Native Caribbean Scents W/Tamara Gibson

In the latest episode of the Podcast, I am chatting with Tamara Gibson an Entrepreneur, Artisan Perfumer and the Founder of Native Caribbean. 

In this conversation Tamara shares the story of her exit from working in the Corporate sector in business development and international relations, to find her footing in the world of entrepreneurship; which she said happened by accident. Since then she has been growing and building her own micro-business. 

The business started with making her first Japanese Cherry Blossom scented candle, which later evolved into her making and capturing candles with scents of her childhood and the Caribbean. She then created the candle called East Coast Road, of great significance to Barbados. This candle is still to date, one of her best seller. 

We then spoke about her journey of entrepreneurship. She said the actual making and producing the products came/comes easy for her. As such the journey was one of personal development, where she struggled with her self worth and identity, which was linked to her prior career. 

She "questioned" her worth and image which was tied to professional achievements. Which can be quantified if you are climbing the Corporate ladder and being in that space and lifestyle. As an entrepreneur those markers are not there, especially in the early stages. 

We spoke about the business, Tamara said her initial goal and even now was to make something, meaningful, of a standard and unique. She started with the candles and then after research and teaching herself the craft, she realized she had a natural ability to construct fragrances. 

She then decided to make perfumes which was very intentional. She then pursued both British and French training online through courses and in person on location. Tamara was then equipped with industry knowledge and technical skills, to begin to create perfumes.  

Her intent was to create products that would perform well, could survive on the international market and to innovate in perfumery. It took her two years to bring to life her products. 

Tamara leaned into her Caribbean roots, used the ingredients from the land and with her natural ability or "nose" she wanted to tell deeper stories of our Caribbean identity in fragrances. She indicated that there was nothing called Caribbean perfumery existing before her line of fragrances. 

Tamara spoke about using things in our household for generations like; bay leaf, pimento, west Indian sandalwood, amaris, Haitian vetiver and lemon grass. Her perfumes are not tropical inspired, but are actually made literally of ingredients from the Caribbean. 

This year, tamara launched five fragrances in the market. Which ships into Caricom and the diaspora. They can be ordered online and shipped to 220 Countries across the USA and UK catchments. 

Tamara shares the story and significance of the ingredients, used in the fragrances which are: Inheritance, Kill Devil, Nutmeg and Cocoa, Plantation Gold and West Indian Sandalwood. Which all sound simply beautiful and divine.  

We talk about launching the perfumes and her reaction thereafter, the business of Native Caribbean and what inspired the name.  

Native Caribbean carries two lines which are: home fragrances - diffusers, wax melts, sprays, candles, room sprays, linen sprays and pillow mists. In the fine fragrances line, there are five perfumes as listed above in 3 sizes. 

Her advice to women, is that nothing happens by mistake. Don't let fear cripple you, don't make doubt make you pause, because you have everything within you to get it done.