This is the remarkable story of Belinda Brown who was born and raised in West Africa. She survived hardship and personal tragedy to eventually become the first black woman luxury perfumer. This is her story "WHEN I STARTED to recollect the days of my childhood and my life in West Africa where I was born and raised, I must confess to shedding tears at some of the events that have shaped my life and that led me to where I am today. For someone like me, brought up with a strong Christian faith, my story can be explained by way of a divine plan, my God shaping and guiding my every step. For others, it may just seem a series of remarkable coincidences that, in turn, saved my life, introduced me to the those who would be my inspiration and led me to becoming Africa's first black female luxury perfumer. Whatever your beliefs, I hope you find my story interesting and that, in some small way it may inspire you to follow your dreams. From my earliest recollections, the Bible story of Mary anointing Jesus's feet with fragrant Alabaster oils has remained with me and the scents and fragrances of my childhood have lodged themselves in my subconscious. It was the quest to unlock those memories that stirred such strong emotions in me and led to the creation of 'Blessings'. The name for my perfume range was obvious from the start because, despite the trials and disasters that have come my way, I am blessed to be where I am today." Belinda Brown.