The sweet smell of legacy drives perfumery launch

NIA MCADOO

Nia McAdoo is owner of Note & Accord, a perfumery in Fourth Ward.

Perfume is part of Nia McAdoo’s family legacy.

McAdoo, owner of Note & Accord a startup perfumery boutique in Fourth Ward, offers patrons the unique experience of crafting personalized scents. She found inspiration in her family’s passion for fragrances.

McAdoo’s aunt was a perfumer in New York City, where she crafted scents for upper-crust clients; her father launched his own fragrance company, T Scents.

Note & Accord, located at 544 W. 10th St., opened Oct. 5 and takes its name from the aromacology terms “note” which refers to individual scents and “accord,” which refers to a blend of notes.

McAdoo, who earned a degree in education from UNC Charlotte, blends the artistic and scientific in scent design to teach clients how to create their own perfumes.

“In Charlotte right now, experience-based outings are really popular in breweries, but if you’re not a brewery person you sort of miss out,” she said. “We’re giving a new premium experience, and it is a welcome change for our customers.”

Inspired by her family’s passion for fragrance, Nia has brought the family tradition from Buffalo, New York, to Charlotte. Her father owned a small fragrance company, and her aunt was a perfumer in New York City. As a child, she observed her father formulating various blends in a home laboratory and always wanted to join in the fragrance-crafting process. She saw firsthand how the business operated and was allowed to help with that but was not allowed to tinker with any of her father’s fragrance bottles.

“He didn’t necessarily like me playing in his amber bottles, but I was helping to package the finished product and things like that,” McAdoo recalled.

McAdoo taught herself to make accords as a youngster and had mastered it to the point of being able to make incense in her sleep.

McAdoo has not always had her eyes set on opening a custom fragrance shop. Before Note & Accord, she owned a printing company that worked with colleges and universities for 12 years. After she sold her printing company in 2022, McAdoo gave herself two years to figure out what her next career would be. The business experience she gained over the past decade allowed for a smooth transition.

Although it started as a hobby, McAdoo has found joy in sharing her love for blended scents through Note & Accord. She believes fragrances can be a therapeutic tool for relaxation and confidence, as scents can often evoke strong emotions or bring back nostalgic memories.

“Growing up, my dad had amber bottles everywhere,” McAdoo said. “When you walked into our home, incense was always burning and there was an immediate sense of comfort. Scent is tied to memory, so you may want to make a room spray that can take you to an easier time.”

McAdoo is hosting fragrance workshops at the Fourth Ward shop on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and cost $125 per person. For more information on booking a workshop, visit NoteAndAccord.com or call (704) 981-0869.

Note and Accord has created for Post readers by using coupon code CLTPost to save $25 off the experience.

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