Thyme Sullivan was raised in Monterey, Ca and Pepperell, Ma and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. in Economics. Sullivan’s professional experience includes 27 years as an Executive for top Fortune 500 companies PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Nestle USA. She began her career driving a Frito-Lay truck and worked her way up to leading a high performing cross functional team of 31 with over a billion dollars in annual revenue.
TOP
It was Sullivan’s professional experiences, growing up with Woodstock era parents and having a family of her own that drove her to social entrepreneurship. Sullivan started TOP for her daughter, your daughter and women everywhere because all women should have access to safe products.
Sullivan spent 27 years as an Executive in consumer products and watched as people began to become aware of the benefits of eating clean and organic foods. Organic cleaning products became more popular and most recently her daughter asked about organic make-up.
When Sullivan asked women if they use organic period products the answer was almost always the same, “I never really thought about it.”
‘’It’s time we think about it because there is a need for change. What we put inside our bodies matters!’’
Why are organic period products an important choice?
There are 3 big issues surrounding traditional feminine hygiene products. The 1st is the lack of transparency,
The USFDA doesn’t require the big companies to list their full ingredient list or test the impact to women’s health. The leading brand tampons can contain synthetics, dyes and fragrances and the cotton can be treated with pesticides and bleached during processing.
You may have seen Kotex had a recall of their tampons in December because they were falling apart in women’s bodies. The USFDA has stated that the dioxins found in tampons are at an acceptable level given the limited exposure each month.
As a
Even the pads you are using are not regulated. They are often made with plastic and synthetics and contain drying powders. An article was just published by the Silent Spring Institute detailing how the big brand menstrual pads are exposing women to hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals. TOP pads and tampons are made with one ingredient, 100% organic cotton. You need to protect your health because it is your greatest asset.
The 2nd issue is the impact our period products have on the environment.
There is a big push in the US to eliminate single use plastics such as straws and bags. You may have seen that by 2021 the EU will ban most single use plastics, it is only a matter of time before this happens here.
Every year in the US alone approximately 20 billion products related to periods end up in landfills and take centuries to biodegrade. There is a need for change. Our purpose is to educate consumers and provide solutions. TOP period products are biodegradable and bio-based.
The 3rd problem surrounding the feminine hygiene industry is period poverty.
35 states in the US still tax tampons and pads as a luxury item. These same states do not tax Viagra, cowboy boots, Doritos or condoms. This “pink tax”, as it has become known, perpetuates an economic disadvantage for women.
1 in 5 women in the US experience what is known as period poverty where they cannot afford basic necessities to manage their periods. How can women ever reach their full potential or be equal if they cannot attend school or work due to a basic biological function? We donate to women in need with every purchase.
What is your mission at TOP?
Our purpose is to get safer products into the hands of everyone.
TOP was created by Moms and for Moms because as a mother we would do anything for the health and safety of our daughters.
At TOP our period products are:
- Better for you – better performing, safe and 100% organic.
- Better for our planet – we leave the world better for the next
generation Better for others – when women lift each other up amazing things happen
How can we get involved?
Spread the word! Education is at the core of what we do because women need to know they have a choice and a voice and the power to make
Social Media:
![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!