By Khaya Ndaba
Only a few changemakers think outside the box to venture where most other people don’t.
Lwazikazi Genius Kwazi, 29, is such a person and is based in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, She is a self-made perfumer who specialises in manufacturing luxury fragrances in all categories – eau de toilette, eau de parfum, eau cologne and many more.
Her brand, The Melanin House, was founded in September 2020 as part of a mission to represent young black people in the fragrance market.
The brand has received funding from the Durban University of Technology. Her venture is part of its entrepreneurial incubation programme, Innobiz.
”The Melanin House aims to expand and reach a great market,” Kwazi said. “We have started partnering with elite African fashion brands such as Stylegod Pieces, based in Maboneng, where the fragrances are available for sale.”
The Melanin House’s objectives also include “the emancipation of the black individual through my NPO, The Genius Foundation”, she said.
“Two percent of the sales goes towards buying books that are to be donated to entrepreneurially inclined youth. This is for the advancement and enrichment of their lives.”
Kwazi is a major environmentalist as well. She explains: “The Melanin House also cares about the environment, which is why our fragrances are manufactured using the finest natural essential oils.”
Pictured above: Kwazi
