Today we’d like to introduce you to Bharvi Soni.
Hi Bharvi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am Bharvi, founder of Expressive Aromas- Custom Perfume Workshops. Expressive Aromas started with a dream and a supersaturated mother of two, one of which was a newborn, stuck at home during COVID… I bet every COVID story went like this…. Although for me you also have to imagine the oldest child in the family, a dogmatic Virgo, who is used to having things in order and maintain that control. Now imagine that same person with a one-month-old on maternity leave and COVID shuts everything down. Well, that was me, my well-laid-out life just upended, family help I was hoping for could not come and I was stuck home with a newborn and a three-year-old. I wanted socialization and connection with others in a meaningful way. Through my rocky times, my rock of a husband was the one who said, “why don’t you spend an hour a night after the kids are in bed and figure out what you can do with perfumes” and that was it! I took that suggestion to heart and with Netflix as my background noise started learning about creating my own scent and how I can bring that experience to the public. I have a background in chemistry, so plunging into single note accords and fragrances wasn’t too much of a leap. I started reading about perfume making, took perfume making classes at institutes, and started experimenting at home.- it was like a dog with a bone really. My dream and vision evolved from pop up markets to winery and restaurant collaborations to landing in our own perfume studio in downtown McKinney where we offer custom perfume making experiences for the community. I get to help the novice and the avid perfume collectors & niche fragrance lovers as well as empower someone who wants to get a better understanding on what they like to smell. I enjoy watching people come together over perfume making workshops and more than walking away with their perfume bottle, I want them to walk away with the memory of creating their one-of-a-kind fragrance.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No small business owner on this planet would say their path was carved out for them. Similarly, I had many challenges and crossroads laid out for us in Expressive Aromas’ journey. Not having started with a physical location until year 2 of starting my business, I had to learn how to network, not just make friends but make community connections, and understand how to authentically get my message out to the world without sounding like that salesy wierdo. In today’s world of technology & AI, a small business is so easily overlooked just because they don’t have the same viral reach as other businesses.
My message to the reader today on a crossroad of decision making is “You have to weed your way through and find the right path. Circle back and find the path again if the first one isn’t taking you where you need to go”. This ins’t the time to give up!
As you know, we’re big fans of Expressive Aromas. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Expressive Aromas Perfume Studio is located in McKinney TX, and we provide bespoke perfumes making experience. What this means is we teach you to make your very own custom fragrance in a fun and memorable activity so the next time you walk by and someone says you smell great- you say I made it myself. You add your signature scent to more than perfumes- we offer soaps, lotions, body butter, car fragrances, candles, beard oil for guys and so much more.
We have open to all custom perfume making workshops weekly & host private parties at our studio, but that’s not it, we can make YOUR event memorable by bringing our scent making experience to your location with Expressive Aromas x Perfume & Cologne Bar. It’s an exclusive experiential activity for your corporate event attendees, country clubs, wedding guests, or fundraising gala and more.
I love working with scents and accords and I think what sets Expressive Aromas’ apart is our access to over 100+ fragrance notes and “Our mission is for you to walk away smelling amazing with the best fragrance you ever made and have the most fun making it”
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love listening to audiobooks and all things dystopian fiction which is on repeat on Libby app with my Frisco Library account. I listen to a lot of podcasts, the ones that have helped me a lot are Unruffled by Janet Lansbury for raising my children, The Mel Robbins Podcast and Mom on Purpose Podcast. Connecting with local community and fellow business owners have been the most helpful where I can pass the good deeds around by helping others that are just starting out in business
Contact Info:
- Website: https://expressivearomas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expressivearomas/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/expressivearomas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@expressivearomas
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/expressivearomas
Image Credits
@hannahelizabethimagery @sherrysutton @averyacklebein @winealittlemckinney
