Dare to Explore Taboos, with Scent Storyteller Chris Collins

You may recognize Chris from his 25-year career as a model, where he appeared in over 60 campaigns for Ralph Lauren and became an iconic face for the luxury brand. It was on a spontaneous trip to Grasse, the French Riviera town known as the perfume capital of the world, that Chris struck a deal with a scent manufacturer to start his own line. Not long after, Chris Collins became the first Black-owned fragrance line to be sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Sephora.In this episode, Chris sits down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. He tells the story of the cultural exchange between New York and Paris, takes us back to the artistry of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, and reflects on what it means to live a bold, free life.Highlights:Being discovered as a model and pivoting from a medical pathWhat it was like to work as a Ralph Lauren model for 25+ yearsObsession for Men and early scent momentsHow Chris found the freedom to be himselfThe first “yes” from a fragrance house in GrasseTake the first step, even if you don’t know how to startThe connection between Paris and the 1920s Harlem RenaissanceWhat does a Harlem speakeasy smell like?How a fragrance goes from an idea to the bottleDaring to explore (and overcome) taboos in self-expressionChris’ scent preferences day to dayScent Spotlight: Harlem Nights, Renaissance, & Danse SauvageThe story of Josephine BakerScent Connection, First MomentsWhy Chris is making historyThe definition of a life well-livedFeatured Fragrances:Harlem Nights by Chris CollinsDanse Sauvage by Chris CollinsRenaissance by Chris CollinsSoak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.