Meet Makeba Lloyd | Certified Aromatherapist, Artisanal Perfumer & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Makeba, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After a vacation traveling through Egypt I became hyper inspired, almost obsessed with creating aromatic blends using my intuition and what I learned through my aroma education journey. My intention was to recreate moments I experienced while traveling that had a profound impact on me. Experiences that included applying Lotus and Peppermint oils as aromatherapy to help regain my strength after becoming ill; experiencing fresh Jasmine while visiting Elephantine Island and ancient aromas at the ruins in Luxor . The entire trip was so mind-blowing that when I returned home I had a difficult time returning to normal life. It was fragrance that gave me the boost I needed. I would bring my weekend’s creations to work for feedback. A colleague said to me, “you really should be selling this because it’s wonderful”. I wasn’t sold on the idea at the time but was encouraged to focus on it as a passion project and therapeutic hobby that addressed my dry skin and work anxiety.   It wasn’t until 2020, just at the onset of the pandemic, when I decided to take a chance and work on the brand full-time. A huge leap of faith during a very turbulent time has landed me in a new career as an entrepreneur of fragrance, personal care and wellness that I’m pretty excited about.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am certified in aromatherapy, as well as advanced perfumery. I take an artisanal approach to blending that is inspired by life experiences, travel and people. The By Keba brands; Butter By Keba, My Palm Spa, The Chakra Collection, Unity Code and Scentonomy, for me, are my work of art that is ever-evolving. I’m most proud of myself for nurturing my craft and passion around scent and textures for as long as I have. Creating this brand has been the backdrop of my life’s journey and story for over ten years. Now that I’m transitioning “the story” into the business I can do so confidently and authentically. I am still living the journey and it is not easy but it is fulfilling and inspiring. I’ve been exposed to so many amazing founders and have learned quite a bit about myself. I’ve learned that there is always an opportunity to grow through situations that may seem challenging. I’ve learned to give grace to myself for what I don’t know and to remain grounded in confidence for what I do know, as a tool to help others on their journey. My intention and that of my brands will always be to foster connection and inclusivity through fragrance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Now this is giving up all of my best spots…but okay, I will indulge. First, we must have two spa days so we’re taking a quick trip up to Great Jones Spa in Great Jones New York. On the third day we sleep in, then have brunch at Chez Josephine, After brunch we’ll walk the high line down to Hudson Yards for light shopping. After shopping we’ll wind down at the Standard Hotel lounge. Fourth day we’re heading to the Whitney Museum for the latest exhibit then lunch in NoMad before walking the flower district for fresh flowers. After we’ve showered the day off and dressed in our finest, we’ll head to dinner at Leland and then over to the Jane Hotel. On the fifth and last day we’re doing another spa day but this one is abbreviated at Great Jones in Soho.

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 dedicate where I am to my late Mother. She encouraged me to commit to learning the practice of Aromatherapy and Natural perfumery. She even sponsored my first certification course in Natural Perfumery. She is a big reason why I continued to work on the product line as I worked a full-time career. She would always say how blessed I was to have found a craft in which I loved immersing myself, as well as could monetize. I also have to give a shoutout to our long-time customers who have ordered from us through the years and continue to refer us new business. They send us kind notes of encouragement and write beautiful reviews after receiving their deliveries. It’s not only heartwarming but fuels our growth. I also want to give a shout-out to the mentorship communities I have joined over the past year as I transitioned from Real Estate to Beauty and Wellness; these include NY Aromatica’s Aroma Salon founded by my aromatherapy certification instructor, Amy Anthony; The HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic, founded by Carolyn Jones; The Brain Trust Founders Studio, founded by Kendra Bracken-Ferguson; Go For Vertical Technology cohort for non-technical founders, founded by Edward Cruz and most recently the McKinsey & Company Academy and Credo for Change.  Having a community where a founder can be vulnerable and great at the same time is extremely impactful.

Website: www.butterbykeba.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterbykeba/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makeba-guilan-lloyd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/butterbykeba

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butterbykeba

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh5kdzxTAHWvoATYcPkmZQA

Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/

Image Credits
Will Vaultz Amelia Jones