Lyn is a remarkable individual, a professional Event Stylist and the Founder/Owner of Indulgence Table, specializing in decadent grazing tables and luxurious pop-up picnics for styling events.
Lyn has history working restaurant jobs, phone operator, in-branch customer lending and later an authorized signatory. Serving in these capacities, she learned the skills in leadership, teamwork and organization unique to the business world and brings them to bear in her company to serve clients.
A first generation Australian-born Vietnamese woman, Lyn has built a name for herself as a creative and passionate industry professional. She has served and consulted with top industry executives including a five-star historic mansion hotel that exclusively hired their picnic set-ups. Lyn and her partner have also been featured in event magazines, and a made an appearance on a major news channel for a story on Valentine’s Day 2021.
A tenacious industry player, Lyn and her company have now broken into the wider luxurious event styling space, and have built and maintained excellent working relationships. With the belief that passion is the root and foundation of a successful life; to build strong communities, we must fortify the root! This is Lyn’s motivation towards using her knowledge and skills to serve those whose lives would be enriched by it.
What opportunities has the pandemic confinement created?
Whilst starting a new business during the pandemic has definitely made for some crazy times, we saw the COVID-19 lockdown as an opportunity to kickstart a service that we knew would explode once restrictions had eased.
When we started, Melbourne was in its second stage 4 lockdown. This meant we were unable to leave home unless it was for an essential reason, we were not allowed to travel more than five kilometres away or have guests over. This lasted for 111 days.
When the restrictions eventually eased, there were still limitations in place for restaurants and home visits. We were also unable to travel interstate or overseas. We thought picnics would be a perfect way to catch up with loved ones after such a harsh lockdown, so decided then to launch the luxe picnic side to our event styling business.
How are your businesses different and what are your unique selling points?
Event styling such competitive industries. We believe that what makes us stand out from other businesses in the industry is our passion for the finer details. We pride ourselves on going above and beyond to not just meet, but also exceed, our clients’ expectations. This means we always deliver more than what the client expects and ensure that everything we create is nothing less than picturesque.
For example, for our event styling business, every element in the spread is thoroughly thought through, from the fresh blooms we use to our “no crease” napkins and tablecloths.
What challenges have you faced in your creative work?
Currently, our biggest challenge for the event styling business is COVID-19.
Several of our wholesalers have been affected by supply shortages, due to international trade disruptions. Whereas prior to the pandemic, it was easy to source the items you needed and get them delivered in a short timeframe, the knock-on effect that the pandemic has had on our suppliers has meant that something as simple as finding the right coloured balloons can now be a challenging task.
What are you currently working on?
Our current focus is on giving back to those who have struggled most – Our aim is to brighten the days of children with life threatening illnesses. We have teamed up with some other vendors to work alongside non-for-profit organisations in achieving this. “Often, sick kids have few opportunities to use their imagination, enjoy the moments others take for granted, and just be kids.” We are hoping to put some smiles on their faces and change that!
Tell us more about your business and what you offer.
At Indulgence Table, our luxury picnic experiences showcase our flair for the finer things in life. All you have to do is arrive to the chosen setup location and enjoy the picnic, without having the worry of planning and cleaning up afterwards. Our aim is to be a one stop shop, we take the hard work out of event planning and styling and look after everything for you!
Recently, we’ve branched out into table styling for larger events, which has been a wonderful way to expand our services and skills.
Through Indulgence Table, I have also conquered my fear of balloons. As a child, I had a balloon pop straight into my eyeball, which caused me to struggle with this fear for my entire life. However, I have now faced my fears, and branched out into balloon artistry as well. I now find this to be therapeutic art form, rather than being scary. It’s also a magnificent way for me to showcase my creativity.
As an entrepreneur and innovator, when do you prefer to work solo versus working in a team, what personal qualities have enabled you to lead and collaborate well?
I believe my childhood and life struggles, as well as my varied employment background, have fostered my resilience. I see this as one of my biggest strengths, and the key to my leadership journey.
Also, I have the ability to quickly adapt to different situations, which helps me to stay in control, even when things don’t go to plan.
My business is incredibly labour-intensive, so having good manpower behind you is essential. Whilst finding the ideal team can be a difficult process, I have been very fortunate in that I have now found the right people to represent me and my brand. I would not be where I am today if I did not have the right people surrounding me in both of my businesses. With that being said, I do find it more productive to work solo sometimes (such as when I am dealing with administrative responsibilities), as I am easily distracted!
However, I believe that above all, having fun with your work and rewarding your staff are the best ways to ensure productivity.
Where do you find your ideas?
We live in a world where anything and everything is easily accessible online.
Every evening, I spend time researching colour palettes, different materials, what’s popular, and what’s on trend.
However, I use this research only as inspiration. Rather than copying the work of others, I always make sure that our work is a new take on an old idea, in a style that is unique to us.
How can people view and stay up to date with your creative work?
Indulgence Table is very active on social media, as this is where most of our target audience find us. We aim to post new photos every other day, so our followers can keep up to date with our creative work. We also regularly update our user-friendly website with photos, for those who don’t use social media!
Tell us something we do not know about you yet?
I am a strong believer that when women support each other, incredible things happen. For this reason, I do not see other businesses as competition, but rather as an opportunity for collaboration.
With that said, I only collaborate with vendors whose products, ambition, and perseverance I believe in.
Any words of advice for event stylists?
For event stylists that specialise in table styling or luxe picnics, we highly recommended that you buy in bulk. Initially when we first started, we made some costly mistakes buying in smaller quantities. If you are buying just enough supplies for your next booking, you may be saving in the short term, however as your business grows a, you will not have enough stock available. From our experience, 90% of the time you will not be able to find the exact items you originally purchased, you always want your displays to match and appear consistent, meaning that for these cases, where you don’t have enough stock, you’ll end up having to purchase a whole new set of items to complete the look.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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