Fragrance has the powerful ability to influence mood, create a vibe or transport us to a particular memory from a moment in time. Just a hint of a certain scent can instantly put us in a place we once visited or in a loved one’s warm embrace. Yet traditionally, fragrance formulas have included complicated and potentially harmful ingredients. Julie DeYoung, a University of Colorado Boulder business grad with an inherent entrepreneurial spirit, is breaking that tradition.
In 2024, DeYoung launched Humble Adobe, a home and personal fragrance brand produced in Colorado Springs with a focus on clean ingredients and accessible price points. The name reflects her commitment to creating high-quality products without pretense. Committed to smarter chemistry, Humble Abode uses ethically sourced ingredients entirely free from phthalates, parabens, mutagens, formaldehyde releasers and unnecessary fillers.
DeYoung introduced her brand in various community markets with three scents for the home: Garden, Sunroom and Bungalow. As her line gained momentum, DeYoung received repeated requests for wearable versions of her creations. An expansion into personal fragrance with perfume sprays and roller balls became deeply rewarding.
“I get such positive reactions from people who had given up on fragrance, people who would feel physically ill from conventional fragrance, and people who just love perfume and are happy to have found a new option,” DeYoung says. “I love that both the scents themselves and their clean ingredients resonate with different groups.”
Her formulation process is always evolving. In the beginning, DeYoung created scents based on personal favorites (florals, greens, citrus). Now, she introduces a new scent twice a year to coincide with the transitions between spring and summer, and fall and winter.
DeYoung’s inspiration comes from the seasons and from a distinct form of color synesthesia. In her mind, every fragrance has a visual hue: Sunroom is bright yellow, Ember is orange, and her newest scent, Pixie, is an iridescent mix of blue, purple, white and pink. This multi-sensory chemistry fuels her passion for the business, allowing her to maintain a playful spirit while making clean, intentional fragrances that never feel precious or overly exclusive.
“I enjoy the creation process—the mixing and the chemistry, packaging, stocking, selling, designing and branding,” DeYoung says. “It exercises my whole body, mind and spirit, and it keeps me busy and stimulated in the best way.”
Visit humbleabodeusa.com to browse the latest collections and find local retailers.