Meet Anne Zacharias, Founder of Haven Scent

Haven Scent began with a simple realization: cleaning products could smell incredible — without compromising how beautifully they perform.

I’ve always been extremely particular about fragrance. Synthetic fragrance oils and perfumes often give me headaches, so when I discovered an all-natural cleaner with a scent I genuinely loved, it completely changed how I felt about cleaning. Instead of feeling like a chore, it felt… enjoyable. The cleaner quickly became something I used constantly, and I found myself looking forward to wiping down the kitchen after dinner each night.

For reasons I still don’t fully understand, I became determined to see if I could create my own cleaner. I’ve always been someone who can’t leave an idea alone once it takes hold — and this one refused to let go. I’ve spent much of my career building companies and bringing new ideas to life, but developing a cleaning formula was an entirely new challenge.

With no formal chemistry background, I began testing formulas the old-fashioned way — with online research, a notebook, my signature purple pen, and plenty of trial and error. My early “lab” involved cleaning spaghetti sauce off a glass tabletop until I developed a formula that cleaned thoroughly while leaving surfaces streak-free. From there, I began blending essential oils to create Haven Scent’s signature scent profiles, each designed to feel natural, balanced, and never overpowering.

After creating a cleaner that smelled incredible and performed beautifully, I encountered another challenge: most premixed cleaning products are expensive and inefficient to ship because they’re largely water. That realization helped shape Haven Scent’s concentrated formulas, which are designed to be mixed with water at home. The concentrates reduce shipping weight, minimize packaging waste, and pair with refillable spray bottles for a more thoughtful, reusable system. Our concentrate bottles are also fully recyclable, supporting our goal of reducing unnecessary waste.

I began giving cleaners to friends and family to try, and when they started requesting more, I realized Haven Scent might be worth bringing into other homes.

The name Haven Scent came to me during one of my daily walks in the woods with one of our rescue dogs. Despite being warned it might be difficult to trademark, I felt strongly that the name captured exactly what the brand represented. Nine months later, the trademark was approved — reinforcing that trusting your instincts pays off.

Today, Haven Scent creates cleaning products designed to be effective, beautifully scented, and safe for everyday use around families and pets. I’m especially passionate about supporting cleaning professionals by offering non-toxic formulas that create safer working environments, along with opportunities to earn additional income through our referral program.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand Haven Scent into additional home care products — including candles, soaps, laundry care, and reed diffusers — while staying true to our commitment to thoughtful ingredients, intentional design, and sensory-driven home care.

I’m proud to be born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I bleed Black and Gold. Outside of Haven Scent, I love spending time with my family and our four rescue dogs. You’ll usually find me walking in the woods — my daily meditation — playing Wordle, or staying active with Pilates, golf, and paddle tennis. I live by one personal rule: if it’s not a “Hell yes!” it’s a “No.”

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me and Haven Scent. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you at anne@havenscent.com .

- Anne