# 030: Launching a product with $500 and no industry knowledge, Josh Smith of Libertine Fragrance

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2016-12-06
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti
- Listen: http://theproductstartup.com/tps030-josh-smith-libertine-fragrance/

## Summary

Josh Smith, founder of Libertine Fragrance, explains how he launched his unisex perfume brand with only $500 and no prior industry knowledge while finishing his industrial design degree. He details his bootstrapping process, including mixing 30-70 ingredients per formula in his home, navigating IFRA regulations for European markets, and validating demand through anonymous student feedback and boutique retail partnerships. Smith discusses the challenges of scaling production for new cosmetic lines, managing quality control without third-party testing, and securing a positive review from prominent perfume critic Luca Turin to boost international sales.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=0) Introduction: Josh Smith and Libertine Fragrance
- [1:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=113) From Industrial Design to Perfumery
- [5:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=331) Regulatory Hurdles and IFRA Standards
- [10:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=620) Bootstrapping with $500 and Ingredient Sourcing
- [13:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=815) Developing Unisex Scents and Consumer Education
- [22:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=1341) The Luca Turin Review and Sales Growth
- [29:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=1793) Hiring Designers and Defining the Audience
- [33:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=1980) Home Lab Production and Aging Processes
- [38:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=2300) Retail Strategies and Direct Sales Channels
- [46:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti#t=2785) Quality Control and Scaling Challenges

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Libertine Fragrance (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- IFRA (other)
- Luca Turin (other)
- Eco Cacoon (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-23-advice-line-with-eric-ryan-of-method-returns) (How I Built This)
- [Simple Mills: Katlin Smith](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-02-15-simple-mills-katlin-smith) (How I Built This)
- [method: Adam Lowry & Eric Ryan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-08-method-adam-lowry-eric-ryan) (How I Built This)
- [Eileen Fisher: Eileen Fisher (2017)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017) (How I Built This)
- [Tarte Cosmetics: Maureen Kelly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-23-tarte-cosmetics-maureen-kelly) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Product Startup.