Students can now buy the smells of southeastern universities in some department stores.
Masik Collegiate Fragrances, which released a UF-themed perfume and cologne in 2010, is now available at Belk. It’s also coming soon to Gator Mania, Florida Bookstore and the UF Bookstore.
The 17-university-fragrance line for men and women also includes ones for Florida State University and University of Georgia.
Masik founder and CEO Katie Masich said when deciding what defined each university, the perfumers looked at school colors, campus style, traditions and location. Based on those factors, the UF fragrances came to represent “The Grandeur of Century Tower, The Tenacity of the Gators and The Obsession of Orange and Blue,” according to the Masik website.
After formulating a “fragrance brief” and narrowing down scent options for the school, producers conduct smell sessions both at their offices in New York City and with the UF licensing department in Gainesville.
Masich said she’s glad to have a high-profile platform to sell the fragrances. When the company first launched in 2008, she said, finding a reliable distributor was tough.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for us as a small business, so we’re really happy,” she said.
As a licensee, Masik pays royalties to each school based on the sales of the finished products.
Masich said upcoming projects for her company include football-shaped car air fresheners and body sprays, which are slated to be released next year.
For Masich, the retail deal is a high point.
The chemical engineering graduate decided to combine her love of perfume and nostalgia for her Bucknell University alma mater when she started her company.
“I always wanted to do a line that was something more personal,” Masich said.
She said she had always been fascinated with the connection between scent and memory.
“We can smell something from our past, and it’ll spark a memory,” she said.
UF student Emily Zill said she only thought of mildew when it came to UF’s campus.
However, the 19-year-old health science sophomore said there is a market for the official cologne and perfume.
“Anything with a Gator logo on it — people will buy it,” she said.
A version of this story ran on page 3 on 8/27/2013 under the headline "University scents for sale at Belk"
