Barb Stegemann is back to inspire us once more, just in time for Mother’s Day! Also known as the “Philosopher Queen,” Barb is a longtime friend of our show and a complete force to be reckoned with in the beauty business. Barb launched The 7 Virtues fragrance brand out of her garage in Halifax, Nova Scotia on International Women’s Day back in 2010, after her best friend, Capt. Trevor Greene, was wounded in Afghanistan by the Taliban while serving there. Barb then sowed the seeds of what would become a historic social enterprise and commercial success story, buying fair-trade essential oils from farmers in war-torn regions to make perfumes for peace — and now The 7 Virtues is in 2,000 Sephora stores around the world. Tune in to hear about: What makes a viral moment: why The 7 Virtues “Santal Vanille and “Amber Vanilla” were the clean perfumes to pop off on TikTokWhy “Vanilla Woods,” launched in 2018, was years ahead of the gourmand trend, and what makes it the brand’s bestseller to this dayWhat makes a fragrance “clean” anyway? Barb explains fragrance load, organic sugar-cane alcohol and a 24-hour wear test Why “Strawberry Jam” is the biggest launch in brand history, and why Barb believes everyone wants to smell like layer cake at this moment in timeInside The 7 Virtues Atelier on the Halifax Waterfront, and a major scoop on Barb’s expansion plans for the custom fragrance concept storeThe Sephora full-circle moment: from taking part in Sephora Accelerate in 2018 to mentoring the next class of Sephora Squad creators in 2026“Dragons’ Den,” redux: the original pitch that landed Brett Wilson's $125,000 investment (a reported 56-fold return), and what it felt like to return as a guest dragon for the show's 20th anniversaryWhy being underestimated is a gift, and the Marcus Aurelius wisdom Barb has repeated to her kids since they were small: “Be prepared to meet the angry, the lost, the jealous, the jaded. Now lead.” Get social with us and let us know what you think of the episode! Find us on Instagram, Tiktok,X, Threads. Join our private Facebook group. Or give us a call and leave us a voicemail at 1-844-227-0302. Sign up for our Substack here. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to watch our episodes! For any products or links mentioned in this episode, check out our website: https://breakingbeautypodcast.com/episode-recaps/ Related episodes like this: The 7 Virtues Founder Barb Stegemann (original airdate in 2017)What Bite Beauty Founder Susanne Langmuir is Banking on Next“Perfume Princess” Mona Kattan On Kayali’s Meteoric Rise at Sephora, The Secrets to Fragrance Layering and Is Your Signature Scent Overrated? PROMO CODES: When you support our sponsors, you support the creation of Breaking Beauty Podcast! Lightstim LightStim Elipsa is an FDA-cleared device used by thousands of professionals to simultaneously treat wrinkles and acne. It has 868 professional LED lights and delivers the same collagen-stimulating results as a treatment at a doctor’s office—and it’s now available for at-home use. Use our code BEAUTY to SAVE 10% at lightstim.com. Merit Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Vivier Building on their legacy of Vitamin C innovation, Vivier recently launched their most advanced formula to date—Vivier Serum 30, designed to visibly brighten the skin, refine tone, texture and support a more radiant, even-looking complexion. Visit VivierSkin.com and use code BEAUTY15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase. Nutrafol Let your hair be one less thing to worry about. See visibly thicker, stronger, faster growing hair in 3–6 months with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code BREAKING. Dove Discover the new Dove Serum+ Oil Body Wash at www.dove.com/ca now available on Amazon and in stores nationwide. *Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, all products reviewed are gratis media samples submitted for editorial consideration.* Hosts: Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn Theme song, used with permission: Cherry Bomb by Saya
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