A Sweet Aroma
Having been a hairstylist for nearly sixteen years, Tamara Reed takes pride in beautifying her clients with the latest hairstyles. And with a keen eye for fashion, she chose to incorporate more options for clients at her salon, Studio 31.
In the late fall of 2016, Tamara expanded Studio 31 and designed an extra space solely for a boutique. It’s filled with stylish earrings, fashionable hats and scarves, and her biggest seller: trendy sunglasses for men and women.
Tamara didn’t stop there, though. Her love for fragrance influenced her to turn an idea into a reality, which was creating her very own perfume line. This soft, elegant aroma is an oil-based perfume called Aramat. With the help from her mother, Tamara came up with the clever idea of reversing her name to create the brand name of her signature fragrance.
Tamara chose an oil base versus eau de toilette because of the quality and shelf life. Her main objectives were to formulate a perfume that was a long-lasting fragrance with a clean, natural, and true scent, less likely to become an irritant to the skin but in fact nourishes it instead. A couple of sprays can still have an amazing aroma without being overpowering.
“I wanted to create a fragrance that was soft, airy, and a bit flirty,” Tamara said. “I also considered those with allergies and sinus issues; I wanted it to be subtle and tolerable for them as well—not only for the person wearing it, but those around that person with those issues.”
It took Tamara six months to perfect the Aramat.
“It was a lengthy process, but it was very exciting, especially when I introduced Aramat to my customers and they gave me amazing feedback,” she said. “I am blessed and can’t wait to start my next project. This one is dedicated to the men.”
Amarat comes in other forms such as candles and lotions.
“I chose to include candles for those who are not really into wearing perfume or lotions,” Tamara said, “but still enjoys smell.”
Tamara has sold Aramat and other merchandise at local shops and was in awe at the love and support she received from women within the community. She felt empowered and was inspired to establish a platform where women can gather and discuss different aspects of their life.
“We tried to come up with a way to bring women together,” Tamara said. “We are all hard workers and just need a place to unwind, a place to fellowship.”
Tamara and best friend, La’Quanta Perry of Stiletto’s Sweets, collaborated a bi-monthly event called Cupcakes & Conversations located at Studio 31.
At the first gathering of Cupcakes & Conversations, five women attended, and now the count is endless. As it has been very successful, Tamara has high hopes for more women to be a part.
“It’s not just for my customers; it’s completely open to anyone who wants to meet new people and socialize,” Tamara said. “It basically formed by word of mouth.”
The gathering has included delectable sweet treats, live entertainment featuring local musicians, and motivational speakers.
“Sometimes, we will have special guests perform or have an open mic where the ladies are asked to drop a question in a jar, and the answers will come from within the group,” Tamara said. “We always an amazing time!”
Tamara has received testimonials from women who have attended Cupcakes & Conversations, expressing how the gathering has helped them overcome issues or simply enjoyed the atmosphere from the group. Now Studio 31 is not just a hair salon; it has become a place for women to join forces to create a diverse sisterhood.
“I am doing what God had led me to do,” she said. “He is the one who keeps me afloat. To him I am thankful.”
The Aramat collection, along with other merchandise, can be purchased at Studio 31 located at 208 Cheyenne Drive, Suite C, in Jackson. If you are a woman interested in attending Cupcakes & Conversations, you are more than welcome to follow Tamara Reed on Facebook, and she will add you to list to inform you on the next gathering.
Learn more about Studio 31 on their Facebook page, or call them at 731.431.4783.
Asanta Brooks is an author and freelance writer. Her passion for writing stemmed from creating and illustrating comic strips as a child, which lead to her becoming involved with the high school paper and excelling as a feature writer for her college paper. She resides in Brownsville, Tennessee, with her adorably energetic two-year-old son, Alex.
Originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, photographer Katie Howerton moved to Jackson in 2011 to study Graphic Design and Drawing at Union University. She discovered Our Jackson Home in January 2015 and used it as a guinea pig for her senior design project, creating the first issue of Our Jackson Home: The Magazine. After graduating she was given leadership over Our Jackson Home at theCO, where she now runs the blog, designs the magazine, and coordinates events. She and her husband Jordan live in Midtown and are active members of City Fellowship Baptist Church.
