Phlur secures $7 million in funding; acquires Texas Beauty Labs

By

Robin Driver

Published
Jun 25, 2019

Austin, Texas-based fragrance company Phlur Inc. announced on Tuesday that it has closed its Series A with a total of $7 million in funding and completed the acquisition of clean beauty manufacturer Texas Beauty Labs.

The funding round was led by flavor and fragrance producer Symrise Inc., with existing investor Next Coast Ventures and newcomer Belcorp – the second largest beauty company in South America – also participating.
 
Following its acquisition by Phlur, Texas Beauty Labs, which was founded by Mary Berry in 2008, has formally changed its name to The Goodkind Co. The two companies first worked together to develop Phlur’s body care range last year, before collaborating to launch Explore Naturals, an all-natural deodorant brand.

“With the launch of Explore Naturals, it was clear that we had created a special partnership. We launched the brand on Amazon in under three months, and then in the next three months we achieved annualized revenue of over $1 million,” said Berry in a release. “This is an early example of what we will be able to achieve together for our direct benefit, and equally as important for our clients.”
 
“When I first met Mary and heard her story, I knew that our shared vision of creating beauty products with integrity and heart could lead to some amazing opportunities,” added Eric Korman, co-founder and CEO of Phlur. “We're thrilled by our new ability to rapidly evolve and test new products, and equally important, extend this ability to empower the independent beauty community. Our combined objective: to further accelerate the adoption of clean products by mainstream customers.”
 
Founded in 2015, Phlur is a digital-first certified B Corp offering fine fragrance, body care, candles, and natural deodorants. Its products can be purchased on its website, as well as at Sephora and Credo. Explore Naturals deodorants are available through a dedicated e-commerce platform, as well as at Amazon and Central Market.