I was born and raised in the heart of Boston, MA, in a neighborhood often written off by society. Growing up, I was a dark-skinned girl who felt rejected, neglected, and, in many ways, invisible. My father’s suicide when I was a child left me with unanswered questions and a hole in my heart that I carried for years. I’ve experienced trauma that shaped my view of the world, and for a long time, I believed that my life was worth nothing. I believed that anyone who saw past my façade would see the truth—that I was broken beyond repair.
My path to healing, to believing in myself, and ultimately launching my business, has been anything but easy. There was a time when I thought I’d never get out of the place I was stuck in—fighting, flighting, and avoiding pain. I spent years in survival mode, struggling with anxiety, depression, and physical pain. It’s true what they say: the weight of a broken heart can wreak havoc on the body. I faced the kind of pain that takes lives in different ways—mentally, emotionally, and physically. But I’ve learned that identifying your pain is the first step in healing, and I’ve been blessed to be able to address my pain before it was too late.
Eight years ago, I began my healing journey. I thought it would take less time, but in hindsight, I realize healing is ongoing, a process that lasts a lifetime. The chronic anxiety and depression that once ruled my life have given way to periods of peace. But even now, I still deal with doubts and fears—emotions that no longer hold me hostage.
Discovering My Passion and Taking a Risk
In 2023, after years of working through my mental health and healing, an unexpected spark ignited. I was scrolling through YouTube one evening and came across a course called the Passion Product Masterclass. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to take my creativity and turn it into something real—a business. But I had a problem: I didn’t have the $1,000 to invest in the course.
I was used to letting fear keep me from pursuing things that scared me, but something told me that this time, I had to take the leap. I opened a GoFundMe account and reached out to my family and friends, asking for help. It felt like an incredibly vulnerable thing to do, but I knew I had to try. The response was overwhelming. Not everyone said yes, but the people who did helped me raise the money I needed to enroll in the course. That experience taught me a powerful lesson: rejection and the word “no” should never stop you from pursuing your dreams.
The course helped me dig deep into what I was truly passionate about. I’ve always had a creative mind, but I had never applied it in a way that could bring me financial freedom. I wanted to be present for my two beautiful daughters, create generational wealth, and leave a legacy. I realized I didn’t want to work a 9-5 job anymore, but more importantly, I didn’t want to keep living a life on autopilot, drifting without direction.
Through research, I realized that I had a passion for health and wellness. I started looking at what people were searching for in Google and social media, and one trend that stood out was beets. At the time, beet chews were popular, so I thought I could make my own version. But what would make my product different from others in the market? I decided to add ingredients like ginger, oranges, hibiscus, and red raspberry leaf, all of which work synergistically to promote overall wellness.
The Struggles and Setbacks That Led to My Breakthrough
I was excited about the idea of creating my own product, but reality set in quickly. I couldn’t find a manufacturer that would take me on. Every company I contacted required a large minimum order quantity that I couldn’t afford. I felt defeated, but after taking a step back, I pivoted. I realized that I didn’t have to create a chew—I could turn my recipe into a tea.
So, I got to work creating the tea blend. I was happy with the taste, but the smell was a little off due to the earthiness of the beets. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it wasn’t perfect either. Then, one night at around 3 a.m., it hit me—Madagascar vanilla. I tested it, and just like that, the tea was complete. The smell, the taste, everything was just right.
I began giving out samples, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People loved the way it tasted and reported feeling more energized, boosted in mood, and experiencing various health benefits like improved blood pressure. That was the moment I knew I had something special.
Turning My Dream Into Reality
The next steps weren’t easy. I spent a lot of time refining my recipe, securing licensing, and figuring out the logistics of launching a business. I kept moving forward, even in the face of fear. And in July of 2024, I officially launched my business, Zenacious Rootz, with my first product—Cerise Tea. It’s a tea blend made from organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and I couldn’t be more proud of it.
Looking back on everything I’ve endured, I still find it hard to believe that I’m here—launching my own business, overcoming so many obstacles, and believing in myself in ways I never thought possible. The journey isn’t over, and there will always be challenges, but I’ve learned that I am enough. I don’t have to look at myself as broken or unworthy. Instead, I approach every obstacle from a place of strength, not weakness.
Embracing My Introversion and Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
As an introvert, networking and putting myself out there has been one of my biggest challenges. I used to avoid social situations, but now I attend pop-ups and vendor events, often by myself. I’m still nervous every time I step into a room full of strangers, but I’ve learned that growth comes when you push through fear. Every interaction, every conversation, every opportunity has taught me something valuable. The more I expose myself to these experiences, the easier it becomes.
I’ve also learned that when I walk into new spaces, obstacles will always try to derail me. That’s just part of the journey. I’ve realized that it’s in those moments of disruption that I must press forward with even more determination. The doors I walk through now could be the ones that change my life forever.
Lessons for New Entrepreneurs
Although my business is still in its first year, the lessons I’ve learned have been invaluable. As entrepreneurs, especially beginners, these lessons are what set us apart. They help us take action when everything seems uncertain, and they keep us going when fear tries to take over.
I want to have the mindset of the 1%, the ones who think bigger and aim higher. For most of my life, I’ve been on the other side of that percentage, struggling to get by. But now, I’m shifting my mindset. I’m on a mission to not only succeed but to dominate in my business endeavors. And I won’t stop until I do.
This journey is mine, and I’m taking it one step at a time, no matter how difficult. I’m no longer the young woman who felt invisible and worthless. I’m the woman who took her pain, her doubts, and her fears—and turned them into a thriving business. And if I can do it, so can you.
Instagram: @zenaciousrootz
Facebook: Zenacious Rootz
![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)
Join the discussion!