The TEDxAtlanta conference and year-round programming is fueled by four groups of amazing individuals: speakers, volunteers, attendees and partners. In our Partner Spotlight series, we invite you to meet the businesses that lending us either their time and expertise, or their financial support in service of furthering the mission of spreading ideas that spark curiosity, civil discourse and ultimately a more cohesive community.
In conversation with Makeba Lloyd, founder of Scentonomy, an X Zone activation partner at TEDxAtlanta 2025.
What inspired you to start Scenetonomy?
I started Scentonomy while on a self assessment and development program where one of my assignments was to answer the question, “What is your gift to the world?” My first thought was to create a platform that encouraged the practice of aromatherapy as a daily self-care routine and to make it simple and accessible. While working on this program, I was invited to apply for an innovation grant. And so, I came up with an idea to build an aromatherapy tool backed by an essential oils algorithm which helps people identify essential blends according to their needs and scent preference. It was a Sunday afternoon, the room where I was working was very bright and I remember being extremely excited.
Since then, the concept and platform have blossomed into a full service holistic wellness company that highlights the benefits of aromatherapy while providing a number of services such as sound therapy, massage therapy and acupressure. Our services are available to individuals as well as corporations for their wellness initiatives.
As you’ve gone on your journey, what were some of your greatest challenges?
I have been bootstrapping my company since its inception. I haven’t sought out investor funding because I strongly believe that an idea and a company should be able to stand on its own for a 2-3 before raising capital. Working towards profitability year after year without funding is challenging but it is possible when you work lean and bring in team members who believe and support your vision.
As your company has grown and become more established, what would you say are the core values and how have they influenced your business?
We are a wellness company so our internal culture is always about checking in with oneself to assure we are operating from a place of peace of mind and overall wellbeing. The key to this is communication. Communication is extremely important in maintaining our balance, honesty and healthy environment.
How would you describe your experience partnering with TEDxAtlanta?
As a New York born and based company it feels amazing to be welcomed by the TEDxAtlanta team to participate in such an impactful yearly event. We are truly honored and excited for the opportunity to share our love of aromatherapy and olfaction with TEDxAtlanta’s community.
Our goal is to bring wellness experiences to this community. We are a team driven company and value the opportunity to get members of our organization involved in this partnership to ensure a successful experience for everyone, particularly to deliver an engaged wellness experience such as our Aromatherapy Bar. We’re very excited to support TEDxAtlanta’s future wellness initiatives in any way we can.
Are there specific goals you would like to achieve as part of the relationship?
We are very curious to learn how guests of this year’s TEDxAtlanta receive our aromatherapy experience, to learn how familiar guests are with this modality and what types of ingredients resonate the most and why.
Join us at TEDxAtlanta 2025 and be part of the conversations shaping our collective future. This year’s event promises to amplify voices, share stories, and inspire action—aligning perfectly with the incredible work of partners like Angelle Consulting.
Final days to be part of this extraordinary experience before ticket prices increase on January 17, 2025. Buy your tickets today.
Learn more about the changemakers taking the stage at TEDxAtlanta.com.
