100. Son of a Vicar: a young man, a dream and the launch of a Kiwi owned fragrance brand

From The Real Solutions Business Podcast by Godfreys Law

December 4, 2025 · 46 min · Season 3 · Episode 100

About this episode

Matthew McVicar shares his journey of launching Son of a Vicar, a New Zealand-made fragrance brand, while navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Matthew McVicar is a law clerk at Godfreys Law and the founder of Son of a Vicar - a New Zealand-made fragrance brand he launched in 2024. What began as an idea during his law studies has grown into a small but ambitious business, with three signature perfumes now on the market. A year ago, Son of a Vicar was little more than an idea. Matthew was in his third year of law school in Christchurch, experimenting with scents in his spare time and trying to imagine how a fragrance brand could feel at home in New Zealand without simply replicating what already existed. He wanted a brand with a strong point of view but had no idea of the realities of bringing it to life. The past twelve months have been a steep learning curve. In developing his first three fragrances and launching the business, Matthew has had to do far more than refine scent profiles. Building Son of a Vicar meant registering a company, understanding tax and compliance, managing sourcing and production, and learning how to present the brand in a way that makes people stop, experience, and connect. Matthew loved seeing the first bottles come together, making early sales, receiving positive reviews, and even being…

People in this episode

Host: Godfreys Law

Guest: Matthew McVicar

Topics covered

fragrance brand
entrepreneurship
business development
New Zealand
law studies
personal journey

Keywords

fragrance
entrepreneur
New Zealand
business launch
law clerk
perfume
Son of a Vicar

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Godfreys Law, Son of a Vicar

Places: New Zealand, Christchurch