e recently connected with Chavalia Dunlap-Mwamba and have shared our conversation below.
Chavalia , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
One would like to assume that purpose is found in beautiful occurrences, but more often than not, purpose is found in “valley-like” situations (when one feels at their lowest.)
This was the case for me; I was shown my purpose at the brink of divorce, having buried a newborn baby shortly after birth and still dealing with having had to sell my custom-built home to move back to my hometown – a place I said I’d never come back to to live.
In this valley experience, once I accepted the help of my support system, slowly but surely, I began fertilizing my business baby, Pink MahogHany once again – though this time, the rebirth was linked to aromatherapy products and not perfume.
I was suffering from grief so intensely, that nights were like days for me, and I was struggling to fall and stay asleep. Initially, I didn’t have the strength to try and create my own essential oil blends to assist and make the most use of the diffuser I’d just purchased, but each day, I gained a little more strength to push through and make notes on specific essential oils that help with relaxation. Looking back, I feel it was the nudge from my transitioned baby’s relentless and gentle spirit drawing me back to my true purpose of helping others through the power of scent and aromatherapy.
The more I researched, the more I noticed I wasn’t the only one suffering from insomnia. That was even more motivation to share my essential oil diffuser blends and aromatherapy room sprays with others. Their feedback gave me more inspiration and strength to persevere – now in Kenji’s memory. He loved me so much that he allowed me to feel a love so pure in utero during a time that was my lowest, so it only made sense to transmute that love to others through helping them sleep as well as I am now able to, 5 years later.
My purpose now includes assisting with two issues that plague millions of people – night restlessness and difficulty focusing through essential oil diffuser blends, room sprays and topic rollerball blends. I take it a step further, using organic materials because if I’m going to use the best options for myself, I’m going to make it available for the public as well
I’d like to thank my baby for helping me become crystal clear on my brand mission and purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a self-taught perfumer who creates olfactory expressions in a variety of mediums. I also consult other small business owners seeking to create their own fragrance and provide bespoke services for individuals.
I am in the process of working with an HBCU in a newly created cosmetics program and am extremely excited about merging my love for education and perfumery.
As a triple minority in this space, this means a lot to me.
Pink MahogHany will be the featured fragrance brand at the “Spray it Loud” Nordstrom Fragrance Party in both Dallas and Houston – hosted by social media influencer and New Jersey Nordstrom fragrance specialist, Travaulya Wallace. This is our first ever major retailer pop-up event!
I also have a couple of clients launching their fragrances this year and the beginning of 2024, so stay tuned!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities/skills most impactful in my journey have been patience, tenacity and integrity.
For those in the initial stages of their journey, being clear about the need you want your brand to fill, capitalizing on what’s not being done by competitors (it could be something as simple as sending a “Thank You” when someone follows your brand on social media) and owning the uniqueness of your brand with confidence. Fine tuning these skills is a continuous learning process, so one must be comfortable with continued education in their craft and not ever think they’ve “arrived.” Be open to constructive criticism, but if some advice truly doesn’t resonate or makes you feel uneasy, don’t be afraid to challenge or question it.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is an individual/business who is patient and respects that I work intuitively and strategically on each fragrance brief. I meditate on every client’s ideas before proceeding to begin formulation. My approach is a bit different from larger filling houses because I also consult my clients for an optimal launch, helping them to avoid the challenges I faced with my first launch. My ideal client values honesty, directness and integrity and is serious about their launch. They understand the cost investment involved in a custom project and don’t mind it being a marathon as opposed to a sprint. They appreciate a collaborative experience and don’t mind putting in the work to launch successfully. Confidentiality is of utmost important to my ideal client, and they take pride in their involvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: pinkmahoghany.com
- Instagram: pink_mahoghany
- Facebook: Facebook.com/pmfragrances
