denu has been awarded two Gold Stevie Awards and one Silver Stevie Award at the 2026 Annual International Business Awards.
The awards recognise denu across three categories:
More than 3,400 submissions were received from organisations across 82 nations and territories, with winners determined by the average scores of more than 300 professionals during two months of judging.
For denu, the recognition is significant, but the judges’ feedback behind the wins was just as meaningful. They understood what makes denu different.
Since founding denu in Melbourne in 2007, I have believed that every detail shapes how people feel.
That thinking has shaped our body, hair and home care, our work across premium hospitality, bespoke scent collaborations, personalised co-branded products, corporate gifting and our online retail business.
The judges recognised that denu is not simply supplying products.
They saw the role scent plays in creating connection, memory and a stronger sense of place.
One judge described denu as transforming everyday amenities into memorable brand experiences through bespoke scent design and Australian-made products.
Another captured our model particularly well:
“Using luxury hotel bathrooms and major events as experiential showrooms is marketing gold.”
That insight reflects something denu has been building for many years.
A guest may first experience denu through hand care in a restaurant, a hotel suite, a cultural institution or a premium sporting venue.
That first interaction can then become curiosity, recognition, loyalty and, increasingly, a direct relationship with denu online.
It is a B2B2C model built around experience rather than traditional shelf space.
The feedback repeatedly highlighted the same strengths:
One judge described denu as proving that “commercial scale and intimate, sensory luxury can co exist beautifully.”
Another called the business “a standout entrepreneurial entry” with strong commercial growth, clear market differentiation and exceptional brand loyalty.
That recognition matters because it validates the niche denu has worked hard to create.
We are not trying to compete as another generic body care brand.
Our focus is on helping people and businesses create experiences that are remembered.
The judges also recognised the role premium hospitality has played in denu’s growth.
Long standing partnerships with organisations such as Arts Centre Melbourne, Rockpool Dining Group, the MCG and Sofitel Melbourne were referenced as evidence of both customer retention and commercial credibility.
These relationships allow denu products to be experienced in context.
People wash their hands, enter a hotel suite, attend an event or receive a gift and encounter a scent that becomes connected with that moment.
That is where the denu experience begins.
It can then continue through retail, gifting, repeat purchase and online discovery.
These awards belong in part to the many clients, partners and customers who have trusted denu over almost 19 years.
From five star hotels and leading restaurants to cultural institutions, sporting venues, corporate clients and loyal online customers, each partnership has helped shape the business we are today.
Two Gold Stevie Awards and one Silver are a milestone I am very proud of.
What makes them even more meaningful is knowing the judges understood the idea at the heart of denu: scent can turn an everyday interaction into something people remember.
The artwork features Cape York Lily, Native Thyme, Southern Blue Gum, Lemon Myrtle, Veined Sun Orchid, Finger Lime and Cinnamon Myrtle. Together they create a rich visual tapestry that speaks to both the beauty and the quiet usefulness of Australia's native botanicals.
The story behind Reflect - a two-ingredient natural fragrance made with lavender and ylang ylang pure essential oils. Created in Melbourne as part of the collaboration with Philosophy Australia. I wanted to create a scent that captured the feeling of wearing the collection. Lavender brings calm and clarity, helping to steady the senses. Ylang ylang brings a beautiful soft floral warmth while encouraging feelings of comfort, confidence and connection. Together, they create something that feels feminine, composed and quietly powerful.
