Funmi Monet, a former licensed therapist turned fragrance expert, has launched her fragrance brand Influxious at Sephora without taking on venture capital funding. Despite early skepticism about her chances due to a small social media following, Monet built an authentic community on TikTok and Instagram, positioning herself as a trusted fragrance voice. Influxious, a name Monet created nearly 20 years ago from "influx" and "luxurious," reflects her mission to celebrate the diverse experiences and identity that shape people, emphasizing luxury as a feeling rather than just exclusivity or price.

Monet’s unique path to becoming a fragrance founder included working at a perfume counter, attending graduate school for therapy, and becoming an ISIPCA-certified perfumer. She credits each chapter for giving her vital skills: empathy and listening from therapy, technical knowledge from perfumery training, and understanding fragrance’s personal nature from retail experience. These tools helped her navigate business challenges, from meetings with Sephora buyers to managing supply issues and building a cohesive team.

Funding has been fully self-sourced, with Monet investing $225,000 of her own savings into developing the scents, testing formulations, packaging, branding, and assembling her team before launching. She highlights the power of self-funding in maintaining control over her brand’s vision and execution, noting that turning down outside offers with restrictive terms was critical. Monet also believes that not having venture capital accelerated her learning curve and proved that significant success is possible without being heavily capitalized, as Influxious surpassed $1 million in sales within its first three weeks.

Influxious launched earlier than planned in late September 2026, debuting in 11 Sephora stores nationwide. Monet’s focus remains on growing a fragrance house that extends beyond her own identity, emphasizing community engagement through in-store events, masterclasses, and collaborations with fragrance enthusiasts. Her long-term goal is to scale the brand globally while preserving the intimacy and soul that made it special, ensuring it remains a space for beauty, pleasure, and self-expression for all.