Scent's Structural Imbalance: Black Perfumers Enter Paris

Teri Johnson, Founder, Harlem Perfume Co.

Teri Johnson’s relationship with Paris is rooted in cultural history as much as commercial strategy. Her brand draws inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance figures whose creative legacies intersected with the French capital. “My love and reverence for the Harlem Renaissance was born in Paris,” she explained to BeautyMatter. “It was in Paris that I truly came to understand the magnitude of Josephine Baker’s legacy and discovered the profound influence that so many Harlem Renaissance icons had on European arts, culture, and music.”