Tariff Troubles + The Beauty of Being Wicked Good

Navigating the Wild World of Packaging, Prices, and Proudly Made-in-the-USA Fragrances

Tariffs. Just hearing the word gives me flashbacks to economics class, and not the fun kind of flashbacks. These days, tariffs have been causing quite a stir, especially for small businesses like Wicked Good. Trust me; I’d much rather be mixing up dreamy scents than decoding international trade policy. But here we are.

Recently, tariffs have thrown a huge wrench in our packaging strategy. Picture this: I've meticulously designed gorgeous packaging for our fragrances, excitedly ready to hit "order," only to find out the costs just jumped overnight. Why? Tariffs on imported materials skyrocketed my suppliers' prices by a whopping 25%. Yep, 25%! And this doesn't even include the big, 50% jump in shipping. Let's just say the past week has included many sleepless nights.

Here's the real world scoop: our beautiful glass bottles, which previously cost about $3.90 each, now come in closer to $9-$11 each. It might not sound like much, but multiply that by hundreds—or thousands—of bottles, and suddenly we’re talking six figures of real money. Ouch.

So, what’s a small-batch, handcrafted fragrance brand to do? Pivot, baby, pivot. At Wicked Good, this hiccup gave me the perfect nudge (okay, maybe more of a shove) to explore packaging made right here in the good ol' USA.

And you know what? It's been a process. American made packaging isn't just patriotic—it’s practical, high-quality, and even more sustainable. I've connected with suppliers who off high quality packaging that aligns perfectly with our handcrafted, made-to-order ethos. Now our fragrances will possibly come beautifully wrapped in packaging that's as consciously created as the scents inside.

The lesson here? Tariffs might be a pain, but they’ve reminded me why Wicked Good began in the first place: to deliver thoughtfully made, small-batch products with love and care. Going local feels right, aligns with our values, and helps support other small businesses. Triple win.

Have tariffs affected your business or buying habits? Let me know your thoughts, and let's chat solutions and silver linings.

Plus, more brands are actively seeking out made in the USA perfumes, recognizing the unmatched quality, transparency, and craftsmanship that comes with local production. And it’s not just about patriotism. —it’s about trust, traceability, and turnaround. When you source domestically, you skip the delays, the shipping drama, and the mystery middlemen. You get real people making real products, right here at home.

At Wicked Good, we’ve seen a noticeable uptick in brands —both indie up and comers and large scale retailers —who want their fragrance products to be formulated, poured, packaged and labeled in the USA. They’re asking for smaller minimums, faster turnaround times, and more creative flexibility. And we’re here for it.

With our extensive fragrance library (over 2,500 scents and counting!), we help clients with private label fragrance find their signature scent —or build something brand new from scratch. Whether it’s a wellness brand that wants a crystal infused essential oil roll on, or a global name looking to create a one-of-a-kind candle collection, we love bringing your scent story to life.

Because when something’s crafted by hand, made to order, and created with heart—it just hits differently. And the world is finally catching on.