How Kenny and Shantanu Plan to Compete with Davidoff and Chanel with their Perfume | BSC X Kenny

Nov 7, 2025

Kenny Sebastian, a stand-up comedian known for his sharp wit, is venturing into the fragrance industry with his new brand, The Stage, in collaboration with the Bombay Shaving Company. He shares the emotional significance behind launching this brand after his daughter's birth. Kenny discusses blending comedy with entrepreneurship, the creative process for his two fragrances, Mic Check and Spotlight, and how he chose scents that resonate with his stage persona. With aspirations to challenge the fragrance giants, Kenny aims to create an authentic and engaging product for audiences.

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ANECDOTE

The Offer That Felt Like New Beginnings

Kenny describes being offered the partnership by Shantanu as a serendipitous, emotionally meaningful moment after his daughter Emily was born.
He felt honored to join a successful founder and saw the collaboration as a new creative chapter in his life.

INSIGHT

Creativity Meets Operational Rigor

Kenny contrasts his intangible creative world with Shantanu's tangible product environment and felt entering BSC was eye-opening.
That contrast showed how creativity and operational rigor can complement product creation.

ANECDOTE

Nose-Deep In Fragrance Testing

Kenny recounts testing 80–120 fragrance samples until his nose was raw and visiting the perfumery to blend ingredients firsthand.
He enjoyed the delicate science of mixing tiny ingredient portions under a perfumer's guidance.

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In the chaos of laughter, how does a comedian think of conquering the unpredictable world of business?

In this exciting episode of Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Kenny Sebastian, who is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship with his own perfume brand, The Stage. But the twist is he’s not just launching a fragrance, but is ready to challenge big players in the market with a daring entrepreneurial debut.

Kenny, known for his sharp wit and stage presence, reveals how he’s blending his passion for comedy with the art of perfume-making. Mic Check and Spotlight, the two fragrances he’s launching, aren’t just scents; they’re his personal tribute to the stage that shaped him.

And to make this vision a reality, Kenny had no one but the Bombay Shaving Company team by his side. From exploring perfume branding to choosing the right mood board, BSC’s expertise has been crucial in shaping the brand.

What you’ll discover:

- How the BSC team helped Kenny launch his own perfume brand from scratch.

- The secret behind Mic Check and Spotlight, more than just names

- Why Kenny’s perfume brand could compete in both the ₹3,000+ and ₹500 price ranges.

- The challenges and triumphs of blending comedy with entrepreneurship.

- Can a comedian make it in the business world?

Tune in to find out how Kenny’s stage persona is influencing his new venture and why The Stage is set to disrupt India’s perfume market.

Navigate your way through these chapters

00:00 Coming up

00:33 Introduction

02:21 How Kenny started The Stage with BSC’s support

06:32 Kenny x BSC team

09:29 How Rohit Taneja helped launch The Stage

13:17 Why did The Stage begin with two perfumes?

18:28 Naming the perfumes and how stand-up influenced the brand

27:31 The role of packaging and vendors

29:12 Why pricing should reflect value, not just cost

32:01 Ticket pricing lessons from stand-up

34:32 Premium ≠ Price

41:04 Crafting The Stage’s launch strategy

45:31 Why The Stage could be India’s next big perfume brand

46:43 Showcasing Mic Check and Spotlight

55:21 Closing thoughts