Heritage
A house, in its own words
Anna Weatherlake and Kate Macdonald have been longtime friends for years before deciding to launch a fragrance brand together. Both shared a passion for clean beauty and natural ingredients, which eventually led them to establish Vahy as a 100% natural fine fragrance house. The company was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2016, though it was reportedly at the height of the pandemic that the two friends fully committed to bringing their vision to life. Weatherlake has spoken publicly about the origins of the brand, sharing the story behind their approach to natural perfumery. As two lifelong friends who both share a passion for clean formulations, Weatherlake and Macdonald built Vahy on their shared values rather than formal perfumery training. The brand emerged during a period when consumers were increasingly questioning what went into their personal care products. Rather than entering an established career path, both founders chose to channel their interest in natural ingredients into creating fragrances they felt were missing from the market. Vahy represents their joint venture into the fragrance world, combining their friendship with their commitment to natural formulations. The Melbourne base places the brand within Australia's growing artisanal fragrance scene, where independent perfumers have been establishing new approaches to scent creation. Vahy operates on a foundation of radical transparency in an industry where fragrance formulations are often kept hidden behind the catch-all term parfum. The brand lists every ingredient in their fragrances, refusing to use synthetic additives or undisclosed components. Their approach centers on the belief that natural ingredients offer complexity and depth that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate. Weatherlake and Macdonald built their brand around the conviction that consumers deserve to know exactly what they are applying to their skin. Rather than following conventional fragrance industry practices, Vahy chose a path of complete ingredient disclosure. The co-founders reportedly share a passion for clean beauty that extends beyond marketing into their actual formulation process. Every scent in their collection is made without compromise, using only natural materials. This philosophy shapes their entire creative process, from initial concept through final production. The brand positions itself as a fragrance house that prioritizes ingredient integrity over convenience or cost savings. Their commitment to natural perfumery means accepting the limitations that come with working exclusively with botanical materials, including variable availability and seasonal variations in raw ingredient quality.