•Belinda Brown
She is the first black woman luxury perfumer to have her perfume brand ‘Blessing’ gracing its presence at the fifth floor of Harrods, world’s famous departmental store in the UK. Belinda Brown, London-based Nigerian born Amazon, has a concept, femininity, attitude and drive that could not have produced anything of a lesser quality. In this chat with NKASIOBI OLUIKPE, she reveals why wearing any of the BLESSING range of perfumes gives you the confidence to walk tall with your shoulders back into a gathering. Excerpts:
Who is Belinda Brown?
Belinda Brown is a Nigerian woman, born and raised in Ghana until the age of five when she had to come to Warri, Delta State to start her schooling. Thereafter, when the time was right, she had to go to Port Harcourt, to learn her native Ijaw language. In 2000, she got married and moved to the UK with her Scottish husband.
What informed your going into perfume production?
I loved perfumes so much, that I suddenly desired to make some for my personal use because I have a sensitive skin. To be honest, initially I wasn’t making it as business, but just wanted to wear something different from what others were wearing. I wanted a perfume whose production I would be part of from start to finish. That eventually led me to Roja Dove, British world-renowned perfumer. Roja is actually the Nose of the United Kingdom for perfumes. We call them the nose, people who specialise in perfume. It takes them 15 years to get that qualifications. To see Roja, one would have to book for six months ahead but God did everything miraculously for me. On meeting me, Roja was actually thrilled by the effect scents had on me and was with me all the way.
I decided to go the journey with him, smelling everything, wanting him to know which one I liked. When I am smelling oil, I barely eat anything with pepper because it kills your taste. When I am smelling, I drink only coffee.
Before I got to this level, I smelt a 1000 oils with Roja Dove, for nine months we just smelt oil. You have to be smelling coffee while smelling it. From 1000, we cut it to 500, from 500 to 100 then to 20 and finally, picked my fascinating favourite.
I embarked on an incredible journey to Grenada to smell spices. Thereafter, I went to Vietnam, France, Egypt and a small village between Monaco and Nice, I bought one suitcase full of different spices. There are some things in you that you don’t need a university degree to do. So, when I started wearing it, people were usually like, wow, what are you wearing, and I tell them, my perfume. Then, I didn’t have a name.
After smelling the oils and collecting the spices, did you do the mixing yourself?
No, I did not because you have to be a professional before UK law would allow you to do it. You wouldn’t understand all the tests you will pass through. My perfume is sold in Saudi Arabia, before them it has to pass through a test run to ascertain if it is qualified to be sold in their country.
So, why the name ‘Blessing’ for such a luxury product?
Life is full of blessings. I belong to the school of thought that says we should count our blessings always, rather than complain for the things we do not have. I got the inspiration for that name on my way from church one Sunday and that moment, I made a final decision regardless of whatever misconception. Hence, today I have the Blessings range of fragrances.
When was it first launched and what was the reception like?
The first launch was in 2010. It was incredible as I did only 50 with each selling at 690 (six hundred and ninety) pounds; that price is higher now though. The price couldn’t be less because I used some of the world’s finest ingredients such as Bergermon, mandarine, lemon, jasmine (flowers in Europe) and many more. Besides, it took two years to personally travel to different parts of the world to select those ingredients and produce the brand.
And what eventually happened at the launch with such exorbitant price tag?
Actually, when it was time to launch out, I was very much scared because I felt nobody knew me apart from friends and relatives who liked my perfume. You know, everyone would prefer to patronise designer brands with known names. But I was stunned to discover that on the day of the launch, I had no bottle left; everything was sold out because Roja involved the great British press in the launch. Some had been put on display at the 5th floor of Harrods. Roja, was every step behind it all. Three days after the launch as well, I got a call from Harrods, saying 17 people had booked for my perfume and were waiting. I however had to let them know they had to wait for another six months because till date, each production takes six months. You know, the bottles are hand-blown and are totally handmade at Czech Republic. Harrods relayed my message to the clients and they said they were ready to wait for six months!
What is it about this Harrods and its fifth floor?
Harrods is world’s famous departmental store in the UK and the fifth floor is notable for stocking exclusive brands of perfumes only. They don’t give samples there because the quality materials used are too expensive to give out as samples. Your perfume being on the exclusive 5th floor at Harrods implies the quality is high
Can you give an estimate of how much it cost you to produce this perfumes?
I hate to talk about the figures because it’s like you open your window and just throw the money out. The way I love perfume, I don’t want to put prize into it. This morning, I have sprayed all my four different perfumes. I mixed all the four together.
Perfumes give me a lot of joy. I love it when the children come to kiss me and say, oh mummy, you smell so sweet.
Are your perfumes more women friendly?
Women will always be number one in perfumes, make-ups or deodorants. Men actually live on soap and water, if you allow them
Definitely, top Nigerian celebrities and producers must have come across Blessing perfumes?
Of course! Nigerians are good travelers and shoppers. Since, its at Harrods, they must have come across it. But what I don’t know is if they know its coming from one of their own. Kate Henshaw even branded it three years ago.
There are a few Nigerians who have perfume lines, but not the luxury brands like yours. Doesn’t that make you feel somehow?
It builds my confidence more; I could walk into a room without being intimidated by any of these big names, because I am a Blessing Life. But first of all, I love the story of the Alabaster Oil. Mary blessed Jesus with the oil, getting him ready for the cross.
What about your obsession with scents?
I’ve had this obsession since childhood. I remember back then in the boarding school in Delta State when all the girls adored the smell of my pomade – a gift from my mother. In fact, in exchange for sweets, I supplied my friends with a scoop of my pomade. Now as a mother, I love it when my children come to kiss me goodnight and they acknowledge the way I smell. I think every woman should learn to wear perfume in bed.
What has been your highest moment?
My highest moment is every month when Harrods reports my sale. Sometimes in life, you are scarred of a tiger facing you. But when you go closer to the tiger, you discover its got no teeth. I have got that concept of a tiger within me.
What are your expectations from Nigerians?
My expectation from Nigerians is for them to adopt their own daughter. It will be nice if we look out for one another like every other country does. I was in Mexico few months ago, Mexicans love their home made things, they will always tell you, I buy made-in-Mexico. Though mine is made in the UK, I did it so, because I don’t want to compromise on perfection.
The post I’ve an obsession with perfumes –Brown appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.