At what moment did you know that people (and men specifically) needed a brand like Hawthorne?
My partner Brian and I were tired of personal care trial and error. Growing up, hair and skin products I was marketed to never seemed to be agreeable, and when it came to fragrances, you had to dig hard to find something of quality that spoke to you and didn’t smell like you pulled it straight from a magazine sample or department store. We wanted to make it easier on ourselves but also for the guys around us.

I have to ask for the routine! What can’t you go to sleep/get ready in the morning without doing?
I can’t start or finish the day without a good cleanse or moisturizer (Hawthorne, of course :) ), but depending on the season I like to add some pieces into the mix - this summer i’ve been using ‘Centella’ by Madagascar, which calms any sun damage, and this serum called ‘Reedle Shot’, which replicates microneedling. It feels like a hundred microscopic ants are stabbing you. It really helps if you have any stubborn acne spots. It’s also just fun, once you get over the hostility of the sensation. At this stage of experimenting with products, the experience is key.

What is your source of personal style inspiration right now and why? (Can be a person, object, etc)
I like to just have uniforms and not think about it. Usually the inspiration is a mix of skate (my adolescent self), chinatown uncs, and keanu reeves. Combos of baggy XL tees, tank tops, long denim shorts, good sunglasses, maybe some silver jeans, the perfectly washed old black tee with some crusted illegible screenprint on it. Easy like the breeze. Business nonchalance.

What’s a piece of clothing that you had in school that you wish you kept?
My Smashing Pumpkins merch.

When was the last time you went to the beach? Tell me about that day!
I almost never go to the beach when I’m home in NY, so I probably haven’t been since Marseille last summer. There’s a secluded beach spot I like that lies within a massive stretch of mountain called the Calanques. You have to take an Uber out of the city, dropping you off in this little fisherman town. From there you hike 20-30 minutes through jagged cliffside with insane views. On my way to the beach, I hiked by someone struggling to get through, and asked if she needed help. She responded in English, American English, which was pretty rare that trip, and of course, right behind her was my friend from NY. She was wearing heels and I was wearing leather boots…top tier hiking options. Neither of us let that stop us from reaching beach utopia. We said our goodbyes, and later reconvened by the Uber pickup with some drinks and a sunset.

I know Hawthorne also has a range of colognes. What do you like to smell like and why?
The more smells I experience through Hawthorne, the more I want to smell like non-things. Usually it’s about warm Citruses, or resinous woods, but lately I’ve been really into molecules. These are usually plant based extracts our perfumers synthesize into musks and molecules. A lot of times they’re added to fragrance compositions to make them even more lovable and intriguing. They almost smell like fiction, things that shouldn’t exist. They smell like feelings, abstract places, like a song you’re hearing for the first time. It energizes me in new ways every day.

Do you have any thoughts on the rise of male celebrity beauty brands? (Like Pharrell, Harry Styles etc).
It merch-ifies self care, which I think is great. Self care needs to be more accessible to guys other than from a clinical standpoint. If some of these celebrities add their personal flare to the products, even better (Humanrace by Pharrell, Tsu Lange Yor by Troye Sivan are some notable ones).

When you’re not working, where are you most likely to be found?
I work too much – but when I give myself a break, I’m usually loitering around Chinatown with friends or singing Karaoke!

What’s a habit you’ve been trying to break and why?
Not giving myself permission to go on a trip.

Any advice for young people looking to start a brand?
A big hurdle for most people is the fear of messing up, and over-perfecting something to death. You’re never going to know until you put something out in the universe. You could perfect things to your highest standards and the world might not even care. You have to get through that potential outcome and just come to play. Especially early on, there might be many things you end up pivoting and tinkering with, and that’s completely fine! No one will know, or care. Also lead with your strengths and feel passionately about it – if you’re a designer, let your own taste of design shine through, it makes it all the more own-able.