Meet Kyra Lumpkin | Perfumer & Chandler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyra Lumpkin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyra, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of Penrose Apothecary is purposeful intention. When creating Penrose Apothecary, my number mission was and still is, to create a space where people can feel welcomed with warmth and acceptance. I believe Penrose is successful because it is a manifestation of loving on purpose and with purpose. Every aspect of the brand and the experience Penrose provides is meticulously thought out. The product in itself is not revolutionary; I create and sell niche perfumery and luxury hand-poured candles in a 3.6 billion dollar perfume and candle industry, the product is not a new concept. While I definitely create the product with a lot of care, it’s the overall Penrose experience that I really pour my heart into. While making a sale is important, as it is with any brand or company, the main goal is to provide a sense of home and love to anyone who patrons Penrose Apothecary.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Penrose Apothecary is a culmination of the concept of home and healing. Growing this brand is constant hard work. As a mother of three young children, being a full-time entrepreneur is no easy feat. There is this constant worry that you are not performing as well as you could be in one of the many facets of your life that you must maintain. I created Penrose for people like me. People who need a momentary break to receive love and be empowered to keep going.

The best advice I have ever been given was oddly about marriage. It was the night before my wedding, I’d opted to just have a quiet dinner with my bridal party instead of a loud bachelorette party. While I was sitting at dinner, an elderly couple sitting across from us struck up a conversation. I mentioned that I was getting married the next day and I asked them about any advice that would help a marriage last. They replied, “It’s simple really. Just don’t give up at the same time.” This was about 15 years ago, and I still remember those words. I apply this simple advice to everything that I strive for. If something is not going right, I look at the situation trying to give up on me, but I am not going to give up on it. I am going to keep going and keep trying until everything gets back in stride.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a huge science, history, and nature nerd so my idea of a good and exciting time may not be everyone’s cup of tea! lol! I live in the bay so I would take them to the De Young Museum or the MoAD, or go on an adventure at the Museum of Ice Cream or The Exploratorium. The Bay Area has very impressive museums and aquariums that are sure to impress even people who are not into that kind of scene. Then we would walk through Golden Gate Park and take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then we would head across the bridge to Oakland, where there is always an amazing art exhibit or small business market happening. Each night we visit one of the many Michelin star restaurants the bay has to offer, especially Omakase! A week with me would be a very luxurious, artsy, ethereal type of vibe!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I must shout two very important people to me and Penrose. Candice Newson of Slick Body Butters and Nichelle Proctor of The Plant Queen. I met them both in the early days of the birth of Penrose and they have changed my life and business significantly. In many aspects of my life, I have never had people relentlessly believe in me and stand next to me, most people have just waited for the good outcome they believed I was capable of producing. Candice and Nichelle really speak life into me as a woman and an entrepreneur, while still building amazing businesses of their own. They are literally superheroes with the superpower of relentless love! Being able to watch them grow their brands has been truly an honor.

Website: www.PenroseApothecary.com

Instagram: @penroseapothecary