Heritage
A house, in its own words
Thymes began in 1982 when Stephanie Shopa and a close friend turned a shared curiosity about beauty ingredients into a small business. The duo started mixing essential oils and plant extracts in a modest kitchen space in Minneapolis, seeking alternatives to the synthetic‑heavy products that dominated the market at the time. Early customers responded to the gentle, plant‑based aromas, and word‑of‑mouth helped the brand grow beyond its original neighborhood. By the late 1990s, Thymes had secured shelf space in regional boutiques and began distributing through larger retailers, a step that broadened its reach while preserving its handcrafted approach. In 2000 the company launched Filigree, a fragrance that highlighted the brand’s ability to translate a single botanical note into a lasting scent experience. The following decade saw a series of releases that expanded the portfolio: Naïa in 2009, a scent built around fig leaf and cassis; a trio of petite colognes in 2012—including Rosemary Sage, Lotus Santal and Wild Angelica—that catered to travelers seeking portable fragrance. The 2018 introduction of Neroli Sol marked Thymes’ first major foray into a brighter, citrus‑forward direction, demonstrating that the brand could evolve while staying true to its nature‑centric roots. In 2022 the company celebrated its 40th anniversary, acknowledging four decades of steady growth, a loyal customer base, and a reputation for understated, skin‑compatible scents. Throughout its history, Thymes has remained a privately held, Minneapolis‑based company, operating without external investors and maintaining a focus on sustainable sourcing and small‑batch production.
Thymes frames its creative vision around the idea that fragrance should enhance daily rituals rather than dominate them. The brand’s statements emphasize a partnership between scent and skin, aiming for formulas that feel as natural as the ingredients themselves. Each product is designed to be skin‑compatible, which means the team tests for irritation and prioritizes ingredients that support moisture balance. Environmental stewardship appears in the brand’s sourcing choices; Thymes prefers plant extracts harvested from farms that follow sustainable practices, and it avoids synthetic musks that can persist in waterways. The company also values transparency, offering ingredient lists that allow consumers to understand what they apply. Rather than chasing trends, Thymes lets the character of each botanical guide the final composition, resulting in scents that often feature a single dominant note framed by subtle supporting accords. This restrained approach reflects the founders’ original desire to help people find beauty and balance in everyday moments.