MEET ARIANA
Africa is the future, this is an affirmation that is truly manifesting. Many entrepreneurs are thinking outside of the box into creating solutions for the worldwide market. The competition is tense but the fruits leave us increasingly excited! We caught up with a brand who is intent on optimizing luxury and style.
Take a deep breath in and inhale the sweet scents of Africa with Scent Design Nigeria. The founder Abayomi Lambo, started small and has now evolved into two companies- Scent Design Nigeria- a fragrance creator and supplier and the flagship Perfumes called Lambo . Scent Design Nigeria’s main purpose is to create memorable fragrances. We have a flair for also exploring and using locally sourced aromatic plants in our formulae.
Ariana Diaries is into curating stories that inspire; we are therefore very interested in knowing what motivated you into providing this product/ service?
When I was in school, I realized that Nigeria has a wealth of raw materials both natural and synthetic (petrochemicals) for fragrance production. I also did my research and found out that no one was doing anything with this abundant resource. I realized that if someone could start extracting and synthesizing our own raw materials we could make quality products at an affordable price. It was a go for me, we had found our own niche.
What is that one feeling that you want to create when people use your product or service? Describe a moment when you achieved that goal.
I would like my consumers to feel a lot more confident, romantic and manifest the sophistication. I want them to feel special and happy. I want them to be transported to another world.
Once we were at an occasion which we were fragrancing. This lady came up to us as we were perfuming the centre. She smelled the fragrance and kept saying ‘This is heaven’, ‘This is heaven’! It was a nice feeling.
How can a customer identify a good lifestyle brand? What values hold the key?
Quality is what defines a good brand. For fragrances quality is important. The customer may not know much about fragrances but when they smell it, the fragrance should elicit a strong emotional response as well as last long and project well. This doesn’t always have to do with price. The product should also come in an attractive packaging.
Tell us about you, your style. What is one luxury item that you really want to have?
I like to look smart, very smart! But at the same time very comfortable. Amusingly, I’m not always about big name brand but I do like good quality when wearing native attire. Smartness is also key. Smart, elegant and effortless that’s my style.
Name three African owned luxury brands that you admire and why?
One luxury item I really would like? Perhaps a Tom Ford Tuxedo and shoes! His products have good quality or perhaps a 2018 P250 2.0 range rover!
a) I love Yomi casual’s clothes. They are very smart and elegant. They have a very comfortable look too.
b) Eternal Gems’ Jewelry brand. She’s very passionate about her craft and her work is excellent!
c) Mai Atafo- I love his designs and the Enigma of the man!
Do you have any lifestyle – trend predictions for 2019?
For 2019, I think for fragrances there will continue to be a strong trend for unique, bespoke fragrances. Customized scents will gain ground especially for gifts. For the feminine segment, we will continue to see strong florals paired with gourmand notes. For men fresh, exotic and masculine fragrances will continue to trend. There will be a new trend towards the unconventional as well, especially for the younger market.
