About the Perfumer

Hoshi Gato is owned and operated by Ember Bennett, a self-taught perfumer with six years of experience. Ember’s journey into perfumery began after discovering the world of niche fragrances, and realizing just how unique perfume can be when freed from corporate constraints. Inspired by 2000s nostalgia, music, nature, and a love for the unconventional, Ember designs fragrances meant to help people stand out.

Passionate about making perfumery more inclusive, Ember ensures Hoshi Gato’s creations are disability-friendly and shares free guides and mentorship to support aspiring perfumers.

Originally from a small rural town in Indiana, Ember now lives in Gold Bar, Washington, alongside their husband, five cats, and two dogs.

About Hoshi Gato

Our Perfumes

Hoshi Gato began its journey in 2019 with a clear objective: to craft niche fragrances that outshine the mainstream competition. Throughout our time in the niche perfume community, we noticed a recurring dilemma: some fragrances, though crafted with exceptional skill, lacked a sense of excitement—while others, though bold and intriguing, often compromised on quality. At Hoshi Gato, we steer clear of cheap shortcuts like fragrance oils or pre-made dupes. Instead, each scent is meticulously formulated from scratch and undergoes extensive testing over months to ensure its excellence.

Here's the rundown on what sets our perfumes apart:

• Nostalgic and creative concepts.
• Unique scents.
• No fragrance oils—ever!
• Handmade creative label art.
• No AI!
• All fragrances are 25% perfume concentrate.

The Name

Throughout high school and college, Ember studied Japanese and Spanish both in class and independently. Often times, they would create their own mnemonics using words from both languages to help them remember certain concepts.

"Hoshi Gato" was one of those mnemonics Ember used to remember the differences between 欲しい (hoshii) and 欲しがった (Hoshigatta).

Explanation of the thought process for those who are interested:

"Hoshi" (星) means "star" in Japanese and "wishing on a star" is how Ember would remember that "Hoshii" (欲しい) means "want". "Hoshigatta" (欲しがった)　is used to talk about something someone else wants. "Gatta" (がった) sounds similar to the Spanish word for cat: gato/gata. So Ember would imagine a "Star Cat" holding wishes (stars) from other people. The personification of that mnemonic is Hoshi Gato! (Yes, Hoshi Gata would be closer, but I liked the sound of "gato" better!)

Ember is also a big fan of mixed language puns in general! They're particularly fond of "ari'gato'" as another Spanish/Japanese pun that references cats. 

Our Mascot

The official mascot for Hoshi Gato is a celestial cat spirit named "Hoshi". Hoshi's favorite hobbies are fishing for stars and taking naps on the moon! Hoshi's design was created by Ember and so was this little animation (that's why it's a bit rough 😅).

Our Values

Social Justice:

At Hoshi Gato, we're proudly owned and operated by a member of the queer and trans community. Our core beliefs shape everything we do.

We refuse to stay silent on important issues. Ember, our founder, is a lifelong activist for queer rights, income equality, reproductive rights, and anti-racism.

Sustainable Practices:

We're committed to reducing our environmental footprint. Unlike the industry standard of plastic lab equipment, we opt for glassware, despite the extra time it takes to clean. We believe this investment in sustainability is crucial for the future of our planet. Additionally, we use as many recyclable packing materials as possible.

Cruelty-Free and Vegan Beauty:

Animal welfare is non-negotiable for us. We never purchase from suppliers that test on animals, and any animal-derived musks we use are synthetic. Our commitment to cruelty-free practices extends to every aspect of our production process.

Transparency:

We believe in honesty and openness with our customers. Ember actively engages with our community on social media, educating perfume lovers on how to be discerning consumers and avoid scams. We're upfront about our ingredients and consistently ensure compliance with safety regulations.

At Hoshi Gato, our values guide every decision we make, from the ingredients we use to the causes we champion.

Accessibility:

Hoshi Gato is owned by an autistic person with ADHD and we value accessibility above all! We think about the accessibility of our storefront and products daily and have made several changes to our packaging and website thanks to your feedback! If you do need changes to be made to the website, please contact us via the contact page and we will fix it ASAP!