Breaking the Scent Barrier: How Tied Fragrances is Disrupting an Overpriced Industry

24/04/2025 18 min
Breaking the Scent Barrier: How Tied Fragrances is Disrupting an Overpriced Industry

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of The Sponge Show, host Brad Cebulski sits down with Brady Van De Hey, founder of Tied Fragrances, to unpack how a regular guy with an engineering background challenged the over-sexualized and overpriced norms of the fragrance industry. Sparked by a frustration with the absurdity of celebrity cologne ads, Brady launched his own scent brand—initially dubbed "QuickSpritz"—with a mission to create high-quality, down-to-earth fragrances at a fraction of the cost. From studying top-selling scents and collaborating with fragrance houses to pitching scent prototypes at family gatherings, Brady takes listeners through his scrappy and resourceful journey of bringing a brand to life.



What began as a spoof evolved into a heartfelt brand rooted in memory and meaning. Brady and Brad discuss how Tied Fragrances leaned into the wedding industry, tapping into the emotional resonance of scent during life’s most cherished moments. They explore how the brand personalizes each bottle, the business lessons learned while scaling, and the importance of connecting with consumers in a market dominated by luxury façades. This is a refreshingly honest conversation about building a brand with purpose, personalization, and a touch of rebellion.