This is StRest! Kerstin Lindquist sits down with Harry Slatkin — known as the king of home fragrance, co-founder of Slatkin & Co, QVC favorite, business builder and co-founder of Next for Autism — for a heartfelt conversation about fragrance, family, severe autism, stress, faith, health and turning deep pain into purpose.
Harry shares how he started his first business at 15, went from finance to fragrance, and helped change the home fragrance industry by bringing candles out of the home department and into the beauty world. He opens up about working with iconic names like Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Elton John, Princess Diana, Tory Burch, Christian Dior, Bath & Body Works and more, while explaining why scent is not just a product but an emotional and physical experience tied to the brain.
Then the conversation turns personal. Harry talks about his son David’s severe autism diagnosis, the early years of biting, clawing, screaming, medical uncertainty and family stress, and how he and his wife Laura decided they could either sit in their sorrow or get to work. That work eventually helped lead to major autism advocacy efforts, including Next for Autism, Autism Speaks, schools, adult programs, workplace programs and support for families living with autism.
Harry also shares how his family handled Laura’s breast cancer, what faith looks like for him, why every family is carrying something, and how honesty helps him manage stress. He explains why he and Laura have watched The Golden Girls almost every night for decades, how he learned to shut his brain off, why sleep matters, and why phones, food, blood work, magnesium, vitamin D and small health changes are all part of the bigger conversation.
TODAY'S SPONSORS
Waco Shoe Company - CODE: KERSTIN20 | wacoshoecompany.com
Vivoro - KERSTIN50 | Vivoro.com/kerstin50
BONUS CONTENT: JOIN OUR COMMUNITY ON YOUTUBE
YouTube Community
PROGRAM
Fast2Faith Fasting Program
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Harry Slatkin Joins StRest
(01:47) Pain, Purpose And Family
(04:18) Building A Fragrance Empire
(07:42) Vera Wang Changed His Path
(11:13) Working With Famous Icons
(13:14) Why Scent Changes The Brain
(20:38) David’s Autism Diagnosis
(25:24) Surviving Family Stress
(37:03) David’s Life Today
(48:01) Golden Girls And Stress Relief
WORK WITH KERSTIN
Workshops & Events
Health Coaching with Kerstin
MORE ABOUT KERSTIN
Website: kerstin-lindquist.com
Instagram: @kerstin.lindquist
Facebook: Kerstin Lindquist
YouTube: @Kerstin.lindquist
TikTok: @kerstin.lindquist
CONNECT WITH HARRY SLATKIN
Instagram: @harryslatkin
Slatkin & Co: slatkinandco.com
Next for Autism: nextforautism.org
A Night of Too Many Stars: nextforautism.org
Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo
Website: MassifKroo.com
For inquiries/sponsoring: hello@MassifKroo.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
USA