Name:
Tanya Gonzalez

Age:
35

BEN: What do you do with your days/profession:
TG: Fragrance designer, founder and CEO of EAUSO VERT

BEN: Food you can't live without?
TG: Stone fruit! Give me all of the mangoes, cherries and nectarines.

BEN: What do you feel most proud of accomplishing or doing in your life so far and how does it make you feel?
TG: Creating EAUSO VERT's HERENCIA collection. When I see other Latin individuals discover our fragrances and tell me it's the first time they've seen their culture reflected in luxury fragrance, I get chills.

We're not just making perfume; we're claiming space in an industry that has often overlooked our stories.

It feels like I'm honoring my ancestors while paving the way forward.

BEN: What led you to creating Eauso Vert? What were you doing before? Was there a definitive pivot moment?
TG: I always knew I wanted to branch off and do something outside of my normal 9-5, which before EAUSO consisted of Digital and Product Marketing roles at companies like Sephora, Estee Lauder, eBay and Meta. Pursuing my MBA while working at eBay became my turning point. Suddenly I was surrounded by like-minded individuals who didn't make me feel out of my mind for wanting to start a fragrance company. Rather than seeing all of the obstacles ahead of me, I was able to pivot my thinking and work through a real plan for bringing it to life. EAUSO VERT would become my life's greater purpose: a female and Latin-owned house redefining what luxury fragrance looks and smells like.

BEN: What has been the most challenging part of running a business and what do you find to be the most fulfilling?
TG: The hardest part has been learning to trust my instincts in a world that constantly questions them. As a female and Latin founder, I've had to fight for every seat at every table. But the most fulfilling moment came when a customer told me our fragrance helped her feel connected to her late abuela. In that instant, I realized we weren't just selling fragrance; we were bottling memory and heritage, bringing perspectives to perfumery that had never been heard before. That's when I knew this was so much bigger than building just another fragrance brand.

BEN: You chose your vault, The Unconditional, in honor of your dog, Duncan. Tell us about him.
TG: We adopted Duncan 8.5 years ago when he was just a puppy. My husband and I had never had a dog before, but he quickly became the center of our universe. We used to always say he was the heartbeat of our family, making our house a home with his presence and big personality. He was my greatest companion and protector. Cancer took him suddenly and unexpectedly just one month before his 9th birthday. We were and still are devastated, but I quickly tried to find ways to connect to him and bring him with me. The Unconditional vault not only reminds me of the love we shared, but the tiny red heart and arrow found in the interior symbolizes his presence as the heartbeat of our family. Just like Duncan used to get me stopped on the street because people were so curious about his unique markings and features, the vault has become my new conversation starter. I've been asked several times what it represents and why I chose it, which gives me the perfect opportunity to honor Duncan and make sure he's still always part of the conversation.

BEN: When do you feel most inspired
TG: First thing in the morning, I love a 2-mile walk. Living in San Francisco means walking 2 miles in any given direction can lead you to one of the many incredible parks in this city. There's something very special about being able to connect to nature, whether at the beach, at a local park or someplace in the mountains. I am so inspired when outside with my face turned toward the sun. It's the best feeling.

BEN: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
TG: "If you don't ask, the answer is always no." This literally changed my life. I used to rehearse asking for raises, promotions, and opportunities for weeks before ever working up the courage. Now I just go for it because the worst thing that could happen is hearing no. When we pitched EAUSO VERT to various fragrance partners despite having zero industry experience, I held onto that advice. I believed so deeply in our vision that I was willing to risk rejection. Instead of saying no, they said yes. And here we are.

BEN: What's your favorite color
TG: Sapphire blue. My birthstone (born Sept 2nd shoutout to my virgos and birthday twin Salma Hayek).

BEN: What's your favorite movie from growing up?
TG: Clueless, always and forever. Something about a mechanically-operated rotating closet and young Paul Rudd really got me. If I'm ever feeling nostalgic, I'll rewatch this film and imagine my younger self responding to everything with "May I please remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty" (which still stands today!).

BEN: What has been a challenge that you've faced in your life, how have you lived with it, and what has it taught you for the future?
TG: Loss is by far the greatest challenge I've had to face. It surpasses every major business emergency, which reminds me that there is more to life than work. Beyond learning that work isn't everything, loss has taught me that it doesn't just happen and then go away overnight; we have to learn to live with it, and that really can't be done alone. You need community. It's taking me time, but I've been able to carry the weight of it through the support of my family, friends, colleagues and other people's dogs!

BEN: All time favorite song?
TG: Anything No Doubt from the Tragic Kingdom era.

BEN: Which BEN piece are you and why?
TG: The Unconditional Vault. Everything I do is unconditional: my work, my love for others, the passion I have for life.