Karen recently received an email asking for her advice on launching a perfume brand. However, the author of the email had only given themselves a 6 month deadline to get everything ready to launch. Karen’s instant reaction - “This is not enough time.” Perfume making is not just a science, it’s an art. And, like all art, it can’t be rushed. In this episode, Karen doubles down on the importance of taking your time to get where you want to go and explains the process and procedures for making sure you do it right.    KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s natural to want to jump to the end when starting your own business, after all, you want to start seeing the money coming in. But, as Karen explains, your role will change dramatically once your business is active so it is important to master one area before moving to the next.  Perfume making isn’t just about creativity, it’s about understanding the materials. Karen explains how this essential aspect of perfume making should not be rushed and the consequences if you do rush it.  When you launch into the perfume market, you compete with countless other brands. The one thing that can, and often does, set you apart is presenting a product made with care and attention. Karen explains how to do this without rushing.  Karen ends the episode by sharing her top tips on how to embrace and enjoy the process of perfume making, making sure you spend the right amount of time on the right things.  BEST MOMENTS  “The most important and enjoyable part of the perfume making journey is the learning and creating.” “The more time you spend trying things out, the more confident you’re going to become as a perfume maker.” “When you’ve taken the time to find your voice in your brand, it really shows in your work and that’s what will make you stand out.” EPISODE LINKS The Scent Design Challenge  Deep Work - Cal Newport  The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron (Morning Pages)   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