MicaGem Fragrance

Mica Gem was started by a small lineup of family and friends with collective backgrounds in action sports, philanthropic pursuits, marketing and a passion for fragrance.

The group behind Mica Gem were brought together by the wife and husband team of Sarah and Mike Reilly as a way to create an enterprise that indirectly encourages who indulge in luxury items, to help those less fortunate at the same time.

Mike, a three-time national amateur champion and former World Qualifying Series professional surfer, has been exposed to the fragrance world and the dire needs of many of the world’s children, both locally and abroad, in very unique ways.

Through his career in competitive surfing and later, his passion for waves outside of the US, Mike has traveled the world in search of experiences that can’t be had at his local break at Seal Beach. With these travels comes exposure to local people, some of whom he knows can’t imagine global travel because their own vital needs aren’t being met, including the needs of their children.

Prior to founding Mica Gem, both Sarah and Mike have been active philanthropists both at home and abroad. They’ve helped build homes in El Salvador and volunteered their time at San Diego summer camps to work with abused children. In 2009, they started a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called All 4 The Kids, a charity that stages social experiences for the benefit of different charities each year.

In 2009 Mike was selected by the One Campaign and Malaria No More to be a part of their first awareness and evangelism team, the Griot Experiment. Well versed in the Malaria eradication movement through Mike’s training for Griot, Mica Gem and its “One Bottle = One Net = One Life” was natural evolution of Sarah and Mike’s passion for humanitarianism.

In 2008, while on a European vacation in Grasse, France, Sarah and Mike took a fragrance class and the idea for Mica Gem was born – create a brand of desirable luxury products people are already using and passionate about, and tie it back to helping those in dire need of some of life’s most basic needs.

According to Sarah, who has taken on the role of Mica Gem’s president and handles all of the brand’s day-to-day operations, Mica Gem is the natural evolution of their personal interests in philosophy, circle of friends and their combined interests:

“Mike and I have seen first hand how there are so many less fortunate than us. People who would never dream of complaining about the lack of surf because they’re lacking things so much more important. But many people don’t know how to help or it’s not top of mind. With Mica Gem, we’re going to make it easy for people to indulge themselves and at the same time, give back to those less fortunate.”

Richard Loniewski has more than 30 years experience in fragrance and product development. He met Sarah and Mike in 2008 and was fascinated by their idea of creating a fragrance brand that helped others in need through their own personal scent expression.

Throughout his career, Richard has been responsible for the development of more than 50 fragrances and 45 body splashes, including scents for brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Gianna Versace, Liz Claiborne, Nautica and Burberry. Currently, Richard is the president of fragrance development house, Loniewski Associates.

Thirteen of the fragrances Richard has developed have won the Fragrance Foundation’s award for “Best Fragrance Introduction” and he holds three patents related to the industry. Richard has been interviewed by media outlets such as People, GQ and Vogue, in addition to having articles published in numerous industry magazines. In addition, Richard has presented papers at the CTFA Scientific Meeting on Fragrance for the 21st Century and at the World Perfumery Congress.

Most importantly to Mica Gem, Richard fits the company’s mission of helping to save lives through the personal expression of wearing fragrance.