HQ: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Founder: Barb Stegemann
Social:Instagram
Category: Fragrance
E-comm:the7virtues.com
Price Range: $32 – $94
Hero Product:Vanilla Woods ($94)
Stockist:Sephora
PR Representation: Samantha McNeil Consulting
How to get in touch:info@the7virtues.com
Origin Story
Founded by author and activist Barb Stegemann, The 7 Virtues is one of Sephora’s bestselling “clean” fragrance brands, built on the idea that business can be a force for good.
Stegemann’s journey to entrepreneurship began after her best friend, Captain Greene, was wounded on his mission to liberate women in Afghanistan. While he healed, Stegemann took on his mission of peace, which led her to write “The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen – a woman’s guide to living & leading in an illogical world.”
Through her activism, she learned that sourcing orange blossom oil from Afghan farmers freed them from illegal crops and liberated their daughters from becoming young brides. Realizing she could turn this oil into perfume, she launched The 7 Virtues on International Women’s Day in 2010. Within weeks, Stegemann secured investment on “Dragons’ Den,” enabling her to scale her social enterprise and support farmers worldwide.
Over the past 16 years, the brand has grown significantly and continues to fulfill Stegemann’s mission through work with Days for Girls. The B Corp-certified brand sells its aromatherapy perfume in 2,100 Sephora doors across 19 countries.
