Good hygiene is a requirement for everyone, especially adults, as your appearance and self-care say a lot about you before you speak. Taking hygiene to the next level means incorporating perfume and cologne into your routine for added effect.
A fragrance club akin to a book club has welcomed the challenge of bringing people who are already in the fragrance industry together with those wanting to get their feet wet, creating an environment where both can meet in the middle and learn about fragrances.
The Smellers Club was created in January when “Fraghead” Jon Kidd and his sibling-in-law, Sarah Bowens, decided to join forces and curate events centered on smelling good. “This has all been a blessing from the Lord as we have seen tremendous growth in the first six months of us starting this, and I’m extremely grateful for everybody that has supported us during the beginning stages as we birth this idea,” Kidd said.
Kidd thought of creating the Smellers Club as he noticed a need for community around fragrances and immediately tapped in with Bowens to get her perspective and convince her to help birth the idea, as he said she is the best event planner and curator he knows.
Bowens was skeptical at first because it was the first time an idea like this was brought to her and she did not know what to expect once she decided to become the co-founder of Smellers Club. “Something that surprised me was how much of an appetite there is for what we’re building at The Smellers Club. We see it at every event. Attendees come out not just to smell fragrances, but to be around each other.” Bowens said.
“Fragrance is the starting point, but what keeps people coming back is the community. The Smellers Club provides the space to connect, learn, try something new, and evolve as a fragrance consumer.” While Kidd and Bowens are the faces of the organization, they praise their respective partners, Zana and Zion, for being the biggest supporters.
Kidd’s love for fragrances started when he was young, rummaging through his dad’s collection, and by the time he got to high school, he needed to have cologne on at all times. “I was a regular dude that appreciated smelling good, and Polo Red helped me out tremendously with its versatility, allowing me to save some money during those ‘broke’ days,’” Kidd said with a laugh.
Things took off for Kidd during COVID as life changes were happening and his scent profile elevated naturally. “I started discovering fragrances like Lalobo, Aventus, among others and with a career I had some disposable income to expand my collection to where it is now.”
Bowen, on the other hand, relied on Kidd as Smellers Club was her introduction to fragrances. “Before we started, it was something I told myself I wanted to explore more, but just never took that leap. Fast forward to our first event, there were a bit of nerves because I knew I was starting at level 0 when it came to fragrances, but I soon realized the space we created was the perfect place for a beginner like myself.” Bowens said. “I could smell new scents, ask questions, discover notes that I liked and gravitated towards. And with each event, I find myself learning something new, not just about scents but also myself.”
Bowens and Kidd appreciate the support from the community that gathered around them since the inception of Smellers Club but they ask for patience as they iron out the details and try different business methods.
“We know where this can go and we are excited about the journey. We need our community to be understanding as we try and work things out, as we are still very new to this.” Kidd and Bowens said.
Smellers Club doesn’t have an official schedule in terms of hosting events, but you can follow its TikTok page @thesmellersclub.
