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As a part of the Morning Lazziness collection about empowering ladies who encourage and do unbelievable issues with their concepts in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Mertens.
The story of Double O Perfume begins within the land of Sheba, what the Romans referred to as Arabia Felix, now Yemen, the place, as ladies, founders Omaya and Omayma would accompany their mom to purchase uncooked substances—oils, oud—from which to compose fragrances for household and buddies, and later, to promote all through the Arabian Gulf.
Making their manner by means of the colourful tapestry of the bazaar, a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and aromas, the thriller of every scent enchanted them—the sleek attract of jasmine, the thrilling heat of amber, the magnificence and romance of rose. And it was there they got here to know the wondrous alchemy of accord that transforms separate notes right into a perfume, an entire with the facility to encourage.
As they got here of age, they explored the world collectively, curious sisters aspect by aspect. Journey fed their senses, broadened their perceptions, and refined their tastes till they felt they have been able to create one thing of their very own; able to share their story within the language they love finest—fragrance.
At Double O Perfume, we don’t simply create fragrance; we weave tales of ardour and heritage into our creations. Our first perfume composition, Velvet Bloom, is a testomony to our floral mastery; mixing notes right into a symphony of scent.
The Double O signature scent invitations you on a journey to the place the daring romance of the east meets the colourful magnificence of the west. The essence of our heritage lies within the wealthy custom of amber and musk-based perfume making, expressed by means of our artistry in trendy perfumery, utilizing distinctive uncooked substances.
Crafted for lovers, every perfume is a present from us, Omayma and Omaya, to the world. We invite you to expertise the depth and great thing about Double O Perfume.
What impressed you to develop into an entrepreneur within the magnificence trade, and what led to the creation of your model or product line?
Our journey started in Yemen’s historic bazaars—recognized to the Romans as Arabia Felix—the place we accompanied our mom as ladies, studying the alchemy of mixing uncooked oils and oud into fragrances Double O Perfumes. Journey broadened our senses, and we realized it was time to show that childhood ardour into one thing of our personal. Thus, Double O was born: a bridge between heritage and modernity—a sensory expression of nostalgia and modern magnificence Double O Perfumes.
As a girl navigating the sweetness enterprise world, what distinctive challenges have you ever confronted, and the way did you overcome them?
Launching a luxurious perfume model as Center Jap ladies in Manhattan meant confronting refined biases round authenticity, funding, and trade gatekeeping. We confronted authorized hurdles round collaborations and licensing—however as an alternative of shrinking, we leaned on our heritage, our voice, and strict high quality management, weaving our narrative into each step. As we shared in our interview, feminine entrepreneurship within the Center East is on the rise, however nonetheless laden with structural hurdles—we answered that by creating our personal house and timing our collaborations strategically .
The sweetness trade could be aggressive and demanding—how do you preserve private well-being whereas rising your model?
We heart ourselves by means of ritual—morning meditations, shared inventive walks, and maintaining a pulse on the scentscape of nature. By balancing our work with practices that feed our soul—like revisiting the bazaars in our reminiscence—we keep grounded and impressed. We’ve realized that sustaining heritage isn’t nearly enterprise—it’s a lifeline for our wellbeing.
Which networking methods, communities, or collaborations have helped you construct significant connections within the magnificence house?
We’ve constructed networks by means of storytelling—podcasts like The Legal guidelines of Type, Manhattan trade occasions, and regional boards spotlighting women-led Center Jap manufacturers. Collaborative perfume residencies and intimate perfumery salons have additionally been invaluable. We all the time begin with listening, then sharing the tapestry of scent, tradition, and craft.
How do you method mentorship—each as a mentee and mentor—and the way has it influenced your development?
As mentees, we leaned into skilled perfumers and authorized advisors, asking considerate questions and implementing steerage decisively. As mentors, we highlight different ladies of shade, particularly from the Gulf, providing steerage on sourcing, storytellin,g and model positioning. Mentorship has anchored us; educating has all the time been one in every of our biggest instruments for refining our personal imaginative and prescient.
What methods have labored finest for gaining loyal clients and constructing belief in your magnificence model?
Transparency and authenticity. Each bottle of Double O tells a narrative—beginning in Yemen, increasing by means of world travels, and culminating in trendy scent artistry. We invite clients into that narrative through schooling, from uncooked materials sourcing to how accords evolve on pores and skin.
Which advertising methods have been best, and the way do you measure success?
Podcasts and interviews (like The Legal guidelines of Type) have been very impactful, serving to to humanize our model and share our story. We additionally concentrate on curated social media—Instagram storytelling—mixed with small perfumery occasions in NYC. We measure success by group suggestions, repeat purchases, and messaging—particularly when clients say they really feel the tradition behind the scent.
Are you able to share a significant setback or turning level, and the way you navigated by means of it?
Scaling uncooked ingredient sourcing whereas juggling authorized hurdles in perfume collaborations was a significant problem. Initially, making an attempt a broad launch throughout Center Jap markets hit regulatory delays. Quite than push by means of blind spots, we paused, consulted authorized consultants, tightened our processes, and refocused on storytelling workshops in NYC. That pivot has set us up for future regional partnerships with stronger foundations.
Recommendation for girls beginning their magnificence entrepreneurship journey?
Anchor in your heritage, and don’t ask for permission to share it. Know your story, personal your narrative—and let that be your compass. Construct group deliberately and lean on collective knowledge.
Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your management?
“Create with roots—and attain with wings.”- Keep grounded in your origin and values, whereas confidently increasing your imaginative and prescient.
For those who might encourage a motion to carry the best good, what wouldn’t it be?
We’d spark a worldwide initiative that empowers feminine perfumers from underrepresented areas—offering mentorship, lab entry, authorized assist, and storytelling platforms. By elevating voices who carry centuries of fragrant knowledge, we rejuvenate the complete trade and tradition.
What Are The 5 Issues You Want To Overcome Self-Doubt and Construct Confidence?
1. Know The place You Come From
Our confidence is deeply tied to our roots. Rising up within the Center East, we have been immersed within the sensory richness of historic fragrance rituals. Remembering that our work stands on centuries of knowledge helps us stand tall—particularly in Western areas the place we’re typically the one ones within the room.
Instance: Once we have been pitching our model in NYC, somebody instructed we make our branding “much less ethnic” to be extra “common.” That remark might have made us shrink—however as an alternative, it reminded us precisely why the world wants the story of Arabia Felix.
2. Begin Earlier than You’re Prepared
Confidence doesn’t all the time present up first—motion does. We realized to launch earlier than we felt 100% good. Doubt lessens when momentum grows.
Instance: Our first official launch wasn’t a shiny marketing campaign. It was a easy, intimate launch of 1 signature scent and a heartfelt story. That imperfect begin laid the inspiration for every thing that adopted.
3. Construct With Your Complement
We’re sisters, but additionally polar opposites in some methods—inventive vs. strategic, instinctual vs. analytical. That stability permits us to belief what we’re constructing. If in case you have somebody in your life who sharpens you—construct with them.
Instance: When one in every of us second-guesses a choice, the opposite steps in with readability. It’s the explanation we’re referred to as Double O—we’re two halves of the identical imaginative and prescient.
4. Create Tangible Wins
Confidence compounds. Each milestone—regardless of how small—proves that we’re succesful. Have fun these moments deliberately.
Instance: Getting our first worldwide order from somebody in Paris who found us on Instagram felt just like the world whispering “sure.” We framed that order affirmation as a reminder that our work resonates.
5. Shield Your Interior Room
Not each opinion deserves a seat at your desk. We realized to guard our imaginative and prescient from voices that dilute it. Confidence grows when your inventive house is sacred.
Instance: We turned down a profitable retail deal as a result of it required us to vary our ingredient sourcing. Saying no felt scary—however staying true to our values gave us energy that cash can’t purchase.
For those who might encourage a motion that will carry essentially the most good to the most individuals, what wouldn’t it be?
We’d create a world Perfume Fellowship for Girls of Heritage—a motion that provides ladies from underrepresented areas (particularly the Center East, North Africa, and South Asia) entry to schooling in scent-making, storytelling, and moral entrepreneurship.
A lot historic knowledge is liable to being misplaced or appropriated. By investing in these ladies, we protect not solely cultural legacy however create new economies and world narratives led by ladies.
How can our readers observe your work on-line?
We’d love so that you can be a part of us:
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