Meet Mahriana Smith, a model, an author of children’s books, and a journalist. (@maybemahri). Mahriana created a media platform known as TrooMe (http://troomee.com). The purpose of TrooMe is to inspire and uplift the readers. TrooMe shares stories of strength in stumbling, bravery in becoming, and the use of people’s voices as a positive influence.
Mahriana has interviewed many influential individuals, from today’s leading philosophers to sports superheroes; T.V personalities as well as internet personalities. Such of which being Kevin Love, Kenan Thompson, Jason Silva and so many more for TrooMe.
TrooMe believes in a ‘practice makes imperfect’ philosophy. ‘’There are many things in life that just weren’t meant for us, there are also so many things that were, some known and some waiting to be discovered. But practice makes imperfect, and that’s exactly what we are; perfectly imperfect and truly trying.’’
TrooMe’s mission is to inspire and empower those in search of self, and to serve as a reminder that we are all the same. ‘’Just like me they went through pain, just like me they don’t have all of the answers, and just like me they still don’t.’’
Today we discuss Mahriana’s story and message through Women On Topp.
What motivated you to start TrooMe
I was drawn to creating an outlet in which voices of inspiration and the overcoming of challenges could be easily accessed and shared. During the pandemic, there was so much fear. We all were scared; the whole world was scared; we needed to connect with one another somehow. And in my world, the best way to do that is through conversation and storytelling.
I truthfully believe that when a story is told, a beautiful window of opportunity opens in which we can place ourselves into the experiences and the shoes of another, creating a sense of community and connection.
What inspired you to start working for yourself?
Gosh, well since I was younger, I’ve always been a bit of a black sheep and a lone wolf in a sense. I lived by a golf course growing up and golf balls would always get lost in the woods behind my house; so, when I was 8 years old, I had the idea to sell the golf balls back to the golfers along with lemonade.
It’s funny. I think it comes back down to connecting with people I wanted to meet people one on one and address problems at the root level, as opposed to taking orders and direction; so, working for someone was never in my path.
If you could give one piece of advice to future students, what would it be?
I think it would be to always be yourself. We were all put here for a unique and different purpose. I think of it like puzzle pieces, were all pieces to a bigger whole, differing and special in our own ways; no two puzzle pieces are the same, and that’s why they all fit together so flawlessly to create the bigger, more beautiful picture.
Share us tips on becoming a happier healthier person?
It all comes down to knowing yourself and honoring yourself. If my body is tired, I take a rest. If I’m in a bad mood, rather than looking for a quick dopamine rush on Instagram or pick me up; I do things that in the long run, will benefit myself as a whole. Whether it be journaling, running, yoga, cooking a meal, or turning my phone off. I think looking to external things for the ‘feeling good sensation’, are short-lived and less sustainable than putting time and energy into ourselves and our needs on a deeper level.
What tips do you have for those who want to renew their life as in new job, moving, etc?
Honestly, I try and live by a few simple sentences when it comes to battling with what my heart wants and what seems ‘reasonable’, and it’s, ‘if not now then when, if not me then who?’
This quote really motivates me to take those first few steps in whatever direction I long to walk in. We have this one beautiful life, and I think of it like a blank canvas, we splash colours with each experience and design it how we live our lives. At the end of my life, I want to see a beautiful and messy piece of art. Not a drawing that I was needed to stay inside of the lines.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
I would tell myself to slow down. When I become interested in something I really go headfirst, all in, and I often forget to enjoy the ride. There’s no rush when it comes to building a platform, a business or a relationship for that matter.
Do it properly and lay the bricks that will withstand the tests of time.
What sacrifices have you had to make during your life?
They’re small sacrifices with big rewards I believe. Not going out with friends and saying no to invitations. It comes back down to happiness and health and pouring your time and energy into that which is more withstanding. When I’m in a work mode mindset, nothing can distract me, and I make choices based on the long run rewards. But it’s funny, you do it for long enough, and you become addicted to waking up early and keeping your routine.
What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
Meditation. Meditation gives you the realization that we are not our thoughts. It puts space between our minds and our bodies and allows us to fall into this sacred realm of being the witness.
Meditation has helped me connect with myself on such a deep level, an unearthly level.
For myself, meditation is both a vacation and a return home. It’s freeing but also soothing, and it’s been there all along, we just have to breathe into it.
If you had 6 extra hours in your day, what would you do?
I would reach out more to friends and family. I’m a bad texter, I’ve never been a fan of group chats or constantly checking my phone; so sometimes, I just don’t do it, and I forget to reach out to people or reply to friends.
So, I would probably reserve a few of those 6 hours to make phone calls and write letters people. I’ve also been wanting to learn sign language for a while, but it’s difficult to make time for it when my schedule’s crazy, so maybe I would hire a language coach to come over and help me out with that.
Do you believe in destiny, or do you think you can control your fate?
I love this question. I believe that we’re all born with special gifts that attribute to whom we are destined to be. But we have the choice whether we use our gifts and talents to bring us closer to who we’re destined to become. I believe that everything does happen for a reason, and always to our own benefit – even the most challenging of situations have lessons for us.
But it comes down to our decisions, how we choose to respond to certain scenarios, and if we choose to learn from them.
![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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