They say that wonderful things happens when you are not expect them, and this is how I met Mason, by a wonderful coincide.
I was looking for a non toxic perfume forever!!! It was almost 2 years without putting anything on my skin until my mentor did an open evening for non toxic beauty products and there he shared one of Mason's perfume oils - palo santo.
I ordered that immediately. At that moment I knew I have to meet Mason, I did a very impressive Instagram search and found his account, I DM him knowing I would LOVE to learn more about him.
He's a pure artist, from the smells he creates to the visuals, and story behind every perfume. And add the fact that everything is NON TOXIC, he's going to be your new fav master of smell!
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Mason Hainey. I am a clean perfumer based in Rhode Island. I started this journey in 2012 — I was originally in menswear, making ties, wedding goods, and custom garments, always dreaming of building a clean, mindful lifestyle brand. I started exploring scent when I discovered that aromatherapy really helped calm my anxiety. That led me to candles first, then perfume, and it just kept going from there. I never thought perfume would be where I ended up, I always imagined I'd be in the art world or fashion, but looking back, it feels very kismet. I'm completely self-taught. I live in Rhode Island, love to hike, prefer mountains over beaches (a bit ironic for the Ocean State!), and I have a blue heeler named River who is my child.
Did you had an 'aha' moment when you decided you were going to be a perfumer?
It kind of found me rather than the other way around. I had started making aromatherapy blends for myself to help with my anxiety, and I would refine them with beautiful essences and extracts. When I started sharing them with friends, the reaction was immediate , people would say, 'Oh my god, I love this. I love how it makes me feel, I love what it brings up for me.' That sense of nostalgia, healing, and energy you can give someone through fragrance, that's what really instilled this love of the craft in me. The ability to help others through something I love to create. That was the real aha moment.
How did you start to making non- toxic perfume? why non-toxic?
It was a gradual realization. When I first started, I used a mix of natural and synthetic oils from candle supply stores, and I found them so overpowering — they made my eyes water and my nose itch. That led me to study aromatherapy and make my own blends, which I loved for their softness and naturalness. When I moved into perfume, everything on the market was overpowering and synthetic. I'd look at a perfume card listing notes and just smell a sharp chemical smell instead. I thought — why are we putting this on our bodies? I want to know what I'm wearing. From that point forward, everything has been from a holistic mindset, both in terms of what we put on our bodies and how we impact the planet through our ingredients.
What inspire you to create a new scent?
Largely my love of both nature and design, and finding a middle ground between the two — both in how I express things in marketing and how I create a formula. I find myself most inspired through personal style and being out in nature. Inspiration can hit you like a brick — it could be a story you're thinking about — and then a scent might come together in three months. Or it could be a two-year-long process. But at its core, what inspires a lot of my work is the beauty of unseen moments. Those things we often take for granted — the fleeting rays of sunlight, golden hour, the feeling of a cotton sweater. Those little luxuries we overlook. I want to pause on those and remind people: this is what life is really about. It's not the big things. It's all the million mini moments in the day-to-day.
Can you share with us a little bit about the process of creating non toxic perfume?
It always starts with a brief — a concept, a story. This is the most important part because building a fragrance is really building a world to step into. So research comes first: mood boarding, colors, place, time of day, light, surroundings. Then I pull materials that reflect the feeling I want to offer.
There are three main classifications of ingredients — base notes, heart notes, and top notes (the pyramid). They're structured by molecular volatility. Base notes are heavy and stay longest on skin. Heart notes — precious florals, some herbs — are what you smell after about 30 minutes. Top notes — citruses, pink peppers, lighter herbs — are what you smell immediately after applying.
We select a variety of each category that reflects the story, then we start smelling: what works together? How do we make it a bit cooler, a bit more floral? And then we revise, revise, revise. We test on skin, share with friends, gather feedback. Then it moves into package design, marketing, and launch. The whole cycle can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
What does personal Style mean to you?
Personal style is the confidence and freedom to be yourself. It's wearing what you like, embodying who you are, and not being afraid of what someone's going to think or judge you for. It is purely individual. It's using your eye to put together patterns and textures, knowing what you like, knowing who you are, and having the freedom to let that evolve as you age. Personal style is everything.
Do you have any tips for buying second hand?
Know what brands work for you, know what quality looks like — that's the biggest thing. But also be open. When I walk into a thrift store, the first things I'm looking for are: What colors do I like? What is the textile like? What's the construction like — how is this made? And then I ask: is this worthy of trying on?
I've also been pushing myself beyond my usual style limits lately — reaching for bigger sizes, trying on different patterns, picking up t-shirts I wouldn't normally wear. Just having fun and playing. I've been thrifting since high school and some of my best finds have been Gucci loafers at a Savers, a vintage Dior shirt, and my personal favorite — a 1950s brown leather jacket with a fur collar that fits me perfectly. I don't buy new leather, but I love a great vintage piece. If you're ever in New England, the thrifting is incredible.
Please share with us 4 items you are obsessed that are under $100:
1. Eau de Parfum Discovery set — $50 : A first encounter with our work — our discovery set shares the ability to explore our work at your leisure and find what works best for you. We love these sample sizes because it also gives you the ability to play with layering fragrance and explore combinations that feel most “you.
2. Palo Santo essential oil candle - $38 — Our most loved candle, designed to help ease anxiety and calm the mind. We partner with an incredible farm in Ecuador who supplies us with our Palo Santo essential oil that we use in this candle. We wanted to cut out the middle man distributor, and support the farmers directly ( putting more money in their pockets ), and find a more sustainable way of sourcing this precious oil. Our partner farm only harvests the dead fallen branches of Palo Santo ( no direct farming ), and also operates their own reforestation program, ensuring a rich biodiverse landscape that gives back, as much as it takes. They have planted over 12,000 Palo Santo trees back into the forest since 2015!
Shop Paol Santo essential oil candle
3. Instax Camera — $79.99 Photography is one of my greatest passions, and I love the honest beauty of instant photos. I’ve been taking them since I was in college and now have a few albums full of these memories! It’s really fun to look back on.
4. Stalogy Japanese Notebook $38 - I journal daily as part of my mindfulness practice. I picked this one up in Tokyo last spring ( Japanese stationery is truly the best ) - and I love the size, paper feel and design. Plus is has 1 page for each day of the year!
Where can we find you and follow your journey?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhainey.studio/
Online shop: https://mhainey.com/
