When Business Meets Challenge

Make Your Own Perfume (MYOP)'s Journey from Calicut to International Markets

In entrepreneurship, every challenge is a wave that carries you closer to success. Our CEO, Rayhan Abdul Rahiman, joined NSRCEL's panel at "Cracking the Consumer Code: Building Beyond Metros"—a conversation that revealed the raw truth about building a consumer brand in India.

The Birth of India's First Perfume Bar

Back in 2017, Make Your Own Perfume (MYOP) opened its doors in a small cabin at Focus Mall, Calicut, with Rs 8 lakh and an audacious vision. We weren't just launching another perfume store—we were pioneering India's first perfume bar concept. Over 2,800 unique scent combinations, personalized blending experiences, and fragrances reformulated specifically for India's tropical climate. This was the foundation of something revolutionary.

Winning 300,000+ Customers Through Personalization

During the panel, Rayhan shared how MYOP won its first 300,000+ customers—not through aggressive marketing, but through personalized experiences that resonated deeply with consumers. From name engraving to in-store perfume-making workshops and the signature scent creation, we built a brand that made every customer feel valued.

The Pandemic Breakdown: When Everything Stood Still

Just as MYOP was gaining momentum, 2020 arrived. The pandemic brought retail to a grinding halt. Stores closed. Revenue streams dried up overnight.

"We faced falls, significant ones," Rayhan shared candidly. "But we never gave up. Because in entrepreneurship, we all have luck, but luck only finds those who have the perseverance to wait for it, to work for it, to create the conditions for it to arrive."

The team hustled. They adapted. They survived when survival itself seemed impossible.

Learning Beyond Your Comfort Zone

One of Rayhan's most powerful insights centered on a truth many entrepreneurs discover too late: real learning happens when you take on tasks outside your comfort zone.

"In business, you learn the most when you tackle responsibilities that aren't traditionally 'yours,'" he explained. "When you're forced to understand finance as a creative person, or marketing as an operations expert—that's when you become truly enthusiastic about learning new things. That's when you grow exponentially."

Scaling Beyond Metros: From Calicut to Mauritius

Today, MYOP operates 58 stores across India, including 2 stores in Mauritius. Rayhan highlighted how our cultural storytelling approach resonated powerfully with consumers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. These weren't just perfumes; they were olfactory love letters to Indian cities, celebrating local culture in ways international brands couldn't replicate.

Building beyond metros isn't about lowering standards—it's about deepening cultural connection.

Challenges as Waves Toward Success

Throughout the panel, one metaphor kept emerging: challenges aren't obstacles—they're waves that carry you toward success.

Every setback MYOP faced became a setup for a comeback. The initial skepticism? It fueled determination. The pandemic shutdown? It taught resilience. The challenge of scaling? It refined our value proposition.

In Rayhan's words: "A challenge is simply success in disguise, testing whether you're ready to receive it."

Dedication Meets Speed: The Entrepreneur's Edge

What separates successful entrepreneurs from those who give up? Dedication combined with the ability to move quickly.

"Dedication isn't just about working hard," Rayhan emphasized. "It's about maintaining your vision when everything suggests you should quit. But dedication alone isn't enough. Speed matters. The ability to make decisions quickly, to pivot when necessary, and to execute with urgency—this transforms dedication from a virtue into a competitive advantage."

MYOP's journey from a single cabin to 58 stores across two countries happened because we combined unwavering dedication with rapid execution.

The Power of Perseverance: Creating Space for Luck

Perhaps the most profound insight Rayhan shared was about luck and perseverance.

"Every individual has luck waiting for them," he said. "But you need the perseverance to create the space for that luck to find you. You need to be in the game long enough, working hard enough, and learning fast enough that when your moment comes, you're ready to seize it."

MYOP's "lucky breaks"—viral testimonials, perfect retail locations, and strategic partnerships—didn't happen by accident. They happened because the team persevered through unlucky moments until they created the conditions for success to emerge.

Key principles emerged from Rayhan's insights:

• Create genuine differentiation that solves real problems 
• Prioritize customer experience over everything
• Embrace cultural storytelling that resonates authentically
• Learn voraciously, especially outside your expertise
• Persevere with purpose while adapting tactics
• Move with urgency—execution velocity separates winners from wannabes

The Road Ahead

Building a business isn't a straight line from idea to success. It's a winding path filled with unexpected challenges and breakthrough moments. For aspiring entrepreneurs watching MYOP's journey, the message is clear: your challenges aren't roadblocks—they're the very waves that will carry you to success.

Entrepreneurship isn't just about building businesses. It's about building yourself into the kind of person who can turn a small cabin in Calicut into a national brand with international reach. It's about developing the perseverance to wait for your luck while working tirelessly to deserve it when it arrives.

When you combine a powerful idea with relentless execution, cultural authenticity with customer obsession, and dedication with speed—you don't just build a business. You build a movement.

The wave is coming. Are you ready to ride it?