My name is Indy, I'm 13 and live in southern California. Before I started my cologne business, I developed a passion for fragrances but couldn’t afford designer scents. Determined to create my own, I began experimenting with simple ingredients like water and flowers. I shared my idea with my parents, who helped me get essential oils and rubbing alcohol. Unsure of where to start, I turned to ChatGPT for a recipe, and while my first attempt was decent, I needed more guidance. My friend Noah joined me in the fun, and while hanging out at the park, we jokingly brainstormed names for our brand, eventually settling on “Mansweat.”

Initially, we planned to create limited-edition colognes available for just one month, but we eventually changed direction. After testing a few formulations, we found two that smelled great, although they didn’t last as long as we wanted. We worked on the strength and got it to last a longer and then set up shop at a local market where kids sold everything from plants to candy, making us the only ones selling cologne. To our surprise, we earned $370 from our first batch! Excited by our success, Noah and I decided to reinvest all the profits into our business, creating a website to reach even more customers online.