Your fragrances are making Black history in so many ways. How does being a Black-owned brand shape Moodeaux?

Although our fragrances are indeed for everyone, I've never shied away from sharing my business is Black woman-owned. I'm proud to have these ancestral roots; Black people are innovators, dreamers, pioneers. Folks who turn obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into setups for something greater, over and over again.

At MOODEAUX, everything we do is grounded in self-expression. And there's no greater expression of self that I can personally demonstrate than honoring where I come from — the brilliance, the richness, the undeniable influence of Black culture.

While some may turn a blind eye to it, our art, our music, our style, our voices, our very essence continues to shape the world in ways too vast to measure. That's something to celebrate, not diminish.

MOODEAUX is a homage to Black heritage — a reminder that we too demonstrate excellence across every field of human endeavor.

Could you share a little about Moodeaux's Black In Fragrance initiative, and what makes it so necessary?

Black perfumers and fragrance entrepreneurs, namely their contributions to the industry, remain vastly underrepresented in mainstream conversations.

Yet, make no mistake: Black people, from aromatic crop farmers to consumers to influential business leaders, have been pillars within perfumery for centuries — driving innovation, expanding markets, and generating global revenue.

As a proud Black woman, I hope to see more of us step into the spotlight — illuminating diverse career pathways in fragrance, cementing our legacy, and forging roadmaps to success, wealth, and generational prosperity.

Black In Fragrance™, which is MOODEAUX's philanthropic arm, builds on this by bringing together industry professionals, consumers, buyers, and media outlets — each who pledge to help level the proverbial playing field for us.

To date, we've provided community resources, peer mentorship sessions, and occasional microgrants that amplify our mission. 

You've shared your goal of being a "blueprint" for future Black perfumers and perfume brand owners. What are the most important takeaways your blueprint holds for those who follow in your footsteps?

As an "accidental entrepreneur," I've learned a lot from my mistakes and pray others who may be interested in launching their own venture can as well. It's difficult to choose just one bit of advice, so I'll share three takeaways.

I always preach about owning your story by truly understanding what makes you unique. Your lived experience is your greatest competitive advantage, I've been told. So really, understand how you're going to tell not only your founder story — but your brand and product story.

More important, though, is how you convey those elements of your business when talking to various audiences. The language you'll use with the general public and with someone who is primed to write you a check should be similar, not identical, if standing out is your goal.

Secondly, although there may be a zillion other tasks on your plate, don't neglect the legal matters of your business. Small mistakes or oversights can lead to big challenges in the future if you're not mindful.

This includes everything from making sure you can claim trademark rights by filing for them in a timely manner (fun fact: I didn't and ended up switching company names from Moode Beaute to MOODEAUX before launch) to keeping accurate records against any misinformation.

Last, but certainly not least: HAVE FUN. Being an entrepreneur with a fancy-schmancy title is a ton of work that comes with an equal amount of responsibilities. However, it also brings about an incredible amount of joy to be able to imagine, create, and build with your people — your community. Whenever stress and doubt creep in, they'll be the ones who'll remind you not to take yourself too seriously.