How The 7 Virtues Went Viral: Barb Stegemann on Sephora, Dragons’ Den, & Strawberry Jam

In this episode, we welcome back Barb Stegemann, the founder of The 7 Virtues. From her garage in Halifax to the shelves of 2,000 Sephora stores globally, Stegemann’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and "perfumes for peace." We discuss how she turned a social enterprise into a TikTok viral sensation and why her "clean beauty" philosophy is changing the fragrance industry. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a Dragons’ Den fan, or a fragrance lover, this interview offers deep insights into building a brand with purpose. Episode Highlights: Viral Perfumes: The success of Santal Vanille and Amber Vanilla. The Vanilla Trend: How Vanilla Woods became a bestseller years before the gourmand craze. Clean Beauty Standards: What organic sugar cane alcohol and fragrance load really mean for your scent. New Launch: Why Strawberry Jam is the brand's biggest release to date. Dragons’ Den: Stegemann reflects on her 56-fold return for Brett Wilson and returning as a guest dragon for the 20th anniversary. Philosophy: Leadership lessons from Marcus Aurelius and the power of being underestimated. Show Partner: Vivier Building on their legacy of Vitamin C innovation, Vivier recently launched their most advanced formula to date—Vivier Serum 30, designed to visibly brighten the skin, refine tone, texture and support a more radiant, even-looking complexion. Visit https://www.VivierSkin.com and use code BEAUTY15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase. Shop everything mentioned in this video here: https://shopmy.us/collections/5133240 THE 7 VIRTUES | Vanilla Woods Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56381992 THE 7 VIRTUES | Santal Vanille Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382110 THE 7 VIRTUES | Coconut Sun Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382198 THE 7 VIRTUES | Clementine Dream Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382310 THE 7 VIRTUES | Amber Vanilla Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382430 THE 7 VIRTUES | Cherry Ambition Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382539 THE 7 VIRTUES | Buttercream Haze Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382643 THE 7 VIRTUES | Lotus Pear Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382754 THE 7 VIRTUES | Strawberry Jam Eau De Parfum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382860 THE 7 VIRTUES | Perfume Layering Discovery Set: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56382969 AMAZON CANADA | The 7 Virtues Of A Philosopher Queen: A Woman's Guide To Living And Leading In An Illogical World: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56440101 AMAZON USA | The 7 Virtues Of A Philosopher Queen: A Woman's Guide To Living And Leading In An Illogical World: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56440263 Shop more of my favorite products here: https://shopmy.us/breakingbeautypodcast #The7Virtues #BarbStegemann #CleanBeauty #Sephora #Fragrance #DragonsDen #Halifax #Entrepreneurship #VanillaWoods #PerfumeReview Links & Social Media: Get all product and episode details: https://breakingbeautypodcast.com/episode-recaps/ 🇺🇸Shop, and follow, our USA Amazon storefront for even more deals! https://www.amazon.com/shop/breakingbeautypodcast 🇨🇦Shop, and follow, our Canadian Amazon storefront for even more deals! https://www.amazon.ca/shop/breakingbeautypodcast Join the Breaking Beauty community: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakingbeautypodcast/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakingbeautypodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401081996684767 Substack Signup: https://substack.com/@breakingbeautypodcast Podcast Hotline: 1-844-227-0302 Hosts: Carlene Higgins: https://www.instagram.com/carlenehiggins/?hl=en and Jill Dunn: https://www.instagram.com/jilldunnbeauty/ Theme song, used with permission: Cherry Bomb by Saya: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5M60ox9b9C4RSPOYYQLTae?si=5fTy2nnTSCS-VsPrBl4hpg Produced by Dear Media Studio: https://dearmedia.com/ More about our podcast: “If you're going to trust anyone's beauty expertise, make it Breaking Beauty's founders, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins” - ELLE.com Get ready with us! We’re Jill and Carlene, two longtime beauty editors who have seen it all and swatched it all, and now we’re here to tell you what’s good every single Wednesday. Whether you’re searching for the latest insider-fave foundation, building a gimmick-free skincare routine, or interested in learning tips from the absolute best talent in the beauty biz, tune for epic guests like Makeup By Mario, skincare guru Dr. Shereene Idriss and breakthrough people who are moving the needle in beauty today: everyone from celebs like Hailey Bieber and Tracee Ellis Ross to creators like Jackie Aina and Mikayla Nogueira. Plus, don’t miss our monthly #DamnGood reviews of trending drugstore and spendy finds that are worth the $$$ – you’re glowing already!