My name is Ellen Mannaert I’m 41 years old. I live in Punta Cana the Dominican Republic and Bergen North-Holland. I’m a mother of 3 beautiful boys age 19, 16 and 11 and Married to Theodoor Mannaert who I know for more than 23 years. I own businesses in the tourism in Punta Cana and a fashion brand called Lémert in the Netherlands. I am dynamic, adventures person that loves to travel and spend time with my family and close friends, with that said I love to work as well ( sometimes too much 🙂
With our tourism brand BOP ( short for Best of Paces ) we sell customized experiences to different types of travelers our unique selling point with BOP is that our experiences are hand-picked by our BOP team to give our costumers the best experience possible in each destination we offer. We also have our own boat tours experience Boat Trips Punta Cana and a restaurant Breakers Cafe in Punta Cana.
My fashion brand Lémert is a resort wear brand that is produced in Italy and mostly sold through our online platform. And worn by celebrities in the US.
Working for somebody else is just not my thing, I think I am too stubborn and like to make my own decision and plan my own time from a very young age.
We started in the tourism business because of our passion to travel and discover the world. A few years ago we moved to Punta Cana (the Dominican Republic ) with our 3 sons because we wanted to have a different experience in our life. It was an adventurous decision that supposes to be for one year. We made this decision after selling our company Mannaert Fabrics which was a wholesale company and one of the biggest ones in the Netherlands at that time. We wanted to spend more time with our 3 boys and discover new things. 6 years later we have started serval businesses in the tourism in Punta Cana, which was not the plan at all. But I guess the entrepreneur spirit is something that is just in us 🙂
Working for somebody else is just not my thing, I think I am too stubborn and like to make my own decision and plan my own time from a very young age. So being an entrepreneur was my only way. It is definitely not the easiest way sometimes. It also runs in our Family both my parents were entrepreneurs and traveled at a very young age from Ghana to Europe to start a business. My sister runs her own business as well and from my husband’s side there are a lot of entrepreneurs as well. My oldest son Maurits Mannaert is one of the Co-Founders for BOP ( Best of Places.
To own different kinds of businesses is not easy and demands a good team, planning and balancing your time and attention what is not always easy. Sometimes you just have to let other people make decisions and trust your team. Because you can not be on top of everything all the time.
Staying motivated can be easy if you love what you are doing. The easiest part of staying motivated is at the beginning because everything is new and exciting and you are working to an opening or a launch of something. The hardest part comes afterward when you Strat dealing with problems a plan that didn’t work out well etc. In that case, I try to keep the focus on my goal and why I started it in the first place. What helps me is traveling if possible just to clear my head and get my visions and goals back on track, but I also take long walks with our dog and meditate and exercise helps as well. Also try to find a person, a mentor or a friend somebody that you can talk too without judgment so that you can talk about your insecurities and the things that are not going well in your business usually when you talk about it is easy yo find your motivation back.
A good leader has a clear vision and focus.
For me, a leader is a person that helps his or her team ( your employees, business partners ) grow and reach there highest potential. They are not afraid of hiring people better than them and take pride in the goals reach by there team and those they help in reaching their goals. A good leader has a clear vision and focus.
How I balance work and live is to make sure that I spend more time with my children then that I do at the office. I always try to pick up my boys a few days a week from school, if I don’t have important meetings I try to work from home or close to home. We always eat breakfast and dinner together unless I am traveling, and plan as much quality time together. That is also a benefit of having your own business that you can plan your time as you want. Work is important but my family is everything. And don’t forget to plan some me time, which is very important you can only take care of others if you take to take care of your self first.
For any woman that is in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting for themself, I would say do it. Make sure you have a business plan and gain as much as possible knowledge in the branch you want to operate in. Talk with people who get advice and don’t be afraid to make a mistake , because unless you are a robot you are going to make them. But guess what its all a learning process and the more hours you put in your business the better you get. Try to do something that you love and not for the money, that will come at the end.
Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.”
– Oprah Winfrey, media proprietor
![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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