Candice James is a passionate soul with an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and presently working on completing her bachelor’s degree in criminology. Currently, Candice James works as a Home Health and Hospice Administrative Assistant providing support to homebound patients and have been in the healthcare field for over five years. Candice James likes what she does because of the people she works with even though it’s not a long-term career choice.
andice Jamese has always been the type to build others up, knows what it’s like to be torn down. Someone who doesn’t want to stand still and question her next chapter. Tharpe prefers to take risks and initiate opportunities and just see what path she’ll lead to. Whether she fails or succeeds the point of the matter is that she is continuously moving forward and closer than where she was yesterday.
‘’I’m manifesting the life I dream of! The woman I am today isn’t who I was a year ago. I stopped making excuses and started making changes. In order to flourish, I must grow. I will continue to develop by focusing on attracting success and prosperity. I am grateful for every blessing the universe has instore for me. I aspire to be my own boss! I am thrilled to be a feature…stay tuned it’s more of me to come.’’
Can you tell us a little bit what you had to go through and what inspired you to write the book?
I buried myself in a relationship that was only about making my significant other happy. I became indecisive, insecure, and numb to a lot of things that I wanted and/or needed. I awkwardly accepted physical, mental, and verbal abuse because I thought it was a form of love. It wasn’t until after I separated myself I began to find myself again through healing. I never grasped the simplest things I was missing like joy, peace, hope, faith, love…I under no circumstances understood that those things could be stolen until somebody almost got away with all my stuff.
Can you tell us in your own words what is “Don’t Wife Him”?
To give you a better understanding of what I mean by Don’t Wife Him, I can tell you that no boyfriend deserves the treatment of a husband until it is earned. If he wants you to resemble the role of a wife then he should put a ring on it. Why give him all the benefits of a marriage without collecting any of the complementary obligations and commitments?
What lesson would you like to share with readers from your book?
The lesson from my book is to always fall in love with you first and then share that with someone who appreciates you. Show people how to treat you by them realizing you know who you are, what you value, and your beliefs. If you believed in Santa Claus for years you can give yourself the same energy by reclaiming your time! Put yourself at the top of you to-do list! Forgive yourself as many times as it takes for you to find peace again.
Who should read your book?
My book is available to all of those that want to practice self-love. To people who are in abusive relationships and needs some motivation to leave; to those who needs to hear that it’s okay to let your heart break and recover. This book is for those that want to repair the damage they’re going through or have experienced so that they won’t continue to repeat it. Everyone should read this book; the curious, the damaged, the abused, the ones trying and wanting better.
You are currently working on launching a subscription box businesses, what can you tell us about this?
I am currently creating a subscription box business geared towards Curvy women. Us as women are formed in so many different shapes and sizes so I’d like to produce a box that encourages women to not only love who they are and slay it but to also uplift them in the process of being confident in who they are. Size doesn’t define or wear you, you wear it…and it’s all about how you wear it. Curvy is an attitude!
What things have you learned meanwhile working on this business?
The most important lesson I’m learning is that I have to stop treating my creativity as if it’s a 9 to 5 job. I’m inspired in so many ways and through so many aspects. I’m not putting limits on myself and what I can bring to my formation. I’m definitely having some great experiences! Hahaha Growth is not found in comfort.
How do you improve your financial knowledge?
First and foremost I had to set a financial goal. Everyone knows a goal without a timeline is just a dream. So I had to gain knowledge about investment opportunities, market trends and how the economy works because it’s extremely important for building and increasing my wealth. I read as much as I can, attend financial literacy classes online, often stalk personal finance websites ha ha ha, and I sometimes ask my social media friends who are well educated in that area of expertise for advice. Stay informing yourself!
Share two recommendations for female entrepreneurs.
“Associations, networking, and consistency have been my three factors that have helped me tremendously. In order to be successful you have to formulate meaningful connections. Keep pushing forward!”
“Don’t be ashamed to ask for help! You got to be ready to work whether things are going good or bad. Surround yourself with individuals who are both supporting for your prosperity and hold you responsible for your mistakes. It’s extremely a standout amongst the most ideal approaches to remain centered and urges you to level up!”
How do you think modern women can be more fulfilled in their lives?
By remaining to release the most genuine, liberated parts of you, to encounter more happiness, drive, and passion throughout everyday life. More often than not when we want to create something new or different in our lives, our true yearning is not about what we want to do on the outside that will make us feel fulfilled and content; however a specific way we need to feel in ourselves.
What is your favorite aspect of becoming an entrepreneur?
The freedom to do me! Having the ability to create my own opportunities and being my own boss! Setting my own hours! Making my own schedule! Discovering new depths of my potentials! The success is way more rewarding than the stress! The favorite aspect of becoming an entrepreneur is the moment you decide to become the person you’re destined to be!
Get ”Don’t Wife Him” on Amazon
![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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