From ESSENCE to Entrepreneurship, Plus What I’ve Learned
Written By: Brianna Arps
A lot can happen in ten years.
In 2015, I was a summer marketing intern at ESSENCE — wide-eyed, ambitious and soaking up everything. That experience didn’t just teach me how to write editorial copy or pitch in meetings; it shaped how I understand storytelling, representation, and what it truly means to build something with purpose.
Fast forward to now, and I’m honored to be featured in ESSENCE’s 55th Anniversary Collector’s Issue, highlighted alongside other former interns who’ve gone on to chart our own paths. A full-circle moment that reminds me that your beginnings don’t define your limits.
...But getting here hasn’t been easy.
In 2018, I was laid off from my job in women’s media. It was devastating — and it forced a choice: Keep trying to climb someone else’s ladder, or build my own. That inflection point became the beginning of MOODEAUX — a fragrance brand centered on emotional well-being and bold self-expression.
I didn’t come from a perfumery background. But I did come with strategic communication, brand development, and audience engagement skills — and a deep curiosity about scent’s emotional power. So I started where I was by watching YouTube tutorials, diving into free online courses, reading books, sourcing materials from indie suppliers and eventually connecting with cosmetic chemists and fragrance houses. I built on what I knew and learned the rest by doing, one step at a time.
If you're curious and ready to chart a new path, here's a bit of advice!
Don’t wait for permission; start where you are, even if you’re scared. Don’t obsess over perfection; focus on progress. Do it for yourself — both the younger version who dreamed it and the older version who’ll be proud you tried. And don’t get sidetracked by someone else’s timeline or success; stay locked in on your own path. Most importantly, lift others as you climb.
Entrepreneurship has tested me more than anything else — but it’s also revealed what I’m capable of overcoming. This moment with ESSENCE doesn't feel like just a milestone; it’s proof that trusting your path, even when it’s messy, can lead to something meaningful. xXBA
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