Entrepreneur Chat
Lily AldridgeWho among us hasn't dreamt of a career pivot? The Veronicas certainly did—and it's what inspired the launch of their company, having previously worked in finance (Miele Beard) and as a buyer (Swanson Beard). The same holds true for Lily Aldridge, whom you'll recognize as an ever-present model on the fashion stage (and a former star in our campaign, too). Just this fall, she entered the beauty business on the entrepreneurial side with the debut of her own fragrance line, Lily Aldridge Parfums. Her first scent, Haven, with notes of rose, peony and musk, dropped in September; Summit, tinged with notes of tobacco, leather and spices, launches this month. Here, Aldridge—who's also a mother of two—takes some time out from her busy life to dive into her new start-up chapter with us.
Q&A
What inspired you to go into fragrance?
The world of beauty has always fascinated me. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the industry for years, thanks to my career—but I’ve always wanted to do something on my own. When the opportunity to create Lily Aldridge Parfums came about, I immediately jumped at that chance. Fragrance is just so special. I love how different smells can evoke certain emotions or memories of specific places.
The world of beauty has always fascinated me. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the industry for years, thanks to my career—but I’ve always wanted to do something on my own. When the opportunity to create Lily Aldridge Parfums came about, I immediately jumped at that chance. Fragrance is just so special. I love how different smells can evoke certain emotions or memories of specific places.
What are the pros and cons of the start-up life?
Starting a company is a lot of work and a lot of pressure! I am juggling so many things and trying to be the best at all of them: the best mom, the best wife, the best sister/daughter, the best model and the best CEO of my own brand. Sometimes I am traveling so much I don’t know what day of the week it is. I am lucky that I have a great team to support me in all aspects of my life because no one can do it alone.
Starting a company is a lot of work and a lot of pressure! I am juggling so many things and trying to be the best at all of them: the best mom, the best wife, the best sister/daughter, the best model and the best CEO of my own brand. Sometimes I am traveling so much I don’t know what day of the week it is. I am lucky that I have a great team to support me in all aspects of my life because no one can do it alone.
Tell us about your new scents…
Haven is inspired by my home in Nashville. I love my garden and having fresh flowers in the house, and Haven perfectly encapsulates that. It’s a soft floral scent with notes of rose, peony, and musk. The floral hits you first, and then, throughout the day, the musky floral smell kind of stays with you. Summit is a gender-neutral fragrance with a cologne-like scent. It's darker, deeper, and cozier, with notes of tobacco, leather, and spices. It's a side of me that I didn't even know was there.
Haven is inspired by my home in Nashville. I love my garden and having fresh flowers in the house, and Haven perfectly encapsulates that. It’s a soft floral scent with notes of rose, peony, and musk. The floral hits you first, and then, throughout the day, the musky floral smell kind of stays with you. Summit is a gender-neutral fragrance with a cologne-like scent. It's darker, deeper, and cozier, with notes of tobacco, leather, and spices. It's a side of me that I didn't even know was there.
What is your favorite way to put on a scent?
I like to spray it all over! I always make sure it gets in my hair so when people hug me they can smell it!
I like to spray it all over! I always make sure it gets in my hair so when people hug me they can smell it!
What’s your favorite home scent?
One of my earliest scent memories is going into my mother’s bathroom and spraying her perfumes everywhere. She actually gave me a rosewater spray when I was little from Whole Foods (then called Mrs. Gooch’s) so that I could have a scent of my own—probably so that I’d stop spraying her expensive ones. To this day, I still love that smell of rose water.
One of my earliest scent memories is going into my mother’s bathroom and spraying her perfumes everywhere. She actually gave me a rosewater spray when I was little from Whole Foods (then called Mrs. Gooch’s) so that I could have a scent of my own—probably so that I’d stop spraying her expensive ones. To this day, I still love that smell of rose water.
A Day in the Life with Lily Aldridge
Morning routine…
The first thing I do when I wake up is take a hot bath. I use Goop bath salts with arnica. I take care of my skin with Tata Harper moisturizer and eye cream. I love Tata Harper's line because it is all natural yet still effective. I keep my face cream and jade ice roller in a mini fridge.
Then I will wake up my baby to nurse him. After that, I will get my daughter up and get her ready for school. After dropping her at school I will come back home and make myself breakfast. I will scramble a couple of eggs with sliced avocado and a green juice. I make my own green juice with ginger, apple and lots of healthy vegetables. I always have tons of green juice and beet juice in my fridge. And I love the earthy, sweeter taste of the beets.
The first thing I do when I wake up is take a hot bath. I use Goop bath salts with arnica. I take care of my skin with Tata Harper moisturizer and eye cream. I love Tata Harper's line because it is all natural yet still effective. I keep my face cream and jade ice roller in a mini fridge.
Then I will wake up my baby to nurse him. After that, I will get my daughter up and get her ready for school. After dropping her at school I will come back home and make myself breakfast. I will scramble a couple of eggs with sliced avocado and a green juice. I make my own green juice with ginger, apple and lots of healthy vegetables. I always have tons of green juice and beet juice in my fridge. And I love the earthy, sweeter taste of the beets.
How do you decide your outfit for the day?
Honestly, if I am home it’s about comfort. I dress up enough for my job that if I don’t have to then I just throw on Levi’s jeans. I created my own capsule line with them a few years ago and have always loved the fit of their jeans. I probably have as many pairs of jeans as there are days in a year. With a baby you can’t be too precious about clothing!
Honestly, if I am home it’s about comfort. I dress up enough for my job that if I don’t have to then I just throw on Levi’s jeans. I created my own capsule line with them a few years ago and have always loved the fit of their jeans. I probably have as many pairs of jeans as there are days in a year. With a baby you can’t be too precious about clothing!
What's typically in your bag?
Headphones, Windsor Edwards lip balm, my perfume, Dr. Bronner’s hand sanitizer, and crayons!
Headphones, Windsor Edwards lip balm, my perfume, Dr. Bronner’s hand sanitizer, and crayons!
Workout routine…
I train with Mary Helen Bowers from Ballet Beautiful. You could compare our workouts to a Pilates mat class with a little bit of barre. It’s great for my body, and when I’m on the road she’ll FaceTime with me so I’m able to keep up with our sessions.
I also like to spend 15 minutes during the day doing meditation with my Headspace app. This allows me time to be mindful during the hectic day.
I train with Mary Helen Bowers from Ballet Beautiful. You could compare our workouts to a Pilates mat class with a little bit of barre. It’s great for my body, and when I’m on the road she’ll FaceTime with me so I’m able to keep up with our sessions.
I also like to spend 15 minutes during the day doing meditation with my Headspace app. This allows me time to be mindful during the hectic day.
When you need an afternoon pick-me-up, what do you do?
I’ll pick-up a matcha latte.
I’ll pick-up a matcha latte.
Nighttime routine…
Depending on my evening plans I will either be getting ready for an event or date night or staying in and cooking with my family. I love making the roast chicken from Gwyneth’s cookbook It’s All Good.
If I am going to an event or on a date night with Caleb I will always start my routine with a 111SKIN sheet mask or a DIY Greek-yogurt-and-honey mask that softens your skin and helps reduce puffy eyes. Then it’s a hot shower where I like to use a body scrub I make myself with ground-up coffee and coconut oil. It’s really good for circulation, and it smells delicious. I always use Olaplex hair shampoo and conditioner, and if I have time I will do a hair mask, my fave is Oribe's Masque for Beautiful Color.
After the shower I will put my hair in pigtails to allow it to dry naturally with a nice easy wave—this is not only better for my hair, but it saves so much time, which means more family time!
Depending on my evening plans I will either be getting ready for an event or date night or staying in and cooking with my family. I love making the roast chicken from Gwyneth’s cookbook It’s All Good.
If I am going to an event or on a date night with Caleb I will always start my routine with a 111SKIN sheet mask or a DIY Greek-yogurt-and-honey mask that softens your skin and helps reduce puffy eyes. Then it’s a hot shower where I like to use a body scrub I make myself with ground-up coffee and coconut oil. It’s really good for circulation, and it smells delicious. I always use Olaplex hair shampoo and conditioner, and if I have time I will do a hair mask, my fave is Oribe's Masque for Beautiful Color.
After the shower I will put my hair in pigtails to allow it to dry naturally with a nice easy wave—this is not only better for my hair, but it saves so much time, which means more family time!
Bedtime rituals…
I always take off my makeup! That’s the most important thing.
I always take off my makeup! That’s the most important thing.
And what gets you motivated to start it all over the next day?
My children. I want Dixie to know that she can do anything she sets her mind to and that giving up is not an option. This journey has been very challenging at times, but it is so rewarding and worth every sleepless night. It is easy to have an idea; the hard part and the most fulfilling part is seeing the idea come to life.
My children. I want Dixie to know that she can do anything she sets her mind to and that giving up is not an option. This journey has been very challenging at times, but it is so rewarding and worth every sleepless night. It is easy to have an idea; the hard part and the most fulfilling part is seeing the idea come to life.
The world of beauty has always fascinated me. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the industry for years, thanks to my career—but I’ve always wanted to do something on my own.