You may recognize Chris from his 25-year career as a model, where he appeared in over 60 campaigns for Ralph Lauren and became an iconic face for the luxury brand. It was on a spontaneous trip to Grasse, the French Riviera town known as the perfume capital of the world, that Chris struck a deal with a scent manufacturer to start his own line. Not long after, Chris Collins became the first Black-owned fragrance line to be sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Sephora.In this episode, Chris sits down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. He tells the story of the cultural exchange between New York and Paris, takes us back to the artistry of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, and reflects on what it means to live a bold, free life.Highlights:00:45 Being discovered as a model and pivoting from a medical path02:50 What it was like to work as a Ralph Lauren model for 25+ years06:31 Obsession for Men and early scent moments12:00 How Chris found the freedom to be himself14:30 The first “yes” from a fragrance house in Grasse18:40 Take the first step, even if you don’t know how to start19:50 The connection between Paris and the 1920s Harlem Renaissance22:20 What does a Harlem speakeasy smell like?23:00 How a fragrance goes from an idea to the bottle28:30 Daring to explore (and overcome) taboos in self-expression32:45 Chris’ scent preferences day to day34:30 Scent Spotlight: Harlem Nights, Renaissance, & Danse Sauvage38:03 The story of Josephine Baker43:30 Scent Connection, First Moments47:17 Why Chris is making history50:33 The definition of a life well-livedSoak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.