Meet Kehinde Francis
We had the good fortune of connecting with Kehinde Francis and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kehinde, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk is about trusting that the leap will lead to growth, even if the landing isn’t perfect. Leaving the stability of a “9–5” and stepping into entrepreneurship with Allure F&C was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. I didn’t have the comfort of guarantees, but I had a vision to create an Afro-luxury fragrance brand that could stand on a global stage.
That decision taught me that risk and reward live side by side. Each time I’ve taken a risk, I’ve discovered new strengths, new opportunities, and even new markets I might never have considered if I had played it safe. Risk has played the role of a teacher in my life forcing me to embrace uncertainty, sharpen my creativity, and believe in the value I bring to the table.
Without risk, Allure F&C would still just be an idea. With it, it’s become a brand with heart, story, and growing impact.
What should our readers know about your business?
Allure F&C is an Afro-luxury home fragrance brand that transforms scent into a mood ritual. We handcraft candles, reed diffusers, and perfume oils using locally sourced Nigerian ingredients, blends of roots and herbs that honor our cultural heritage while delivering a premium experience. What sets us apart is how we fuse storytelling with craftsmanship, creating fragrances that don’t just scent a space but evoke memory, presence, and emotion.
The journey hasn’t been easy, resources were limited and the market competitive but resilience, consistency, and a deep belief in our vision kept us moving forward.
Today, Allure F&C stands as more than fragrance; it’s a tribute. From Silken Ashes, dedicated to my late mum, to bold blends like ỌBA AFẸ́FẸ́, ÎRÓKÒ NOIR, OMÍ ARÓ, every product carries meaning. My hope is that the world experiences both luxury and cultural pride in every encounter with Allure F&C.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend visited Lagos, I’d want them to feel the full energy of the city. We would start with Nike Art Gallery, Terra Kulture, and the Lekki Conservation Centre canopy walk for culture and adventure. Food is a must, so a stop at ILÉ IYAN for Yoruba dishes pounded yam, soups, and all the goodness would be top of the list.
No trip is complete without beach time at Ilashe or Tarkwa Bay, plus a playful stop at the Upside Down House in Landmark Centre, VI. For shopping, we would dive into the buzz of Eko Market, then cool off with cocktails at Ebony Live or RSVP.
We’d wrap the week with a wellness day spa treatments, and of course, candles and diffusers from Allure F&C to set the mood. Lagos is vibrant, cultural, and soulful, and that’s the story I’d want them to take home.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely. I believe no one truly builds alone behind every success story are the voices, hands, and hearts that have poured into it. Beyond friends, mentors, and the community that have encouraged me, my deepest dedication is to my late mum, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Francis, who shaped me into the woman I am today strong yet soft-hearted, resilient yet compassionate. To honor her memory, I dedicated one of our home diffusers to her; it’s called Silken Ashes, a piece of her love and legacy woven into the Allure F&C collection.
I also owe so much to my dad, husband, my daughter, and my siblings. They have been my unwavering pillars of support celebrating every win, lifting me through the hard days, and reminding me that I am never walking this journey alone.
Allure F&C is not just my brand, it is a living tribute to the people who have sown into me with love, sacrifice, and encouragement. Every product, every milestone, carries a piece of them.
Website: https://wa.me/message/6NDXGQO7CYF6L1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allure_fc?igsh=amQ1MTMycDJjbWJp&utm_source=qr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17BkuiZjRB/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Other: WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/6NDXGQO7CYF6L1
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
