The story behind What Answers Back...
I can’t believe that after all this time, and after how freaking viral What Answers Back went, I never shared how it came to be. Apparently, I told everyone about the perfume and forgot the entire origin story. Which, if we’re being honest, is very on brand for my brain. 😂
Meet Amanda, the woman whose adventures inspired it.
We were on the journalism staff together in high school. Two passionate, creative teenagers with opinions? Yes, there was some headbutting. Neither of us was suffering from a shortage of things to say. But I admired her work, and over the years, I loved following her stories and urban exploring adventures. During my brief podcast era, I even read one of her stories.
Then she shared some exploring photos, and my imagination wandered off without adult supervision, as it always does.
What happens when you go beyond the trail? Past where you’re supposed to be, looking for things you probably have no business looking for? And then... something answers back.
My mother’s side of the family has Melungeon heritage and deep roots in East Tennessee. They lived and worked near Gatlinburg before some settled around Sweetwater, and I grew up with Appalachian folklore woven into our family stories.
Those stories came with very specific instructions: if you hear your name called from the woods, no you didn’t. If you hear whistling, keep moving. Close your blinds at dusk, because you don’t know what might be looking in.
Some families had a “be home before dark” rule. We had additional terms and conditions.
My mother also lived and traveled in Europe, which is part of how she met my father. Apparently, coming home with a story runs in the family. She met my father; I made a perfume. Different souvenirs... but I digress.
Amanda’s photos shook those old stories awake. I wanted to capture that feeling of somewhere beautiful, unsettling, and possibly aware that you’re there. But make it wearable, because a perfume that tells the story of “you should’ve stayed on the damn trail” still needs to smell good.
Amanda knew nothing about this project until I announced the fragrance and tagged her. I gifted her a tester before release, and she told me it smelled just like Elkmont, Tennessee.
I just want you all to know that I hadn’t even been there.
Apparently, my imagination went on a field trip and left me at home. Somehow, her adventures and the stories I grew up with helped me capture that place. That still blows my mind.
What Answers Back went on to put my perfume house on the freaking map. It’s even found its way to some familiar faces who are wearing it, loving it, and talking about it. And none of that would have happened without Amanda sharing her adventures.
I never expected any of this. After almost twenty years making bath and body products, I stepped away in 2022, honestly believing I would never come back. I was burnt out, had so much going on in my personal life, and just didn’t have anything left to pour into it.
Eventually, candles brought me back to creating, inspired by the books I love and collect like I’m personally responsible for keeping authors employed. There was no grand comeback plan. I just missed making things and apparently needed another hobby that would take over my house.
Then customers kept asking for body products again. Some admitted to rubbing melted candle wax on their skin.
Respectfully, WHAT ARE WE DOING. I leave you unsupervised for five minutes and we’re moisturizing with the home décor. 😂
But this story belongs to Amanda, too. Artists need to know when they’ve inspired someone. Your photos, writing, adventures, art, and music might become the beginning of something you never imagined.
Art is subjective. We all know this. I have critics and bad reviews of my own, but I keep creating anyway. Learn what you can, be gentle with yourself, and keep doing what makes you happy.
For Amanda, I know you’re reading this because you’re a curious little creature. It’s how we ended up here in the first place... Thank you so much for sharing your stories and adventures. You helped inspire something so many people now carry with them, and I hope you know how much that means to me.
And for everyone else... just remember:
I only make the perfume. If you wear it and something answers back, that’s between you and whatever the hell is in those woods. Customer service does not cover that. Keep looking forward. Don’t answer it. You heard NOTHING.