Autumn 24 Full The Entrepreneurial Spirit Issue Final

Healthy beauty that works.

be, considering the importance that personal image and style play for all of us, particularly for people of color, in the age of social media and our ongoing, collective discourse on what constitutes beauty? IDENTITY: IT’S WHAT SETS 86 WEST APART FROM THE BIG BRANDS For the guys at 86 West, finding the right fragrance is about a lot more than a scent and starts with taking on a role as educators within their community. “We’re a two-man band manning the ship,” Mike says before highlighting his experience helping dozens of other brands strategize effectively. “This is my new child now.” Both men are convinced they can do something better than what’s out there right now, subverting the industry’s status quo. But they also understand there are significant challenges ahead. “We need to reeducate the public in general, and Black communities in particular, on what they’re spending their money on and how our products differ from traditional fragrance brands.” With Mike at the front end of 86 West, Chris’s background and skills as a buyer in the automotive industry allow him to negotiate deals and develop products behind the scenes. These complementary skills and experiences brought the two men together in the first place, along with a lifelong passion for high-end fragrances and the realization that their community is missing out on something beautiful. For Chris, the main challenge arises from getting new users to buy a product meant to be experienced as a smell, not as something visual. “A fragrance aficionado will

86 West’s Epyseen Collection

aylabeauty.com “We need to reeducate the public in general, and Black communities in particular...”

Style, a strong sense of identity, and a unique scent in every flask are all part of what makes 86 West a unique innovator in the fragrance industry.

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