Meet Brianna

Brianna "B.A." Arps is a former investigative journalist (Refinery29, INSIDER, Elite Daily, The Zoe Report, ESSENCE) with over 10 years of storytelling experience spanning beauty, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. Upon being laid off during fall 2018, Brianna found refuge in her favorite accessory — fragrance, given its well-documented, transformative effects on mood. 


As time passed, she grew obsessively curious, seeking a greater understanding of the scientific connection between scent, memory and emotion through rigorous research plus formal training at The School for Aromatic Studies. Noting a disparity in mainstream attention towards Black-owned fragrance labels, it didn’t take much longer before the charismatic “big thinker” with a dual marketing background began work on her best idea yet: MOODEAUX®. 


MOODEAUX®, which empowers people to not only smell like their best selves but also become them, debuted fall 2021 and has since won numerous prestigious awards (ELLE Future of Beauty Awards ‘22, iOne Digital Melanin Awards ‘22, ESSENCE Best in Black Beauty ‘23, ESSENCE Beauty Boss of the Year ‘23) for its clean, unisex, industry-disruptive perfumes. Likewise, the company launched nationwide at the largest clean beauty store (Credo) as its first Black-owned fragrance brand, appeared on the TODAY Show alongside securing 170+ additional press placements and landed a partnership with Sephora through the retailer’s renowned Accelerate Program, signifying the MOODEAUX®’s staying power. 

 

Brianna is adamant about encouraging community members to take up unconventional careers in STEM — especially fragrance. Alongside MOODEAUX®, she founded the philanthropic Black In Fragrance™ project, which is aimed at creating a global ecosystem of support amongst industry professionals, consumers, retailers and media outlets that pledge to help level the playing field for Black perfumers with entrepreneurial pursuits. When back home, the University of Missouri J-School graduate takes pride in mentoring St. Louis-area students on living passionately. xX

 

In loving memory of Mr. Roy Lee Brown and Mrs. Minnie Lee Brown.

 

LET'S BE FRIENDS?

We saved you a seat at our table — pull up!

MUSE-WORTHY: Weekend schmooooood! 😁 #ModelBehavior with @slickwoods by @ftagallery. 📸

When we think of the journey to get here…😳🤯🥺🥰 #BTS

Hey, family! In between me trying to figure out why I can’t seem to keep my eyes open when taking pics, lol, we landed our ✨first✨ TV interview. 🥺 “Black-Owned Fragrance Company Changing The Game” for #EntrepreneurSundays at @bncnews with host @brittanydjones_. 💪🏾 I’m recapping what went down on Stories right now, but I also wanted to share the news here — and of course through video (swipe through our IG profile). Thank you SO MUCH for alllllllllllllllll the love we’ve received. My little heart is FULL. 🧡 xXBA

New York, New York! Our good sis and friend @iamrenaebluitt’s Black woman-owned Holiday Bazaar is BACK this year in partnership with @nycgo. 💪🏾 It’s gonna be a beautiful day of fellowship and *lots* of MOODEAUX — including complimentary gifts at our section, while supplies last. Peep the next slide for deets. We hope to see you there! 😝 #FlauntHowYouFeel #SheDidThatHoliday #ItsTimeForNYC

Grab-Then-Go™ Stash Bag update! 🤩 A whole bunch of these babies will be shipped out and on their way to our HQ in like 7 days?! 🙏🏾 What would you stuff in yours? Let us know and you might just get a DM with a lil sumn-sumn special. 👀😝 #FlauntHowYouFeel

Hi. It’s us. Lost in today’s sauce and still day-dreaming about this @thuggerthugger1 photo shoot for @rollingstone. Let’s discuss! It’s been dope watching Thug’s evolution as a chart-topping rapper and unapologetic style icon, dare we say??? From donning the infamous “Jeffrey” dress on an album cover in 2016 to most recently dying his locs a soft pinkish-purple hue (a move also tied to music with the release of “Punk”), he’s showed no interest in giving a f*ck about what anyone thinks. 💁🏾‍♀️ Regardless if you listen to Mr. YSL or not, that’s something we can all get behind. #FlauntHowYouFeel

Boo! 👻 Flash free shipping on all orders ends at midnight 10/31 EST — use code: FREESHIP when checking out. 😝

100% made for skin — no alcohol, dyes or water. 🤤

Creating something custom during a global pandemic when supply chains are a MESS…not sure I’d recommend 😅 BUT feedback like this makes it all worth the hassle. 🥺🏆 Swipe to see a closeup of the Grab-Then-Go Stash Bag before tapping into our Stories for the full video! xXBA

Honesty hour. I’ve known Reegan (our first “model” lol) since the summer before my senior year of college. We met at @essence and she’s been stuck with me ever since. When I didn’t have a clue about how I’d land my first real job, this woman let me crash in her NYC condo…rent free…for two/almost three months until I made something shake. When I had the biggest health crisis of my life, this woman called out to sit with me all day at the doctor’s office and wouldn’t let me leave her sight until she knew I was safe. Sooo many memories, so many instances I can easily recall where Reegs has stayed solid…including when I decided to launch MOODEAUX. I know I’ve said it a million-zillion times, but one more “thank you” never hurt anybody. 🧡 xXBA

A Halloween costume we can get behind. Guess who? 👀😝

📸 Today’s vibes captured by @himichelleli. 👋🏾

What does “Worthy” smell like? Great question… 🤤

Asking for permission?! To take up and claim space?! Don’t think so. 😌 Another reminder: If you’re @blackinfragrance and in need of some extra support this month, send us a note BIF@moodeaux.com. 💪🏾 We’re connecting with founders and will select one recipient for our first mini grant on 10/29! 💸 Announcement to come on 10/31.

Oh! That’s how you feel, @_kandace??? #repost 😍

MUSE-WORTHY: Weekend schmooooood! 😁 #ModelBehavior with @slickwoods by @ftagallery. 📸

When we think of the journey to get here…😳🤯🥺🥰 #BTS

Hey, family! In between me trying to figure out why I can’t seem to keep my eyes open when taking pics, lol, we landed our ✨first✨ TV interview. 🥺 “Black-Owned Fragrance Company Changing The Game” for #EntrepreneurSundays at @bncnews with host @brittanydjones_. 💪🏾 I’m recapping what went down on Stories right now, but I also wanted to share the news here — and of course through video (swipe through our IG profile). Thank you SO MUCH for alllllllllllllllll the love we’ve received. My little heart is FULL. 🧡 xXBA

New York, New York! Our good sis and friend @iamrenaebluitt’s Black woman-owned Holiday Bazaar is BACK this year in partnership with @nycgo. 💪🏾 It’s gonna be a beautiful day of fellowship and *lots* of MOODEAUX — including complimentary gifts at our section, while supplies last. Peep the next slide for deets. We hope to see you there! 😝 #FlauntHowYouFeel #SheDidThatHoliday #ItsTimeForNYC

Grab-Then-Go™ Stash Bag update! 🤩 A whole bunch of these babies will be shipped out and on their way to our HQ in like 7 days?! 🙏🏾 What would you stuff in yours? Let us know and you might just get a DM with a lil sumn-sumn special. 👀😝 #FlauntHowYouFeel

Hi. It’s us. Lost in today’s sauce and still day-dreaming about this @thuggerthugger1 photo shoot for @rollingstone. Let’s discuss! It’s been dope watching Thug’s evolution as a chart-topping rapper and unapologetic style icon, dare we say??? From donning the infamous “Jeffrey” dress on an album cover in 2016 to most recently dying his locs a soft pinkish-purple hue (a move also tied to music with the release of “Punk”), he’s showed no interest in giving a f*ck about what anyone thinks. 💁🏾‍♀️ Regardless if you listen to Mr. YSL or not, that’s something we can all get behind. #FlauntHowYouFeel

Boo! 👻 Flash free shipping on all orders ends at midnight 10/31 EST — use code: FREESHIP when checking out. 😝

100% made for skin — no alcohol, dyes or water. 🤤

Creating something custom during a global pandemic when supply chains are a MESS…not sure I’d recommend 😅 BUT feedback like this makes it all worth the hassle. 🥺🏆 Swipe to see a closeup of the Grab-Then-Go Stash Bag before tapping into our Stories for the full video! xXBA

Honesty hour. I’ve known Reegan (our first “model” lol) since the summer before my senior year of college. We met at @essence and she’s been stuck with me ever since. When I didn’t have a clue about how I’d land my first real job, this woman let me crash in her NYC condo…rent free…for two/almost three months until I made something shake. When I had the biggest health crisis of my life, this woman called out to sit with me all day at the doctor’s office and wouldn’t let me leave her sight until she knew I was safe. Sooo many memories, so many instances I can easily recall where Reegs has stayed solid…including when I decided to launch MOODEAUX. I know I’ve said it a million-zillion times, but one more “thank you” never hurt anybody. 🧡 xXBA

A Halloween costume we can get behind. Guess who? 👀😝

📸 Today’s vibes captured by @himichelleli. 👋🏾

What does “Worthy” smell like? Great question… 🤤

Asking for permission?! To take up and claim space?! Don’t think so. 😌 Another reminder: If you’re @blackinfragrance and in need of some extra support this month, send us a note BIF@moodeaux.com. 💪🏾 We’re connecting with founders and will select one recipient for our first mini grant on 10/29! 💸 Announcement to come on 10/31.

Oh! That’s how you feel, @_kandace??? #repost 😍