Recently, The Maker, a fragrance brand with its roots in the hotel industry and helmed by seasoned founders, has secured its first investment from True Beauty Ventures. This marks a significant milestone for Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, who previously sold their beauty brand Fresh to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2000. The duo launched The Maker Hotel in Hudson, N.Y., in 2020, followed by a fragrance line in 2021, also under The Maker brand, featuring eaux de parfum and candles.
The Maker’s fragrance collection, which includes scents like Lover Eau de Parfum, Naked Eau de Parfum, and Paradiso Eau de Parfum, has received an enthusiastic response. Glazman noted in an interview, “We launched it two years ago, and the reception has been incredible. People love the concept. People really connect to it. They love not only the collection but what it stands for. It’s not only creating fragrances that evoke emotions, but it’s one of the few lines on that level that are clean.”
Since its inception, The Maker has grown its retail presence. Initially launched online at Sephora U.S. last year, it expanded to Sephora Canada both online and in stores in March. Additionally, the brand is available at its Maker Hotel Shop in New York City and through select retailers like BlueMercury, Goop, and Bergdorf Goodman. Although the brand has not disclosed sales figures, industry sources estimate its turnover to be around $12 million for the year.
With the new investment from True Beauty Ventures, The Maker aims to further expand its retail footprint and grow its international distribution. The brand will also focus on scaling its business within Sephora North America.
True Beauty Ventures’ co-founder, Gersten, expressed confidence in the founders, stating, “There’s something special about backing founders who’ve done it before. You don’t see it very often, and when we see it with founders that we admire and respect, it does make it easier for us to make an investment decision. We’re big admirers of what Lev and Alina did at Fresh and really respect what they’ve been able to pull together at The Maker. It’s very unique and differentiated.”
Gersten also highlighted the growing strength of the fragrance category, noting that this is True Beauty Ventures’ second investment in the sector, following their previous investment in 7 Virtues. He praised The Maker’s unique storytelling and experiential elements derived from the hotel, which have contributed to the brand’s appeal.
