Harry Slatkin is a renowned American businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who transformed the home fragrance industry. Dubbed the “King of Home Fragrance” by The New York Times, he founded Slatkin & Co. in 1992 and built a fragrance empire that serves celebrity clients like Martha Stewart, Elton John, and Ralph Lauren. Beyond his business success, Slatkin is a passionate autism advocate who co-founded NEXT for AUTISM with his wife Laura after their son was diagnosed with the condition.
Harry Slatkin Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Harry Jay Slatkin |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | August 14, 1960 |
| Age | 65 years old (as of December 2025) |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York, United States |
| Current residence | New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Not publicly available |
| Weight | Approximately 180-190 lbs (81-86 kg) |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Laura Slatkin (m. 1992) |
| Children | Two (David Slatkin and Ali Slatkin, twins born 1999) |
| Alma mater | Did not attend college; entered workforce directly |
| Profession | Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, fragrance expert |
| Net worth | $10 million to $50 million (estimated as of 2025) |
Who is Harry Slatkin?
Harry Slatkin is an American businessman who revolutionized the luxury home fragrance market. Born on August 14, 1960, in New York City, he skipped college to pursue a career on Wall Street with Bear Stearns. By age 21, he became a director at the prestigious investment bank.
In 1992, Slatkin left his finance career to co-found Slatkin & Co. with his wife Laura and brother Howard.
The company pioneered luxury scented candles in the United States, creating custom fragrance collections for celebrities and designers.
His work has influenced major retailers and shaped how Americans experience home fragrances.
How old is Harry Slatkin? Age and birthday
Harry Slatkin is 65 years old as of December 2025. He was born on August 14, 1960, in New York City, New York. His zodiac sign is Leo, which reflects his creative and ambitious personality traits that have driven his entrepreneurial success in the fragrance industry.
Career
Wall Street beginnings
After graduating high school, Slatkin joined Bear Stearns investment bank instead of pursuing college. He worked in the financial sector where he quickly climbed the ranks.
By 21, he became a director at Bear Stearns, making him one of the youngest directors at the firm.
Founding Slatkin & Co.
In 1992, Slatkin made a career-changing decision to leave Wall Street. His brother Howard, a Manhattan interior designer, asked Harry and Laura to take over his sideline candle business.
The couple transformed it into Slatkin & Co., which became one of the first luxury home fragrance brands in America.
The company gained recognition for creating custom fragrance collections for high-profile clients.
Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Elton John, and Christian Dior all contracted with Slatkin to develop their home fragrance lines.
The brand helped elevate scented candles from afterthought purchases to luxury lifestyle products.
Limited Brands acquisition and Bath & Body Works
In May 2005, Limited Brands (now L Brands) purchased Slatkin & Co. for an estimated $13-15 million.
Retailer Les Wexner appointed Slatkin as President of Home Design for Limited Brands and President of Bath & Body Works Home Division.
During his tenure at Bath & Body Works, Slatkin oversaw and directed all home fragrance operations.
He managed a half-billion dollar home fragrance business and helped transform Bath & Body Works into a dominant force in the American home fragrance market.
Return to entrepreneurship
After leaving Limited Brands, Slatkin regained the rights to the Slatkin & Co. name. He rebuilt his fragrance empire with multiple brands targeting different market segments.
His company now operates five distinct fragrance lines across more than 45,000 retail locations.
HomeWorx by Harry Slatkin became the flagship brand sold exclusively on QVC. The line features candles, reed diffusers, and room sprays that bring luxury fragrances to home shoppers.
In June 2025, Slatkin received the QVC Brand Ambassador Award for his contributions to the network.
ScentWorx launched at Walmart stores nationwide in January 2025, bringing affordable luxury fragrances to mass-market consumers. By March 2025, Walmart expanded to carry 20 ScentWorx candle scents.
Club92 was created exclusively for Dollar General, now available in 35,000 stores with products priced between $3 and $8. The brand proves Slatkin’s philosophy that “everybody should be treated as a luxury customer.”
Dwell212 expanded into body care products at Walmart and CVS Health stores in October 2024, marking Slatkin’s entry into personal care beyond home fragrances.
Celebrity collaborations
Slatkin has created fragrance collections for some of the world’s most famous personalities. He developed candles for Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, and the late Princess Diana.
In 2025, he launched the Elton John x Slatkin + Co. collection inspired by flowers from John’s gardens at Woodside in England.
What is Harry Slatkin’s net worth and salary?
As of 2025, Harry Slatkin’s net worth is estimated between $10 million and $50 million. Various sources provide different estimates, with some reporting $10 million and others suggesting figures as high as $30-50 million.
His wealth comes from multiple income streams built over three decades in the fragrance industry.
Income sources
Slatkin built his fortune through several business ventures. The 2005 sale of Slatkin & Co. to Limited Brands brought approximately $13-15 million.
His current company, Slatkin & Co., distributes products through more than 45,000 retail locations including QVC, Walmart, CVS, and Dollar General.
The entrepreneur earns from his QVC partnership where HomeWorx candles regularly feature as Today’s Special Value deals.
His mass-market brands (ScentWorx, Club92, Dwell212) generate revenue from tens of thousands of stores nationwide. Celebrity licensing deals with clients like Elton John provide licensing fees and royalties.
Is Harry Slatkin married? Wife, children, and family
Marriage to Laura Slatkin
Harry Slatkin married Laura Berger Slatkin on September 17, 1992, at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. The wedding included 70 guests with a reception at Le Cirque restaurant.
The couple first met when Laura worked in syndicate at Lehman Brothers, where Harry initially found her “irritating.” Their relationship transformed from mutual dislike to deep friendship and love.
Laura Slatkin is an accomplished entrepreneur in her own right. She co-founded Slatkin & Co. with Harry in 1992.
After the 2005 sale, Laura launched NEST Fragrances in 2008, which became a leading luxury home fragrance brand. She stepped back from daily operations at NEST in July 2025 to pursue new entrepreneurial ventures.
The Slatkins owned an elegant New York City townhouse designed by Harry’s brother Howard. They sold the property in September 2021 for $18.75 million.
The couple also owned a charming East Hampton carriage house on Lily Pond Lane where they were given an engagement party over 30 years ago.
Children
Harry and Laura Slatkin have twins, David and Ali, born in 1999. When David was 18 months old, doctors diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder.
The diagnosis came as a shock to the family, with David showing severe autism symptoms that required full-time care.
David Slatkin now lives in a residential facility in Katonah, New York, where he receives specialized care.
Harry frequently shares updates about David on social media, celebrating his son’s progress and the dedicated staff who support him. The family visits David regularly for special occasions like Father’s Day.
Ali Slatkin, David’s twin sister, got engaged to Ryan Turkin in September 2025 after seven years of dating. The proposal took place on the family’s beach.
As of December 2025, the couple was actively planning their wedding following the romantic proposal.
Family background
Harry Slatkin is the younger brother of Howard Slatkin, a prominent Manhattan interior designer. Howard designed the interiors for Harry and Laura’s homes, including their New York City townhouse and East Hampton carriage house.
Howard also helped launch Harry’s career in fragrances by asking him to take over his sideline candle business in the early 1990s.
Autism advocacy and philanthropy
NEXT for AUTISM
In 2002, shortly after David’s diagnosis, Harry and Laura co-founded the New York Center for Autism with Ilene Lainer.
The organization later changed its name to New York Collaborates for Autism in 2012, then to NEXT for AUTISM. Harry serves as Co-Founder and Board Chair.
NEXT for AUTISM focuses on education, community outreach, and biomedical research. Since 2003, the organization has raised over $54 million to support quality autism programs throughout the United States.
Major initiatives include opening the first charter school for mental health in New York State and building a brain research center with Cornell University.
The organization provides resources for autistic individuals to live productive and fulfilling lives. NEXT for AUTISM serves the more than 5.4 million autistic adults in the United States through various programs and partnerships.
Recognition
In 2011, Harry and Laura Slatkin received the World of Children Advocacy Award for their autism advocacy work.
The Fragrance Foundation honored Laura’s contributions to autism awareness, with Harry expressing pride in their son and the community they’ve built.
Social media presence
As of December 2025, Harry Slatkin has approximately 28,000 followers on Instagram. He uses the platform mainly for business promotion, sharing new product launches, QVC appearances, and behind-the-scenes content from his fragrance development process.
Slatkin also shares personal content about his family, posting photos with wife Laura, daughter Ali, and son David.
He frequently promotes autism awareness during April, which is Autism Awareness Month. His posts about David have raised visibility for autism acceptance and the challenges families face.
His Instagram bio identifies him as “Founder and Chairman – Slatkin + Co, HomeWorx, ScentWorx, Dwell212, Club 92.” The account serves as both a business tool and a platform for his philanthropic message about autism.
Fast facts about Harry Slatkin
- Wall Street prodigy: Harry became a director at Bear Stearns by age 21, making him one of the youngest directors in the firm’s history.
- Career switch: He left a successful Wall Street career in 1992 to pursue his passion for home fragrances after his brother asked him to take over a candle side business.
- Industry pioneer: Slatkin helped introduce luxury scented candles to the U.S. market when home fragrance was barely an established category.
- Celebrity clientele: He has created custom fragrance collections for Martha Stewart, Elton John, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, and the late Princess Diana.
- Royal connection: Princess Diana commissioned Slatkin to create custom fragrances before her passing in 1997.
- Retail reach: His current company distributes products through more than 45,000 retail locations across America, including QVC, Walmart, CVS, and Dollar General.
- QVC recognition: In June 2025, he received the prestigious QVC Brand Ambassador Award for his outstanding contributions to the shopping network.
- Marriage milestone: Harry and Laura celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in September 2024, describing each other as soulmates and best friends.
- Autism dedication: He donates a portion of HomeWorx sales during Autism Awareness Month to NEXT for AUTISM, the organization he co-founded.
- Democratic pricing: Slatkin believes in “masstige” (mass prestige), offering luxury-quality fragrances at accessible price points so everyone can enjoy premium scents regardless of budget.
Read more: Who is Coy Wire? Biography, age, height, net worth, wife, family, career
Wrapping up
Harry Slatkin built a remarkable career by transforming the American home fragrance industry from niche luxury to mainstream essential.
His journey from Wall Street director to fragrance king demonstrates his entrepreneurial vision and ability to identify untapped markets.
Beyond business success, his dedication to autism advocacy through NEXT for AUTISM shows his commitment to creating positive change for families affected by the condition.
As of 2025, Slatkin continues to expand his fragrance empire while maintaining his role as a devoted husband, father, and philanthropist who uses his platform to support the autism community.
References
- “Harry Slatkin”. Wikipedia.
- Roy Telmontero. “Meet Harry Slatkin: The Home Fragrance Entrepreneur Making A Difference”. Forbes.
- “Harry Slatkin on the Growth of Home Fragrance”. WWD.
- “The Supply Side: Slatkin + Co. products land in Walmart”. Talk Business & Politics.
- “Their Relationship Morphed From Dislike to Inseparable”. The New York Times.
- “At Home with Laura and Harry Slatkin”. Vanity Fair.
- “About NEXT For AUTISM”. NEXT For AUTISM.
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