fragrance. Among our individual fragrances, Wild Mimosa, Radiant Rose, and Bold Poppy emerged as customer favorites, with guests consistently drawn to their bright, optimistic floral profiles. Watching these fragrances become conversation starters throughout the festival was incredibly rewarding.
One of the biggest surprises from the weekend was seeing just how broad our customer base already is. Read Fragrances resonated with both women and men across a wide range of ages, reminding us that great fragrance isn't defined by demographics—it's defined by emotional connection.
Another moment that stood out involved one of our youngest visitors, a 14-year-old who spent time exploring the collection with her mother and sister. After sampling the fragrances together, she fell in love with Bold Poppy and enthusiastically encouraged her mom to purchase a full-size 50 ML bottle. Watching a teenager connect so deeply with the fragrance that she influenced a $75 purchase was a powerful reminder that fragrance has the ability to transcend generations.
Throughout the festival, we saw similar moments unfold again and again. Couples selected fragrances together, friends introduced each other to their favorites, and families experienced the collection side by side. Rather than fitting into a single customer profile, Read Fragrances attracted people from different backgrounds, generations, and life experiences—all discovering a scent that felt uniquely their own.
For a young brand, that kind of organic validation is incredibly meaningful. It reaffirmed our belief that fragrance is one of the few categories that can create genuine connection across age, gender, and culture. At its core, Read Fragrances isn't simply about creating beautiful scents—it's about creating stories that people want to share with one another.
Many guests returned with friends and family to share their favorite scent, and those moments reminded me that the most meaningful brands create experiences people want to share.
Conversations That Matter
In addition to our pop-up, I had the privilege of moderating two conversations with incredible founders and business leaders.
The first session, Beyond the Crisis: From Emotional Crash-Out to Cash Flow & Capital Strategy, explored a topic that doesn't get enough attention in entrepreneurship: the emotional side of building a business while making critical financial decisions. We discussed how founders can move beyond reactive crisis management and instead build companies designed for sustainable, long-term growth through thoughtful capital strategy, operational discipline, and intentional leadership.
The second session, Retail Readiness: Positioning Your Brand for Platforms, Shelves & Scale, focused on preparing businesses for growth across multiple channels. From product readiness and pricing strategy to operations and brand positioning, we unpacked what it truly takes to build a business that can thrive on its own website, across e-commerce platforms, and ultimately on retail shelves.
Having spent years building consumer brands, these conversations are meaningful to me because they reinforce something I believe deeply: successful businesses aren't built by accident. They're built through intentional decisions, consistent execution, and a willingness to continue learning.
Experiencing New Orleans
One of my favorite parts of traveling for work is making time to experience the city itself.
As founders, it's easy to fly in, work the event, and immediately head home. But I've always believed that the best ideas come from immersing yourself in a place—meeting the people, supporting local businesses, and appreciating what makes each city unique.
New Orleans has a culture unlike anywhere else.
Throughout the weekend, I made it a point to enjoy the city's incredible food scene. I indulged in delectable Gulf seafood, authentic gumbo, and other flavorful cuisine that told unique stories with each bite. Every meal reflected the city's history, creativity, and hospitality. It reminded me that food and fragrance have so much in common—they both evoke memories, celebrate heritage, and bring people together around shared experiences.
One stop during the weekend felt especially aligned with Read Fragrances: The Library, a cocktail bar tucked away at 3629 Prytania Street. From the moment I stepped inside, it felt like walking into a book I just had to read.
The space is warm, intimate, and full of character. Floor-to-ceiling shelves of well-loved vintage books line the walls, while antique trophies and collected curiosities hint at decades of stories waiting to be told. Rich leather chairs and tufted seating invite guests to slow down and stay awhile, and a beautifully worn vintage pool table sits at the center of the room, adding to the feeling that you've stumbled upon someone's timeless private library rather than a cocktail bar. Soft lighting, aged wood, thoughtful details, and the quiet hum of conversation create an atmosphere that feels nostalgic, yet effortlessly sophisticated. It's the kind of place where time slows down, conversations linger, and every corner encourages curiosity.
As soon as I walked in, I couldn't help but smile.
A library has always been central to our brand identity. Read Fragrances was built around the idea that every scent tells a story and that every person is writing a unique chapter of their life. Finding a place called The Library—one that celebrates books, craftsmanship, conversation, and timeless design—felt like discovering a physical extension of everything we are building our brand to represent.
It reminded me that inspiration doesn't always arrive in a boardroom or at a trade show. Sometimes it comes from a beautifully designed space, a memorable meal, a conversation with a stranger, or simply allowing yourself to explore a city with curiosity.
Whether it's a fragrance, place, or a person, every great story begins with the willingness to discover something new.
Building Community, One Story at a Time
One of my favorite parts of the weekend wasn't standing behind the table. It was meeting people.
We met aspiring founders, longtime fragrance lovers, content creators, families, retail professionals, and curious shoppers who simply wanted to learn more about our brand. Many shared stories about the fragrances they grew up with, the scents that reminded them of loved ones, and the memories they hoped to create through fragrance today. Those conversations reminded me that fragrance isn't just something you wear–it's something you remember and share. It's part of your story. And that's exactly why we created Read Fragrances.
Thank You, Essence 2026
To everyone who stopped by our pop-up, sampled our fragrances, shared your feedback, purchased a bottle, or simply introduced yourself—thank you. You made our first Essence Festival unforgettable.
As a founder, there are countless hours spent building behind the scenes before anyone ever sees the finished product. This weekend reminded me that every late night, every decision, every lesson, and every challenge has been worth it.
Essence Festival wasn't just an event for us—it marked the beginning of a new chapter. One where Read Fragrances continues to grow through meaningful experiences, genuine community, and the belief that stories have the power to connect us.
This was our first Essence Festival. It certainly won't be our last.
Until the next chapter—
Always Worth the Read.