The Heritage
The Story of Leland Francis
Leland Francis is a U.S.-based fragrance house that builds each scent from whole‑plant essential oils and botanical extracts. Founded in Oklahoma in 2015, the label began with hand‑poured candles before expanding into perfume, skincare and home fragrance. The brand’s catalogue includes Dirt Roads (2022), Stoner (2022), La Reina (2022), Cowboy (2023), Picnic (2024) and Pomelo Sensual (2025). All products are made in the United States, free of synthetic aroma chemicals, and aim to capture a sense of place through natural materials.
Heritage
The story of Leland Francis begins with Dillon Peña, a native of Oklahoma who grew up on a family farm. In 2015 he launched a small candle line that used only pure essential oils sourced from regional growers. The early candles were poured by hand in a modest studio, and word of mouth helped the brand gain a loyal following among people who valued transparency and simplicity. By 2017 the candle range expanded to include seasonal scents, and the company began experimenting with perfume‑grade ingredients while keeping the same natural‑only ethos. The first fragrance collection arrived in 2022, introducing Dirt Roads, Stoner, La Reina, El Santo, 109 and other compositions that referenced rural landscapes and personal memories. 2023 saw the release of Cowboy and Cowgirl, two gender‑fluid scents that blended smoky woods with bright citrus. In 2024 Leland Francis added Picnic, a bright, herbaceous fragrance designed for outdoor gatherings, and in 2025 the brand launched Pomelo Sensual, a citrus‑forward scent that highlighted the versatility of whole‑fruit extracts. Throughout its first decade the company has remained rooted in Oklahoma values, supporting local farms, using recyclable packaging and maintaining a small‑batch production model. The ten‑year anniversary in 2025 was marked by a limited‑edition candle that celebrated the brand’s journey from a garage operation to a nationally recognized natural fragrance house.
Craftsmanship
Production at Leland Francis follows a small‑batch model that prioritises quality over volume. Candle waxes are melted in stainless‑steel vats, then blended with measured drops of essential oils that have been cold‑pressed or steam‑distilled by partner farms. The mixture is poured into reusable tins and left to cure for a minimum of 48 hours before packaging. For perfume, the house purchases whole‑plant extracts directly from growers in Kansas, Texas and California, ensuring traceability through batch certificates. These extracts are blended by hand in a climate‑controlled studio, where the perfumer monitors evaporation rates and adjusts ratios over several weeks to achieve balance. No synthetic fixatives are added; instead, the formulas rely on the natural staying power of ingredients such as sandalwood, ambergris‑free labdanum and resinous resins. After blending, each batch is filtered through a stainless‑steel mesh, decanted into amber glass bottles, and sealed with cork or metal caps that have been reclaimed from previous productions. Quality control includes organoleptic testing by a panel of trained noses and stability testing under varied temperature and humidity conditions. Packaging materials are sourced from suppliers that meet the brand’s recycled‑content standards, and all shipping boxes are made from post‑consumer waste. The result is a line of products that retain the integrity of the raw materials while meeting the expectations of a discerning consumer.
Design Language
Visually, Leland Francis adopts a minimal yet warm aesthetic that echoes the open plains of its home state. Bottle shapes are simple cylinders or squat flasks with clean lines, finished in matte amber or clear glass to showcase the natural hue of the oil. Labels feature a muted earth‑tone palette, with hand‑drawn illustrations of grasses, roads or desert silhouettes that correspond to each scent’s narrative. Typography is set in a sans‑serif typeface that balances modernity with readability, and the brand’s logo—a stylised compass—appears in a subtle embossing rather than a bold print. Candle containers follow the same design language, using recycled tin with a brushed finish and a small wooden lid that adds a tactile element. Marketing imagery often depicts the fragrances in outdoor settings—dusty roads, open fields, sunrise picnics—captured in soft natural light. The website mirrors this approach, offering spacious layouts, generous white space and high‑resolution photographs that let the products speak for themselves without heavy copy. This cohesive visual strategy reinforces the brand’s commitment to authenticity and place.
Philosophy
Leland Francis frames its creative work as a dialogue with nature rather than a laboratory experiment. The brand believes that a fragrance should be an honest expression of the ingredients it contains, which is why it avoids any synthetic aroma chemicals or parfum bases. Each scent is built around whole‑plant extracts, allowing the natural chemistry of the material to guide the composition. Sustainability informs every decision, from sourcing botanicals from certified organic farms in the Midwest to using recycled glass for bottles and biodegradable labels. The company also emphasizes community, often collaborating with local artisans for packaging and donating a portion of sales to land‑conservation projects in Oklahoma. Transparency is a core value; ingredient lists are published in full on the website, and the brand invites customers to ask questions about sourcing or production methods. This approach reflects a broader desire to make natural perfumery accessible without sacrificing complexity or depth.
Key Milestones
2015
Dillon Peña establishes Leland Francis in Oklahoma, focusing on hand‑poured natural candles.
2017
Candle line expands to seasonal scents; production moves to a dedicated studio.
2022
First perfume collection launches, introducing Dirt Roads, Stoner, La Reina, El Santo, 109 and other fragrances.
2023
Cowboy and Cowgirl are released, highlighting gender‑fluid scent design.
2024
Picnic debuts, a bright herbaceous fragrance meant for outdoor gatherings.
2025
Pomelo Sensual arrives; brand celebrates ten years with a limited‑edition candle and a retrospective exhibition.
At a Glance
Brand profile snapshot
Origin
United States
Founded
2015
Heritage
11
Years active
Collection
1
Fragrances released
Avg Rating
5.0
Community sentiment
Release Rhythm