#GIRLBOSS SPOTLIGHT: CATRINA CARSON
/Written by: Amy Ann
Amy Ann: You're a lover of fashion, food and fragrance. If you had to list them in order, how would you do so?
Catrina Carson: I would say the best order is fragrance, food, and fashion. These days fashion is not as important although I still love it. My tastes have changed. In my younger years, fashion was more at the forefront. I was obsessed with fashion magazines and creating certain looks. I also had a period of modeling in my younger years. As far as food, I love cooking and trying new foods. Today, it's all about fragrance. I've always dabbled in many things creatively, however.
AA: As a journalist, how important is the story of a fragrance for you?
CC: It's very important because it's something that excites me and it's very relatable. I could talk about it for hours. To meet others with the same passion is everything and it never gets old.
AA: Is there a specific fragrance note that takes you back to a happy place? What scent is that, and what memory is it?
CC: Not a note, but a fragrance. My Mom wore Ralph Lauren "Lauren" back in the day and it reminds me of my childhood. The fragrance fit her so well and she smelled amazing!
AA: On instagram you promote self love, self care and self growth; as an entrepreneur how do you make a efforts to balance your needs as well as your business?
CC: Yes! I'm glad you asked! Self-care is so important and even more so now as an entrepreneur. In the beginning, I would stay up late at night lacking sleep trying to get things done. It didn't feel complete until it was done. These days, I just do what I can. I had to realize that I could not do everything. I ask for help when needed. I am sure to go to bed at a decent hour, I prioritize spa and massage days. I enjoy time with family and friends. Meditation is a big part of my routine as well. This is when I get the most ideas for my brand. I work out and get out in nature as well. We have to take care of ourselves..
AA: When did your love for fragrance arise? And how did that love strengthen from an child to an adult?
CC: My fragrance journey began at age 7. My aunt was my sitter for a while and she was glamorous in her own right. She had a fabulous, curated wardrobe, full of amazing coats, hats, jewelry, and of course fragrances. One day, a fragrance called Youth Dew by Estee Lauder caught my eye on her vanity. It looked fancy at the time and it smelled like Coke(the drink) to me as a kid. I was so fascinated by the smell/taste association. I was like how can this smell like Coke? From then on, I wanted to explore more scents. So, I would say my aunt influenced starting my journey.
AA: When creating your fragrance Bubble Phase, what was that process like?
CC: The process was honestly pretty organic and peaceful. My perfumer Chavalia Dunlap was awesome and understood my vision. It took around a year to create. I only had to smell two trial fragrances and it was nailed. Creating the formula was honestly a lot easier than the packaging details. It was pretty rough with the packaging at one point as far as conveying what I wanted and what was delivered by vendors. After a while, we were good to go.
AA: What were some challenges that arose when creating Bubble Phase? And how did you concur those challenges?
CC: As mentioned before, nailing the packaging was a lot of trial and error. In my opinion, packaging is important in this industry although we know it's about the fragrance. This should not stop you from starting, however. You have this vision in your head of how you want it to look. You send it to several vendors and hope someone gets it right. I worked with a lot of people overseas, so there was also the time difference. From the caps to the bottle, it's a lot of work and back and forth. Another challenge is wearing all of the hats or having a very small team. It can be a lot, but we were able to do it. I learned about the "Six Thinking Hats" by Edward de Bono. It helps you to think outside of your bubble, especially in business. It says that our brains think in different ways. You and your team members can learn how to separate your thinking into six clear functions and roles. It keeps you focused. At times, you will wear all of the hats, however.
AA: What was your experience at the Golden Pineapple Fragrance Festival?
CC: I didn't get to attend the festival yet, however my brand was introduced at the festival. There was a schedule conflict. I will definitely be at one in the future.
AA: Who inspired Lily Davon and the inspiration? What should we expect?
CC: Lily Davon was inspired by of course my love for fragrance but more importantly by my aunt Lily, who helped me start my journey. I was also inspired by my brother Davon. They have both passed and I wanted to honor them somehow. As far as Bubble Phase Eau de Parfum, it's about a soul mate type of magical love that not everyone encounters in a lifetime. It's the bubble that two lovers are in, sort of like a honeymoon phase. There is definitely more to come. This is only the beginning. You can expect more products to accompany Bubble Phase Eau de Parfum.
Be sure to follow the Catrina on Instagram, and Lily Davon fragrances