Last month marked the launch of nez — a scent and occasion-based brand featuring aluminum-free, natural-based, dermatologist-tested, vegan deodorant formulas. nez is the first owned and operated brand from Blended Strategy Group co-founders Sherry Jhawar and Allison Statter. Toronto based creative agency, Good&Ready, worked with Jhawar, Statter, and Blended Strategy Group to collectively develop the overall brand narrative and design.
nez: the right protection and the right fragrance at the right time
The brand was created to help everyone find their state of “nez” — the feeling you get when everything goes right and everything good is amplified. All products are formulated, based on the science of sweat, to stand up to life’s different moods and moments. “Deodorant shouldn’t be one size fits all,” said nez Co-founder, Sherry Jhawar, “That’s why nez comes in a mini format…so you have multiple deodorants for multiple occasions—ready to go with you.”
The products: there’s a nez for everything you do
nez’s three occasion-based mini deodorants include:
• WORKOUT SESH addresses eccrine sweat produced from an increase in body temperature and movement. Made with zinc ricinoleate, arrowroot powder, and bamboo powder to neutralize odor, while shea butter and coconut oil help nourish the skin.
- Bright Blend fragrance notes: fresh cucumber and leafy greens
- Smoky Blend fragrance notes: crisp greens, herbaceous sage, and creamy musk
• BOARD MEETING addresses apocrine sweat, produced by stress and anxiety. Formulated with bentonite clay and arrowroot powder to absorb stress sweat, while shea butter and coconut oil help soothe the skin.
- Bright Blend fragrance notes: pear, jasmine, and amber
- Smoky Blend fragrance notes: eucalyptus, spearmint, and cedarwood
• DATE READY addresses apocrine sweat, produced by stress and excitement. Infused with charcoal powder and bentonite clay to absorb nervous sweat, while shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin e help hydrate the skin.
- Bright Blend fragrance notes: bergamot, palo santo, and vanilla
- Smoky Blend fragrance notes: spiced bergamot, black peppercorn, fig and tobacco flower the right partners
Working with best-in-class partners was essential to Jhawar and Statter who value collaboration in all the work they do. Aligning with Toronto-based agency Good&Ready was an organic fit. “I had worked with Alan and Terry while I was at a previous company and absolutely loved them,” explains Jhawar. “I knew Good&Ready was the right partner to help us create this brand from scratch.”
Good&Ready worked with Jhawar, Statter and Blended Strategy Group to name and develop nez’s branding. The creative development took place over three years. In fact, nez was one of the first projects that Good&Ready took on after opening its doors.
“We cannot think of someone we’d rather be in business with than Sherry,” says Alan Madill, co-founder of Good&Ready. This has been such a collaborative process. We have always been interested in the business side of marketing as much as we are interested in the art of it. Partnering with Sherry and Allison on the development nez has allowed us to do both."