Cerato Fragrances: Crafting Emotion, One Scent at a Time

Seaholm Alumna Libby Gray Launches Unique Fragrance Brand Focused on Inner Strength and Clean Beauty

BIRMINGHAM, MI – What if the power to shift your mood, awaken your intuition, or bolster your inner strength could be found in a simple fragrance? This is the transformative premise behind Cerato Fragrances, a new brand co-founded by Seaholm High School alumna Libby Gray and her longtime college friend Stephanie Diamond.

Launched in February 2025, Cerato is more than just a collection of scents; it’s an invitation to introspection and self-discovery. The brand takes its name from a flower traditionally incorporated into tinctures known for their ability to evoke feelings of inner strength. “The whole idea behind the brand is that we want people to tune into themselves and trust their intuition,” Gray explains.

Unlike conventional fragrance development, Gray and Diamond begin their creative process with an emotion. “Stephanie and I work collaboratively on everything, but we start with a mood that we want to tune into,” Gray details. “Each one is designed to enhance or shift a mood, so they’re based on aromatherapeutic principles.” This unique approach ensures that every Cerato fragrance serves a deliberate purpose beyond just smelling good.

Gray’s background is steeped in creativity and the high-stakes world of fashion. Her seven years within The Estée Lauder Companies’ creative department provided invaluable experience, and her time in New York’s vibrant fashion scene ignited a desire to infuse a rich narrative element into the fragrance industry. Beyond her role as co-founder, Gray also serves as Cerato’s exclusive photographer, capturing the brand’s essence through film, a medium chosen for its intimate and timeless quality.

“I wanted it to feel almost like a magazine in certain ways and have a visual language that felt really intimate,” Gray says of Cerato’s aesthetic. “It was a big part of building Cerato because we wanted people to feel something when they look at our brand.” This commitment to a holistic sensory experience, combining scent with evocative imagery, sets Cerato apart in a crowded market.

Beyond its emotional core and visual artistry, Cerato is also deeply committed to clean beauty. The brand meticulously crafts its fragrances using ingredients free from harmful toxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, aligning with a growing consumer demand for transparency and health-conscious products. Currently, Cerato offers three distinct gender-neutral fragrances in convenient travel-sized rollerball applicators, available directly through their website. The scent profiles range from comforting notes of sandalwood and vanilla to invigorating combinations like bergamot and citrus.

For those seeking a truly personalized experience, Gray encourages experimentation. “It’s a beautiful way to create something of your own, and we encourage it,” she says, suggesting that layering multiple Cerato scents can create a unique aroma tailored to individual preferences and occasions.

Cerato Fragrances represents a refreshing paradigm shift in the world of perfumery, blending the art of scent with the science of well-being and a strong visual narrative. With its focus on empowering emotions and clean ingredients, Libby Gray and Stephanie Diamond are not just creating fragrances; they are cultivating an experience designed to help individuals connect with their inner selves.

This story originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.