Masich came up with the idea of formulating fragrances inspired by college campuses in 2007, when she was working in the energy sector. Penn State was the first school to get its own fragrance and the company now sells colognes and perfumes based on nine others.
Masich is president and CEO of Masik and lives in New York City while her parents and brother, partners in the business, run its offices in Harrisburg. This fall the company plans to sell smaller bottles of its scents along with hanging air fresheners.
While the fragrances are inspired by each campus, they aren’t supposed to smell exactly like the quad or the student union. Masik develops fragrances by gathering information about school colors, flowers on campus, college traditions and other attributes. Perfumers take all this and turn it into fragrances. “We hope that, over time, people will associate that smell with the school,” Masich says.
Over the next few years Masik plans to expand to other colleges with large alumni groups and popular football programs. Masich’s alma mater, Bucknell University, will probably get its own scent, too some sort of classic scent. “When I think of Bucknell I think of a very clean, classic campus,” she says.
Source: Katie Masich, Masik Collegiate Fragrances
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen