Pretty and Black Owned is a celebration of brilliance, beauty, and bold business moves. This series spotlights Black women who are building powerful brands, creating impact, and owning their lane with confidence and purpose. From passion to profit, these women represent what it looks like to lead, thrive, and win.

Chavalia Dunlap-Mwamba is the founder and principal perfumer of Pink MahogHany™, an independent fragrance house established in 2005 and known for emotionally resonant, story-driven scent compositions. With a background as a professional musician and singer, she approaches perfumery as a form of translation—transforming rhythm, memory and feeling into fragrance.

As a self-funded CEO and creative director, Chavalia has built Pink MahogHany with intention and longevity, crafting intimate luxury scents guided by the philosophy “a good fragrance calls; an exceptional fragrance whispers™.” Beyond product creation, she is committed to education and community impact, developing perfumery programs and activities as well as fostering institutional partnerships that introduce fragrance as both art and science. Her work reflects a refined, enduring vision of Black-owned quiet luxury.

What inspired the start of “Pink Mahoghany”?

Pink MahogHany began in 2005 out of a desire to provide unforgettable experiences with scent made without the addition of phthalates during a time where they were heavily used in just about any scented product. It was also during this time that reformulations seemed to happen to many well-liked fragrances, and the perfumers of those brands were rarely of melanin descent.

What has been the biggest challenge of running a brand like “Pink Mahoghany”?

The biggest challenge of running a brand like Pink MahogHany has been balance. Because I absolutely love what I do, it’s easy to over-give and overwork. As a single mother of homeschooled boys, it’s highly important that I remember to take time to reset daily.

How does “Pink Mahoghany” impact its local community?

Pink Mahoghany offers perfumery workshops to local youth non-profit organizations and provides select internship opportunities for youth to learn about business ownership.

How can women in particular benefit from what your brand has to offer?

Women in particular can experience uplifting, confidence-increasing perfumes that evoke positive memories and create new ones. With growing concerns of scent additives, women can enjoy smelling good with perfumes that are made using intentional tinctures and accords.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?

I hope to see Pink MahogHany in luxury, boutique retailers, hotels, airports, and in the hands of celebrities and prominent figures. My goal is for Pink MahogHany to be a household name.

What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Take notice of the needs presented and see if you have the skill set to fulfill them. In an age where technology is so vast, don’t neglect reading physical books.

What does being “Pretty and Black Owned” mean to you?

Pretty and Black Owned translates to me as “Match your outer beauty with your inner beauty and don’t be afraid to be the face of your beautiful brand.”