Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Knees.
Hi Dana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My professional career spans over 35 years across beauty powerhouses like Unilever, Robertet Fragrances, and Coty Beauty where I helped lead the industry’s massive shift into celebrity fragrances. Working across every facet of the health and beauty business, from marketing, product development and sales to consumer research, primed me perfectly to launch Pastiche Custom Perfume.
Pastiche is the first national sensory fragrance entertainment company. We bring the experience of creating a custom, handcrafted perfume gift directly to our client’s chosen venues. Today, our network of trained designers delivers interactive scent experiences for major corporate events, teambuilding, luxury weddings, and private celebrations.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building Pastiche has been incredibly rewarding, but rarely is the path simple. There are a lot of twists and turns and you have to be willing to change, listen to consumer feedback and move on. I’ve often said it was our clients who helped us develop and grow.
Coming from a classical marketing background, I was fortunate to build my career when leaders managed the entire 360-degree brand building process- an end-to-end perspective that isn’t as common in today’s hyper-specialized, tech driven roles.
That full-spectrum foundation proved crucial when we hit our first real startup challenge; pivoting our business model.
We originally launched Pastiche as a home party direct sell business however consumer market feedback pushed us toward luxury corporate events and high-end celebrations.
Overhauling our business strategy in real time was a test, but it proved to be our best decision. Leveraging my classic marketing background allowed us to easily restructure our model to meet that demand, turning an initial plan into our strongest growth potential.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Pastiche Custom Perfume, I lead our client experience and event strategy, specializing in transforming standard corporate and private gatherings into luxury, interactive sensory activations. I love creativity!
What sets us apart from generic craft concepts is our uncompromising commitment to prestige quality and total customization.
– Master Perfumer Formulations: Our scent bases are developed by acclaimed Master Perfumer Vito Lenoci, offering real fine-fragrance caliber rather than hobbyist blends. Trivia: Most people don’t realize who Master Perfumers are and understand their extreme talent. I like to compare them to wine sommeliers. They can sniff out fragrance and ingredient materials like no other. There are more astronauts than Master Perfumers, so let’s just say they are rare and appreciated.
– Bespoke Branding: Guests design custom labels for their premium 1.0 oz glass bottles on site- complete with event-themed packaging like our signature white opaque and black velvet gift bags.
– Tailored Bar Presentation: We design the entire fragrance bar aesthetic to align directly with our client’s brand or event theme.
I’m most proud of bridging high-end luxury perfumery with seamless event logistics, creating a memorable, interactive gift experience where every guest leaves with a personalized keepsake.
It’s worth mentioning that scent is one of our biggest triggers to memory.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking is one of my Superpowers! I have always loved meeting new people and nurturing those relationships over decades. My biggest advice is to recognize that networking takes deliberate effort, don’t wait for people to reach out to you; take the initiative, and be specific about how they can help.
LinkedIn is an absolute must for this. We even taught our kids to start a profile in high school. Never hesitate to connect with someone new; you’ll be amazed by how willing people are to share their insights.
Beyond general networking, my mentors have been instrumental at critical career crossroads. They challenged me to take calculated leaps I might not have taken on my own.
– Moving to NYC: A mentor encouraged me to make the leap from Kentucky field sales to corporate headquarters in New York. Needless to say, a whole new world opened up for me on so many levels.
– Navigating Industry Leaders: Another guided my strategic move from Unilever to Coty Beauty. My knowledge of consumer products both Health and Beauty expanded beyond what I could have imagined.
-Pivoting to the Creative Side: A key mentor pushed me to join a fragrance house, shifting from massive corporate structures to the deeply creative, artisanal side of the beauty industry. Corporate became my clients.
Great mentors push you to look forward and embrace new paths, knowing you can always adapt along the way.
Accept the challenge when you can and GO FOR IT!
Pricing:
- We price our events individually as guests quantity, location, and timing impact pricing.
- For those on a budget, we offer a DIY Fragrance Bar, complete with video instruction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pasticheperfume.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasticheperfume/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.knees
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-knees-46a8925
- Other: dana@pasticheperfume.com
