Meet Emma Glass | Pardon My French & Co, Founder & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Glass and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My journey really starts in Paris (France), where I grew up surrounded by fashion, beauty, and craftsmanship. As a child, I was already fascinated by perfume. I created my own little “collection,” loved to smell everything, and was endlessly curious about what people were wearing. I was that kid who would stop adults in the street to ask them what perfume they had on. I even remember a summer camp in the French Alps where I asked every single kid if I could smell their perfume and cosmetics.

Very early on, I understood how powerful our sense of smell is. It has the ability to awaken emotions, revive memories, and instantly transport us to another moment or place. That fascination never left me.

About ten years ago, I moved to Denver and completely fell in love with Colorado. At the same time, I became increasingly uncomfortable with how many chemicals were used in everyday products. I had already started making my own household products, and in the spring of 2020, anticipating lockdowns, I decided to take a more creative turn and begin making my own cosmetics, including perfume and body care.

I ordered natural ingredients and began researching, formulating, and testing. I have a scientific background. In France, I completed a Master’s degree in Science and worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, so I approached formulation with rigor and intention. From the very beginning, I created Pardon My French & Co with a clear goal: to combine clean beauty products made with natural ingredients with the elegance and refinement of French perfumery. I wanted scents that felt sophisticated, nuanced, and emotional, without compromising ingredient integrity.
For about two years, I studied, developed, and refined my products.

In the summer of 2022, while organizing a Bastille Day festival in Denver for the nonprofit I was working for, I decided to take the leap and present my brand to the public for the first time. To my surprise, the response was immediate and incredibly enthusiastic. People connected with the products, the scents, and the story. That day truly marked the beginning of Pardon My French & Co.

What started as a personal passion for scent became a brand rooted in clean formulation, refined fragrance, and sensorial experience, bringing together my French heritage and my life in Colorado.


Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Pardon My French & Co started very simply at home with soaps and perfumes. I was experimenting, testing ingredients, and exploring different ways to make natural cosmetics just out of curiosity and passion. What started as personal experimentation slowly became something more serious as I realized how much I enjoyed creating with my hands and developing scents.

By the time I launched the brand at Bastille Day in 2022, I already had a wide range of products ready, perfumes, soaps, lotions, bath salts, body scrubs, and lip care. I had been quietly working on them for a long time before showing them to anyone. That first event was a turning point. People were not only buying, they were stopping to compliment the products, asking questions, and reacting very positively. I remember thinking how much people really liked what I had made. That moment stayed with me.

What sets the brand apart, I think, is the balance between natural beauty and refined scent inspired by French culture. I did not want to compromise on either. The products are made with clean ingredients, but they also carry a certain elegance in how they smell and feel.

It was not easy to get to where I am today. In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was simply finding time. I was still working another job and trying to dedicate hours to experiment, formulate, and build the brand. It required a lot of patience and discipline to keep going little by little.

What I am most proud of today is the quality of the products and the loyalty of the customers. When someone comes back to buy again, I know it was not an impulse purchase. It means they truly liked it and connected with it. That is incredibly rewarding.

At my booth, people often walk in and say, “oh, it smells so good in here.” That first reaction always makes me smile. It is a simple sentence, but it says everything about what I am trying to create, an experience people feel as soon as they step closer.

More than anything, I want people to know that Pardon My French & Co was built slowly, patiently, and very sincerely. It really grew from curiosity and from wanting to create products that feel personal and meaningful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start with a few days in Denver to really get a feel for the city. Of course, Red Rocks would be a must, ideally for a concert. Even without music, it is impressive, but with a show it becomes something really special. Back in town, we would spend time wandering different neighborhoods, listening to jazz in City Park, walking through my neighborhood in RiNo to look for murals after a drink at Improper City, and going to a few museums depending on the mood. The Denver Art Museum for sure, but also places like the Clyfford Still Museum, the Kirkland, or Spectra Art Space for something more unexpected.

Food would naturally be a big part of those days. We would grab croissants at La Belle French Bakery, have a smothered burrito and horchata at Taco de Mexico if we can catch First Friday on Santa Fe Drive, or take our time with a long, timeless lunch at Domo. If we feel like something festive one evening, we would stop for a glass of French wine at La Bouche Wine Bar.

There would also be plenty of simple, everyday moments. Grocery shopping at H Mart and Arash, hanging out with my pup at Skiptown, walking down South Broadway on a Sunday afternoon to browse antique and thrift stores, or stopping by ReCreative Denver to pick up craft supplies. We would definitely squeeze in ice cream at Little Man, then head to Forest Room 5 for a drink to get that “mountain cabin” feeling without leaving the city. And when we feel like traveling through food, I would take her to African Grill and Bar and to Mango House and just let our taste buds wander.

One full day would be dedicated to Boulder. We would start early to watch the sunrise at the Sunrise Amphitheater, then head to Chautauqua to hike and climb the Flatirons. After that, a slow stroll through the farmers market, followed by tea at the Dushanbe Teahouse, would be the perfect way to slow everything down.

Another day, we would head north to Fort Collins. On the way, we would stop at Cheese Importers to pick up some really good cheese. We would let my pup run free at the dog beach at Union Reservoir, then enjoy a chocolate tasting at Nuance Chocolate and a real Parisian sandwich at La Boutique. If timing works out, ending the day with a concert at the Mishawaka would make it unforgettable.

Finally, I would plan a day or two outside of the city, deeper into Colorado. Hiking, scenic drives, and quiet moments would be the focus. Soaking in the natural hot springs at Mount Princeton would be a must, and if we feel adventurous, we would take a detour to see the changing colors at Maroon Bells.

That is exactly how I would show someone the area. A mix of city life, culture, food, nature, and simple moments, with room to slow down and just enjoy being there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are two people I would absolutely like to dedicate this shoutout to.

First, my husband. From the very beginning, he has shown incredible patience and support. When I was just starting out, our home slowly turned into a lab, with experiments, and ingredients everywhere. He was always there, letting me take over the space, being my first tester, believing in my project, and encouraging me when I needed it most. Having that kind of quiet, constant support made a real difference.

The second person is Kim Whitehead, the owner of Homefill, a small refill shop in Arvada. She came into the story of Pardon My French & Co very early on and chose to believe in my brand before it had much visibility. She decided to carry my products in her store, and that gesture meant more than she probably realizes. Having another small business owner support you, especially at the beginning, is incredibly powerful. It builds confidence and reminds you that what you are creating has value.

I am deeply grateful to both of them. Merci.

Website: https://pmfandco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmfandco/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaglass-/