The Alchemy of Scent: Black Artisans in Perfumery
Fragrance is more than just a luxury—it’s memory, identity, and culture bottled into a single moment. A new wave of Black fragrance creators is reshaping the industry and redefining scent culture with bold compositions that tell deep stories of heritage, craftsmanship, and identity.
Join us for a lively and illuminating discussion on the rise of Black perfumery brands, the challenges and triumphs of breaking into an elite industry, and the unique cultural narratives being woven into modern fragrance. Moderated by Battery member and Creative in Residence, perfumer Yosh Han, the panel will feature visionary founders Funmi Monet, Lakenda Wallace, and Terry Carter, each of whom has carved a distinct path in perfumery.
Attendees will have the chance to experience an array of exquisite fragrances from Black perfumers, deepening their appreciation for the artistry, innovation, and storytelling behind each scent. Whether you’re a fragrance aficionado or simply curious about the power of scent, this conversation will inspire and engage your senses.
SPEAKERS
Funmi Monet, the Dallas-based founder of perfumery brand, Influxious, boasts a remarkable following of over 850K followers across her social platforms. As a Sephora Accelerate cohort and Sephora Squad Alumni, her witty insights on fragrance rituals and scent layering have captivated audiences, generating over 30 Million likes since 2018 and gaining recognition from Allure Magazine and Teen Vogue.
Lakenda Wallce is the founder and alchemist perfumer for Modern Peasant. Based in Oakland California, Modern Peasant is a natural perfume brand that works with fresh herbs, flowers, and aromatherapy to create multi-layered perfumes and room scents. Lakenda is a storyteller of fairytale and myths. Within her aromatic brand, stories act as a vehicle to shift paradigms around beauty. She is a Past Board Member & judge for the Institute for Art and Olfaction, and past scent artist at Olfactory Keller Art.
Los Angeles based bespoke perfumer Terry Carter is the CEO of Travertine Atelier, a manufacturer of fine fragrances and luxury spa amenities for five star resorts. He earned his in Advanced Perfumery Composition from ISIPCA, the acclaimed fragrance school in Versailles, near Paris. He is one of this year’s esteemed judges for the 11th annual Institute for Art and Olfaction Awards and is currently collaborating on a scent with OSMO, the world’s leader in scent technology using AI formulation software. He is also an advisor to Black Perfumer’s Directory.
YOSH founded her eponymous brand in 2004, launching at Barneys New York and featured in Liberty London, Ministry of Scent SF, and Isetan Tokyo. She serves as the Creative Director at Scent Trunk, a publisher of original edition perfumes. With her expertise, she speaks and educates on scent culture and the impact of decolonizing scent. She curates scent dinners and designs scent exhibitions. This summer, Yosh will be an Artist in Residency at 836M.