What’s the best gift to give on Valentine’s and beyond? IMO, fragrance. For some reason, most of us, myself included two years ago, think perfume is a ‘risky’ gift because it’s too personal. And to an extent, it is. But when you think about it – if your bestie or mans bought you an EDP that’s bound to make Rihanna envious of you, would you be upset? Um, I’m going to go with hell, nah!
What’s more, if you’re gifting fragrance to your boyfriend, sister, or perfume-obsessed cousin, you probably already know (100%) the scents they vibe with and the options they’re dying to add to their collection, making things a bit straightforward.
But then again, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how difficult and madly confusing it is to choose that one perfect perfume. One that connects with you and your giftee on a deeper level. A scent that’s bound to become the soundtrack of your life, aka your signature scent.
Thankfully for you, there are some perfume nerds (fragrance fanatics) who know their shit and can help you choose the best scent or at least influence you in the right direction. So ahead, 6 Black-owned fragrance artists and the scents they swear they can’t live without!
Mair Emenogu – Mair Fragrance Remember When ($110)
Mair Emenogu manifested her way into the fragrance industry. She signed a document at work and envisioned her name ‘Mair’ on a perfume bottle, and three years later, that vision became a reality.
Her mission? To create a Black-owned fragrance brand that catered to women who appreciate soft yet long-lasting scents that feature notes that conjure feelings such as happiness, confidence, and beauty.
Mair Emenogu’s Signature Scent: Remember When ($110) is her all-time go-to floral fragrance since it contains her favorite note in the entire world – bergamot.
The soft fragrance captures the essence of the soft girl era by infusing top notes of jasmine and neroli. As the scent starts to dry down, you’ll notice hints of bergamot, French pear, and orange blossom, rounding off with amber and guaiac wood.
Jackie Aina – FORVR Mood Matcha Bes-teas ($42)
If you’ve been a Jackie Aina fan from back when you know she’s the Queen of scents. She’s passionate about everything fragrance and self-care – Aina doesn’t miss a chance to remind Black women that self-care isn’t selfish and it’s okay to prioritize it.
Enter Forvr Mood, a fragrance brand launched in 2020 (yes, during the pandemic), and that has since grown into one of the biggest and most-beloved brands in the US.
Her vision? To launch a brand that stepped away from the overrated, extremely bougified, and intimidating nature of the fragrance industry and focused more on creating modern, definitely luxe but also very pocket-friendly products.
Aina’s Forvr Mood Scent’ Soundtrack Of Her Life’: Matcha Bes-teas ($42), an energizing scent as exciting as spilling tea with your BFF.
The candle infuses top notes of lemongrass and orange with heart notes of lavender and matcha tea (which Aina describes as ‘just so rich’). It rounds it off with birch wood and Indonesian patchouli base notes to give you the perfect Monday morning pick-me-up scent.
Brianna Arps – Worthy By Moodeaux ($98)
Brianna Arps has always expressed herself through scent – a love affair that ultimately led to the launch of her fragrance brand, Moodeaux.
She drew upon her experience in beauty – from working at Elite Daily, Refinery 29, and The Lip Bar – to create a brand that thoughtfully filled the glaring void of a lack of representation in the scent industry, specifically the lack of Black-woman-owned, ‘clean’ fragrance brands.’
Brianna Arp’s Must-Have Scent: Worthy By Moodeaux ($98), her very first fragrance and the scented ‘soundtrack’ of her life.
The EDP was conceptualized during a low point in her life and has since been described as a ‘hug in a bottle’ thanks to its warm, citrus-floral-woodsy accords that wrap your senses in a soul-soothing cozy blanket while also giving off major sex appeal. Adds to cart ASAP!
Marilyn Jones – B Fragranced Embellish Perfume Bundle ($72)
CEO Marilyn Jones lost her mom to breast cancer at a very young age, and the only memory she had left was her scent – a memory that birthed her fragrance brand, Bfragranced.
The luxury fragrance brand creates one-of-a-kind and premium-quality scents that elevate your feelings and emotions through light, soft, and sweet notes (like amber, honeysuckle, and jasmine). It encourages your senses, scents, and accessories to be ‘the epitome of who you are, without saying much.’
Marilyn Jones’ Signature Scent: B Fragranced Embellish Eau de Parfum ($53.97), a floral-fruity scent perfect for any sophisticated babe looking for something classy, glamorous and romantic. Notes of apple, citron, and peach add dimension to the EDP; playful honeysuckle and jasmine make the scent unforgettable while providing a perfect balance for amber and sandalwood.
B Fragranced also produces candles, diffusers, and lotions that aromatically invoke feelings of glam, luxury, and romance.
Chris Collins – The World Of Chris Collins Lust Oud Delice EDP, $225
If your man doesn’t have a Chris Collins EDP, girl run, he a joker (JK ?).
A household brand and a Black men’s favorite, World Of Collins, was created to give users a scent that provokes feelings of attraction, adventure, and freedom. Chris wanted to immerse users into the world he lives in – both reality and fantasy. It could be a bit dark sometimes, but also the warmest. It’s batshit scary but also very cuddly bearish.
And Chris Collins’ Favorite Fragrance From The Brand? The next one – the one he’s working on. Which as of now, is the Lust Oud Delice ($225). The latest addition to the brand, Lust evokes the deepest realms of desire and sensuality.
It marries the intoxicating allure of dark chocolate, hazelnut, and walnut with the sophistication and passion of benzoin resin, cypriol heart, and Orris concrete. The base notes of oud assafi, sandalwood spicatum, and sensual musks linger, creating an indelible trail, like the lingering touch of a lover. It’s basically a dark romance novel in a bottle.
Malaika Jones – Brown Girl Jane The Wanderlust 3-Piece EDP Collection ($186 Value), $168
Brown Girl Jane is a fine fragrance brand anchored in heritage, wanderlust, and masterful craftsmanship. It was founded by Malaika Jones, Tai Beauchamp, and Nia Jones, three dynamic Black women passionate about marrying the world of beauty and wellbeing with science-backed scents designed to uplift, inspire, and transport your senses.
The Scent That Makes Malaika Jones Feel The Most Powerful Scent: Brown Girl Jane Casablanca ($102). The sexy, confident fragrance reminds her of when she stepped into her own – it’s like spritzing badassery all over and getting that warm, intoxicating feel of love.
She also loves layering, and the combination of Bahia ($102) and Lamu ($102) is her all-time favorite. The blend of warm florals with sparking fresh citrus is feminine and uplifting but remains grounded, so it’s not too much. It’s the most luxurious and efficacious scent ever!
What’s your signature scent? Which fragrance would you say is the scent soundtrack of your life?’ Let us know in the comment section below!
