RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield High School alumnus Mark Galione mentioned he’s at all times had an curiosity in exploring how fragrances have been made. Fast ahead about 5 years, Galione now has a cologne line, which he based and launched whereas wrapping up his research at Bentley University final spring.
The fragrance, Gali, is bought regionally at a number of Connecticut outlets, together with Hutton’s Fine Men’s Wear and Adam Broderick Salon & Spa in Ridgefield, and in fragrance shops on the Danbury Fair and West Farms malls.
Galione felt impressed to delve into the fragrance world when he began studying about advertising and promoting in school. He was intrigued by the “rising market” throughout the males’s magnificence trade and determined to dive in.
“I type of needed to interrupt among the obstacles by way of males being open about magnificence and speaking about merchandise they use,” he mentioned.
Initially, Galione wasn’t all for creating fragrances, however moderately producing an “computerized spraying” gadget for one — comparable to those who corporations like Glade have for air fresheners. But the idea was short-lived when Galione realized the market was saturated with loads of patents already in place.
When his brother purchased him a fragrance-making package, Galione rapidly discovered himself shifting to the inventive facet of the enterprise throughout his junior yr at Bentley. “If I (wasn’t) capable of make the … sprayer, I type of needed to make my very own cologne,” he mentioned, “(so) I simply began messing round, making my very own fragrance.”
Galione realized methods to layer totally different notes and performed analysis into the scents he preferred. While interning with L’Oreal he honed in on “smaller males’s magnificence merchandise” and pure elements. By the tip of his senior yr at Bentley, he had perfected the Gali scent — a mix of sandalwood, bergamot, sage, coconut and freshwater important oils.
“It’s not one thing if you stroll into the room (you’re) like, ‘oh, I can scent that particular person straight away’ — it lasts a really very long time,” he mentioned. “It’s nearly an on a regular basis fragrance, a clear and powerful scent” you may put on at residence or to the workplace.
The line’s launch was momentarily interrupted when Galione was despatched residence from college final spring, however he handled the pandemic as “a blessing in disguise.” The time at residence allowed him to deal with the launch, and after seeing how arduous small companies have been being hit, he selected to “leverage” native suppliers, he mentioned.
“It’s not solely … handmade on my own, but in addition we’re actually distinctive to make the most of native suppliers … and actually profit them whereas we glance to develop,” he added.
Gali’s supplies are sourced from small companies in Danbury, New York, New Jersey, Indiana and California, and Galione doesn’t have plans to alter that. “Quite a lot of these small companies give again to the neighborhood,” he mentioned. “Supporting native individuals is at all times an important factor to do to uplift the native financial system.”
Salon proprietor Adam Broderick mentioned the line can be an “glorious new addition” to his retailer. He described Gali as a “mild” scent that resembles an afterthought moderately than being “overpowering.”
“Fragrance is like artwork,” Broderick mentioned, “it’s one thing you’re feeling and gravitate towards.”
Broderick has recognized Galione’s household as shoppers for years, and described him as a younger, passionate entrepreneur that he’s “rooting for.”
“His story is as compelling because the fragrance,” he mentioned.
Adam Broderick Salon & Spa is at 89 Danbury Road in Ridgefield.
