Participated · Series A · Jun 2019

Phlur, founded in 2015 and based in Austin, Texas, is a digital-first fragrance company certified as a B Corp that provides transparency into its ingredients and processes. Its product portfolio includes fragrances, body care, candles, and a recently launched natural deodorant line called Explore Naturals. The company sells direct-to-consumer at phlur.com and through retail partners including Sephora and Credo; Explore Naturals is available at explorenaturals.com, Amazon, and Central Market. Phlur completed a $7M Series A funding round led by Symrise, with participation from Next Coast Ventures and Belcorp. In conjunction with the financing, Phlur acquired Texas Beauty Labs (founded in 2008 by Mary Berry), which has been renamed The Goodkind Co. The acquisition is positioned to expand manufacturing capabilities and enhance product and service offerings for current and future clients, supporting Phlur's product development and growth. Phlur is a direct-to-consumer fragrance brand launched in 2016 by founder and CEO Eric Korman in Austin, TX. The company offers an online discovery experience paired with a novel at-home sampling program to help customers find scents. Its fragrances are crafted with non-toxic, sustainably sourced ingredients and specifically avoid parabens, phthalates, BHT and other preservatives; each 50mL bottle sale triggers a $5 donation to the IUCN. In 2017 Phlur quintupled its revenue, acquired over 35,000 paying customers, and expanded its offering with premium scented candles. The brand works with Symrise on scents such as Hanami, Olmsted & Vaux, Hepcat and Siano. Phlur plans to use new funding to scale the business, diversify marketing, launch new distribution channels and extend into body care. Phlur is an Austin, TX-based gender-neutral, sustainable fragrance brand founded in 2015. It combines premium ingredients and environmentally responsible practices with a digital experience that explores scents through visual narratives representing the inspiration and feeling behind each fragrance. The brand offers six gender-neutral fragrances accompanied by digital visual stories and playlists, and lets users choose two scents, layer them in real life, and allow those scents to evolve as they are worn. Phlur raised $1.8M in convertible debt funding led by Next Coast Ventures, with additional backing from founder Eric Korman. The company plans to use the funds to expand existing operations and to launch new scents and new products in the coming year.