Tristan Murray came up with the idea for DadNose while preparing for the birth of his first child. He was concerned about the smell of dirty diapers and asked for a charcoal-filtered mask as a gift at the baby shower. The mask proved disappointing. Murray began working on his own solution, eventually developing a scented foam nose that parents could wear during diaper changes.
Murray lived in Louisville, Kentucky, and worked in healthcare, where he was familiar with unpleasant smells. Dirty diapers presented a different challenge at home. His idea was to make something that would mask the odor while also entertaining his child. The result looked like a small clown nose, turning an unpleasant household chore into something a little more playful.
Murray spent roughly two years developing the product. His early prototypes used a cedar scent, and he worked on creating a nose that could be worn comfortably while releasing a more pleasant aroma. The finished product came in several scents, including cedar, coffee and a candle-inspired fragrance.
The project developed into a family business. Murray involved his wife and children as he prepared to sell DadNose, bringing them into the process of building the brand and getting the product ready for customers. He also worked with a friend who ran a design business in Louisville to develop its logo, packaging and online store.
The packaging became part of the product’s identity. Murray wanted to sell the noses in sets of three, and the designer created boxes modeled on golf ball packaging. The idea fit the brand’s humor and helped position DadNose as a gift for expectant fathers rather than just another baby-care item.
DadNose began selling online, offering sets of scented noses and gift packages for baby showers and new parents. The business also added accessories and other gifts aimed at fathers and their children. Murray marketed the product through its unusual appearance and the familiar experience of changing a particularly unpleasant diaper.
The business attracted customers who bought DadNose for themselves as well as people purchasing gifts for friends and relatives expecting children. By early 2024, the product was being sold through its own online store, with Murray handling customer orders and building the business alongside his family.
