Today we’d like to introduce you to Chassta Atkins.
Chassta, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ruddy Roots Fragrance House began with a simple dream: to create beautiful, artisan fragrances that tell the stories of the places and people we love most. My husband, Jimmy, has spent years perfecting the art of fragrance creation, while I bring a background in business, marketing, and a love for building meaningful connections. Together, we’ve poured our hearts into creating a family-owned fragrance house rooted in the beauty and heritage of North Carolina.
What started as a small business has grown into a brand carried in boutiques across the state, with each fragrance inspired by Appalachian landscapes, Carolina traditions, and the belief that scent has the power to preserve memories and tell stories. Every product is handcrafted with high-quality, non-toxic ingredients because we believe luxury should be both beautiful and thoughtfully made.
Today, we’re continuing to grow through wholesale partnerships, community events, and collaborations with other creators, while staying true to the values that started it all: faith, family, craftsmanship, and creating fragrances that feel like coming home. We’re incredibly grateful for every customer and retailer who has become part of our journey, and we’re excited to see where the next chapter leads.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. Like most small businesses, our journey has been filled with plenty of challenges. In addition to building Ruddy Roots Fragrance House, I’m a teacher, and my husband and I are raising two wonderful children. Balancing family life, full-time work, and growing a business has required countless late nights, early mornings, and a lot of faith.
We’ve had to learn everything ourselves—from product development and branding to marketing, wholesale, and navigating the ups and downs of running a family business. There have been moments of uncertainty, financial risks, and seasons where growth felt much slower than we had hoped.
One of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust the process. Not every opportunity works out, not every boutique says yes, and not every new product is an instant success. But we’ve found that every setback has helped refine our vision and strengthen our business. Looking back, those difficult seasons taught us resilience, patience, and the importance of staying true to who we are instead of chasing every trend.
Today, we’re incredibly grateful for how far we’ve come. The challenges have made each new partnership, each returning customer, and every milestone that much more meaningful. We’re proud of what we’ve built together as a family, and we’re excited to keep growing while staying rooted in the values that started it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Ruddy Roots Fragrance House, we create artisan fragrances inspired by the landscapes, history, and stories of North Carolina and Appalachia. My husband, Jimmy, is our perfumer, blending each fragrance in-house, while I focus on the creative direction, branding, marketing, and building relationships with our customers and wholesale partners. Every scent is thoughtfully crafted using high-quality, non-toxic ingredients to create fragrances that are both beautiful and meaningful.
What makes us different is that we don’t just create scents—we tell stories. Each fragrance is inspired by a place, a memory, or a person, allowing our customers to connect with something deeper than a beautiful aroma. Whether it’s a mountain town, the Carolina coast, or a special collaboration with a local storyteller, every bottle has a story waiting to be experienced.
I’m especially proud that we’ve built this business together as a family while balancing full-time careers and raising our two children. Watching our fragrances find homes in boutiques across North Carolina and hearing customers share the memories our scents evoke has been incredibly rewarding. At the end of the day, our goal isn’t simply to make perfume—it’s to create lasting experiences that remind people of the places and moments they love most.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Tweetsie Railroad with my family. My Pap-paw would load us into the back of his pickup truck, where we’d ride on bean bags as we made our way through the mountains. I can still remember the cool mountain air, the winding roads, and the excitement of knowing we were headed somewhere special. Those trips weren’t extravagant, but they were full of love, laughter, and the kind of simple joy that stays with you forever.
Looking back, I realize those moments gave me a deep appreciation for the mountains of North Carolina and the memories tied to them. They remind me that the most meaningful things in life aren’t always things at all—they’re experiences shared with the people we love. That’s the heart behind Ruddy Roots Fragrance House. Every fragrance we create is meant to capture a feeling, tell a story, and transport someone back to a treasured memory of their own.
Pricing:
- Small fragrances-$20
- Large fragrances-$40
- Non-toxic Room & Linen Spray-$16
- Signature Fragrance Samplers-$35
- Beard Products-$20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ruddyrootsfragrancehouse.com
- Instagram: @ruddyrootsfragrancehouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruddyrootsfragrancehouse
