How Autoimmune Symptoms Sparked Urthy Scents w/ Jen Rotondo (EP #40)

Dec 15, 2025
2 min read

Rebel Rootz Show Episode #40 with Jen Rotondo.

Watch the full episode on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpGiT2EQJr4

The Covid season was tough for many people, but for Jen, it created room for Urthy Scents to be born.

In this episode, Evonne Varady sits down with Jen Rotondo, the innovative co-founder of Urthy Scents, a brand making waves by bringing truly clean, plant based scents into homes and onto bodies everywhere.

Jen shares her journey from childhood lemonade stands in rural Georgia to launching a successful product line born out of necessity during COVID. Driven by a search for fragrance that wouldn’t trigger her autoimmune symptoms, Jen and her sister began experimenting with non toxic ingredients, eventually creating the phthalate free, Prop 65 compliant formulations Urthy Scents is known for today.

Listen in as Jen opens up about her entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges and triumphs of building a clean product line, and the deep connection between scent, memory, and emotional well being. From stories of kitchen table R and D, failures turned into successes, and the ongoing quest for the perfect vessel.

Tune in to learn more.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer

[01:10] Jen’s childhood

[03:25] The birth of Urthy Scents

[05:49] Starting a product line

[07:35] Growing a product line

[10:02] Brick and mortar versus online

[11:11] Online sales for fragrances

[12:55] Female founders

[14:07] Clean fragrances

[15:40] Product lifecycle

[17:11] Sentimental relationship with products

[18:04] Biggest struggles

[20:30] Product recommendation

[21:16] Jen’s favorite scent

[21:45] Choosing scents

[24:01] Super power

[25:17] Future for Urthy Scents

[26:13] Jen’s dream for Urthy Scents 20 years to come

[28:28] Best advice ever received

[29:22] Rapid fire

Key Takeaways:

• You eat with your sense of smell. ~Jen Rotondo [06:53]

• The power of plants is absolutely amazing. Trying to understand and feel the connection between plants and our skin and our body is magical. ~Jen Rotondo [14:19]

• Smell helps with your emotional well-being, and I think men are losing the stigma. ~Jen Rotondo [26:36]

• We don't have as many products to offer, but we have everything that you need in your life. ~Jen Rotondo [27:17]

• Stay true to yourself, find your North Star, and never lose sight of it. ~Jen Rotondo [28:47]