People often ask why I said yes to creating my own fragrance and joining The Roma Collective. The truth is, it has very little to do with fragrance and everything to do with what God has done in my life. I've served in the military, traveled the world, experienced success and failure, marriage and divorce, and spent many years searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places. In August 2023, my family lost our home to a devastating fire. Watching everything we owned burn forced me to confront who I really was and where I was placing my trust. Although I had called myself a Christian for decades, I realized I had never fully surrendered my life to God. That season became a turning point. Through loss, hardship, and reflection, I finally reached a place where I simply said, "Lord, I surrender." Since then, my relationship with Jesus Christ has become the foundation of everything I do. That's why I said yes to this opportunity. Not because of the fragrance itself, but because I believe God can take broken stories and create something beautiful from them. Cambio de Roma represents transformation, redemption, and growth. It is a reminder that no matter what we lose in this life, we can never lose what matters most if we keep our faith. Fragrance may come and go. Trends will change. But my relationship with Jesus Christ is eternal. That is the greatest blessing of my life, and the real reason I said yes.

**1. Why did you say yes to creating your own fragrance brand?** Fragrance has been a passion of mine for years. I’ve spent countless hours wearing, reviewing, and exploring scents, and eventually I realized I wanted to create something that reflected my own story, creativity, and vision. **2. What kind of scent, identity, or emotion do you want your fragrance to represent?** I want my fragrance to represent confidence, comfort, and transformation. My goal is to create something inviting yet unforgettable that makes people feel empowered, beautiful, and a little magical. **3. What does it feel like to go from fragrance lover/reviewer/customer to building your own brand?** It’s exciting and humbling. Experiencing fragrance from the creator side has given me a whole new appreciation for the artistry and work that goes into bringing a scent to life. **4. What are you most excited about?** I’m excited to create something people connect with emotionally. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing a fragrance can become part of someone’s memories, confidence, or personal story. **5. What are you nervous about?** Putting something personal into the world is always a little scary. Fragrance is subjective, but I’ve learned that growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones. **6. What is your dream for your fragrance once it launches?** My dream is for people to truly feel something when they wear it. If it becomes a fragrance that makes someone feel confident, beautiful, and unforgettable, then I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do.

Why did you say yes to creating your own fragrance brand? I never thought about creating my own fragrance until I met Joe from Roma Parfum. For the last two years, collecting and reviewing fragrances has been a fun hobby that introduced me to an incredible community of people who share the same passion. Along the way, I’ve met amazing people, collaborated with fragrance shops, and had the opportunity to help promote products I genuinely enjoy. Creating my own fragrance was never something I set out to do. Meeting Joe changed that. Through our conversations, I started seeing fragrance from a completely different perspective. What began as a hobby evolved into an opportunity to create something of my own. The idea of taking everything I’ve learned as a collector, reviewer, and fragrance enthusiast and turning it into a fragrance felt both exciting and unexpected. Looking back, it’s amazing how something that started as a simple hobby led me here. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never see coming.

I said yes, to creating my own Fragrance, because my mother, who I lost to cancer, introduced me to the world of scents. She had an incredible taste in Fragrances, and she passed that on to me. Fragrance, was something we shared, and in crafting my own, I’m honoring her, keeping that bond alive, and making her proud. In fact, I feel like she’s been with me every step of the way. Plus, I genuinely love Fragrance it’s a part of me.

I said yes because this is bigger than just fragrance for me. This is about legacy, purpose, and proving that where you start does not have to be where you finish. Being Black in America, coming from struggle, poverty, hard times, being homeless, battling alcohol addiction, and having moments where life felt like it was trying to break me, I know what it feels like to come from nothing. I know what it feels like to have dreams that feel bigger than your situation. But I also know what it feels like to turn your life around and find something that gives you confidence, peace, direction, and purpose. For me, fragrance became more than something that smelled good. Fragrance became part of my healing. It helped me find confidence again. It helped me express myself. It gave me something positive to pour into. I went from being a fragrance lover, to a reviewer, to now having the opportunity to create my own fragrance and brand. I said yes because I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the unthinkable. I want people, especially the youth and kids who grew up like me, to see that your past does not disqualify you from your future.

Hello everyone, I wanted to take a moment to properly introduce myself and share a little about my background, experience, and journey in the fragrance and beauty industry. My name is Junito Bruno, and while many people may know me from TikTok, my experience with fragrance, skincare, and beauty began long before social media. Growing up, I was heavily influenced by my aunt, who introduced me to perfumes and skincare at a young age. I began taking care of my skin in my early teens and developed a passion for beauty, fragrance, and self-care that has stayed with me throughout my life. Professionally, I spent years working in luxury retail and fragrance sales, including time with Dolce & Gabbana and later Zara, where I worked extensively in fragrance. During those years, I helped customers understand scent profiles, fragrance families, note structures, and fragrance alternatives while learning firsthand what drives consumer purchasing decisions and brand loyalty. In addition to my work in fragrance, I have spent over 20 years working in healthcare, which has taught me the importance of communication, education, trust, and relationship-building—skills that have carried over into my work as a creator. About a year ago, I began creating fragrance-focused content on TikTok. Since then, my platform has grown rapidly, and I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous fragrance and beauty brands. I currently serve as an ambassador for Swiss Arabian and have worked with brands including Gift Express, LuNiche, Arabian Crest, Kubra, Old Factory X, and several others throughout my journey. One thing that has always set me apart is my ability to discuss products organically and authentically. My audience trusts my recommendations because I focus on education, storytelling, and genuine consumer experiences rather than simply promoting products. Today, I am also involved in one of the most exciting projects of my career: developing my own fragrance. I am serving as the Creative Director on the project and have been involved in every stage of the process—from concept development and fragrance DNA to bottle design, branding, storytelling, positioning, and target market strategy. Through this experience, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it truly takes to build a fragrance brand from the ground up. It’s not just about creating a scent. It’s about understanding the vision, identifying the audience, developing the story, creating the visual identity, determining market positioning, forecasting sales potential, and finding the balance between creativity and commercial success. My goal has always been to contribute value, share knowledge, support brands and creators, and help elevate the fragrance community through authentic conversation and meaningful engagement. I’m excited to be part of this group, and I look forward to connecting, collaborating, and learning from all of you. Thank you for having me. — Junito Bruno