The Perfume Making Podcast

Don’t Sell Yourself Short! Building a Perfume Business Without the Discount Spiral


Listen Later

It’s easy to think that the best way to stay ahead in business is by watching your competitors and lowering your prices when they do. But as Karen explains in this episode, that common fear-driven reaction often backfires. Responding to competition by undercutting your value can leave you overwhelmed, undervalued, and unsure of your direction.

Karen breaks down why “cheaper” is rarely the answer, how to build a business rooted in confidence and authenticity, and what it really takes to attract the right customers, whether you’re a perfumer or creative entrepreneur.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Don’t let fear of competition dictate your choices. Competing on price is a race to the bottom; focus on your quality and what sets you apart.
    • When each business focuses on its unique strengths and client experience, they can all thrive.
      • True customer loyalty comes from trust, quality, and connection. Not from your being the cheapest.
        • If you are struggling to resist the temptation to lower your prices, learn from those who have been where you are now. Seek out courses, community, or mentoring to strengthen your mindset and business skills.
        • BEST MOMENTS

          “Please, for the love of everything, don't compete on price ever. It never works. It always falls flat.”

          “Cheap perfumes aren’t true competitors to original, high-quality fragrances—each attracts a different customer and fulfils a different need in the market.”

          “Fear often shows up when you are not fully sold on your own value yet. It's never about the competition.”

          EPISODE RESOURCES

          In Person Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes

          Bespoke Perfumery Course: https://karengilbert.info/bespoke-perfumery-masterclass

          Mindset Course (included with The Artisan Perfumery Mastermind): https://www.onlineperfumeschool.com/mindset-magic-masterclass-online-course

          VALUABLE RESOURCES

          Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide

          Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/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 - https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/

          Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karengilbert/

          Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenGilbert.co.uk

          YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarenGilbertPerfumeMaking

          This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store

          The Perfume Making PodcastBy Karen Gilbert

          • 4.9
          • 4.9
          • 4.9
          • 4.9
          • 4.9

          4.9

          56 ratings


          More shows like The Perfume Making Podcast

          View all
          Sexy Unique Podcast by What's Your Journey?

          Sexy Unique Podcast

          3,323 Listeners

          Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

          Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

          14,871 Listeners

          Emergence Magazine Podcast by Emergence Magazine

          Emergence Magazine Podcast

          504 Listeners

          Articles of Interest by Avery Trufelman

          Articles of Interest

          3,567 Listeners

          As the Season Turns by Ffern

          As the Season Turns

          236 Listeners

          How to make perfume by Sam Macer

          How to make perfume

          3 Listeners

          Perfume Room by Emma Vernon

          Perfume Room

          583 Listeners

          On The Scent by Nicola Bonn

          On The Scent

          67 Listeners

          If Books Could Kill by Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

          If Books Could Kill

          9,393 Listeners

          Fragraphilia - The Podcast by Jeff and Jane Dashley

          Fragraphilia - The Podcast

          58 Listeners

          Les Oderants by les oderants

          Les Oderants

          29 Listeners

          Paperback Perfumes by Clare Presser

          Paperback Perfumes

          3 Listeners

          Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud by Bella Freud

          Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

          258 Listeners

          It's Just Perfume by Luckyscent

          It's Just Perfume

          81 Listeners

          Making Scents Make Sense by Thomas Dunckley

          Making Scents Make Sense

          6 Listeners