For 25+ years, husband and wife team Karen Sinclair Drake and Paul Drake have engineered innovative personal care and wellness products to strident European Cosmetic Regulations, and multiple global certifications, including UK Soil Association, Fairtrade, USDA, French ECOCERT, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG.) Their expertise covers cosmetics, skincare, hair care, make-up, baby care, nutritional supplements, perfume, candles, and functional beverage drinks. Flowering Pharmacy celebrates the relationships between musicians, actors, athletes, public figures, and specific non-profits and their fans by creating products with deep connections through storytelling and philanthropy. Intentional, guided introspection results in custom products that are as singular and extraordinary as the artists themselves—and as colorful and diverse as their fans.
KAREN SINCLAIR DRAKE
FLOWERING PHARMACY CO-FOUNDER & STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT R&D
British-born green chemist and author Karen Sinclair Drake initiated her cosmetics career while studying Innovation Design Engineering and Contemporary Design at the Kent Institute of Art & Design in the U.K.
Intrigued by the intersection of art and design with complementary and alternative medicine, Karen spent the next two decades exploring functional medicine and the art of self-care. Embracing ethical, sustainable, and green principles in all her skincare research and development projects, Karen earned membership with the prestigious Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Institute of Functional Medicine.
Karen also holds two patents for the first successful, clinically trialed and tested prebiotic-based acne treatment, and is a published expert in the study of human skin microbiome.
As the primary contact for helping artists bring one-of-a-kind, extraordinary branded products to life, Karen serves as equal parts creative guru, sustainable scientist, and counselor to all Flowering Pharmacy product partners.
Integrating her deep R&D background with a notable knack for discovering partners’ unique stories, Karen taps into each artist’s individual history, dreams, and product passions. This connection enables Karen to carefully package and brand one-of-a-kind, earth-friendly, fan-favorite premium products that directly reflect each artist’s authentic, one-of-a-kind story.
As green chemists and socially conscious members of our global community, Karen and her Flowering Pharmacy team place sustainability and green chemistry, diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of every endeavor. While Flowering Pharmacy’s bespoke bits-and-bobs may provide a luxe-like user experience, the ideology and production practices remain distinctly down-to-earth.
Karen’s background and experience have led her to discover distinct scents in unexpected places: junked bourbon, whiskey, and wine barrels; discarded fruit and vegetable parts from the food and beverage industry; pine, maple, and cedarwood oil from cast-off wood shavings; and post-event floral arrangements. Each of these items offers upcycled opportunities to transform into mysterious new perfume notes. (Karen calls these scents “curious accords” because they smell familiar, but you just can’t put your finger on exactly what they are.)
The Flowering Pharmacy Perfume Design Team were recognized by the New Luxury Awards hosted by The International Perfume Foundation (IPF) in Paris, France as winners for their Best Brand 2022 category with SURINAM. Designed for MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, Surinam is a fragrant tribute to honor pioneer, naturalist, and artist Maria Sibylla Merian’s exploration to SURINAM in 1699. The quality of SURINAM ingredients is from the control of growing and distillation conditions and artisan scale production methods passed down from generations of French perfume makers.
U.K. Soil Association Organic Certification Consultant for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.’s Origins brand. During Karen’s board tenure at the Soil Association, its Royal Patron, was H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.
Karen undertook a shared clinical trial study with UNILEVER U.K. testing and comparing hundreds of botanicals and their ability to control certain unwanted underarm bacteria.
Sustainability Consultant for Walmart – an introduction made by celebrity board-certified neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author David Perlmutter, MD, FACN.
Designed The Spa Dr Skincare Collection by Dr. Trevor Cates, and multiple other doctor brands.
Skincare Consultant for XYMOGEN – an introduction made by celebrity board-certified neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author David Perlmutter, MD, FACN who helped develop and introduce the iNutritionals line of neurological formulas. The addition of BrainSustain™ and NeuroActives™ BrainSustain™ to the XYMOGEN line positioned them as a leader in the modulation of neurological disorders.
Skincare Consultant for Ortho Molecular – an introduction made by celebrity board-certified neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author David Perlmutter, MD, FACN.
Consultant for ASDA U.K. for a premium certified organic baby skin care and bathing collection.
Consultant for HUGGIES Natural Care Baby Wipes on their “Happy Baby, Happy Mom” connection promoting the importance of a daily healthy skin routine.
Karen is also a frequent contributor to books, trade publications, events, and broadcasts.
Guest host on QVC U.K. and U.S.A.
PAUL DRAKE
FLOWERING PHARMACY CO-FOUNDER & PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS LEADER
American-born Paul Drake has lived and worked in the U.K. and Europe for many years. His work supplied more than 600 hospitals worldwide with best-in-class, state-of-the-art orthopedic equipment.
Partnering with numerous American and international healthcare vendors, Paul has led a plethora of successful businesses—all built upon ethical foundations, corporate social responsibility, world-class safety standards, and innovative science-led technology.
Paul opened a direct supply chain to the U.K. National Health Service Hospitals (NHS) importing pediatric orthopedic soft goods when there was a gap for these much-needed devices in the NHS system. His efforts connected essential innovative orthopedic supplies, including adorable colorful casts, cast protectors, cast removal medical devices, and footwear across the U.K. and Scotland. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed; American military bases, private, teaching, and university hospitals also sought access to U.S. orthopedic innovation to help mobilize and substantially improve patient’s quality of life.
Paul researches industry trends, artists, and organizations, with a keen eye for those who may be a good fit for Flowering Pharmacy partnerships.
Working directly with artists or through their talent and business managers, Paul helps build bridges that connect fans with their favorite artists through branded products with a heavy philanthropic connection.
Paul’s personalized attention and direct dealings at every stage of product creation and production are essential to the formulation of all Flowering Pharmacy projects. His care and expertise provide artists with business input and guidance from initial concept discussions through final go-to-market strategies.
Past and present projects include collaborations with Walmart, doctor brands, and multi-level marketing companies.
Paul’s purview also includes close collaboration with talent management, agencies, and all Flowering Pharmacy celebrity partners.
