Matthew McVicar is a law clerk at Godfreys Law and the founder of Son of a Vicar - a New Zealand-made fragrance brand he launched in 2024. What began as an idea during his law studies has grown into a small but ambitious business, with three signature perfumes now on the market.
A year ago, Son of a Vicar was little more than an idea. I was in my third year of law school in Christchurch, experimenting with scents in my spare time and trying to imagine how a fragrance brand could feel at home in New Zealand without simply replicating what already existed. I knew I wanted a brand with a strong point of view, but I had no idea of the realities of bringing it to life.
The past twelve months have been a steep learning curve. In developing our first three fragrances and launching the business, I’ve had to do far more than refine scent profiles. Building Son of a Vicar meant registering a company, understanding tax and compliance, managing sourcing and production, and learning how to present the brand in a way that makes people stop, experience, and connect.
I’ve loved seeing the first bottles come together, making early sales, receiving positive reviews, and even being featured in The Press. Those moments have been both motivating and surreal. But there’s also been doubt, not about whether there was space in the market, but about whether people would truly understand the brand. My biggest question was whether I had created something people could feel proud to own, because that was always the standard, I wanted Son of a Vicar to reach.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that people buy into people, not just products. Every time I’ve stepped out from behind the brand, whether in interviews, at markets, or on social media, the response has been warmer and more engaged. At first, I worried that sharing my story - the student years, the small wins and mistakes - might undermine the professionalism and luxury I wanted Son of a Vicar to embody. Instead, I found that the story strengthened the brand by giving it a human dimension.
Alongside this journey, what has mattered most is the opportunity to begin my legal career. Working with the team at Godfreys Law has been an incredible experience so far. The firm’s support, and the chance to learn from colleagues with such deep legal and business expertise, has been invaluable as I develop my career. Running Son of a Vicar has also given me a stronger appreciation of what many of our clients face when building and managing their own ventures. It has strengthened the connection between law and lived business experience, and reminded me daily of the importance of practical, commercial advice.
I feel fortunate to be developing both as a law clerk and as a business owner, in an environment at Godfreys Law that values initiative, innovation, and growth.
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