Clean Fragrance· Los Angeles, USA · Updated 14 May 2026
David Kien
Co-founder of Boy Smells with his partner Matthew Herman. Kien leads creative and design — his design direction defined the brand's visual signature, anchoring its expansion from candles into fine fragrance and apparel collaborations.
"Design is the brand's first scent — before you've opened the box."
— David Kien
Background
Kien co-founded Boy Smells in 2016 with Matthew Herman, leading creative and design and shaping the brand's distinctive packaging and visual identity.
Under the P&G partnership announced in 2022, Kien and Herman remain creative leads as Boy Smells expands distribution.
Philosophy
Visual identity is non-negotiable equity.
Aesthetic clarity from candle 1 to fragrance 100.
Career timeline
- 2016Co-founds Boy Smells
- 2022P&G strategic partnership
Press & appearances
Boy Smells: Design as Fragrance Strategy
featureGlossy
More from the index
Graph relationships
Timeline