Budding entrepreneur creates a cologne brand

Budding entrepreneur and resident of Joburg East Vusimusizi Methula has high hopes for his cologne brand Valentinas Kafungo.

Methula (29) grew up in Tsakane, where he was raised in a business-oriented family. He told the EXPRESS that while growing up, he spent most of his time with his family.

Methula helped his mother sell food as well as perfumes.

At the time all the perfumes sold were outsourced.

“My parents did not have stable jobs and that’s when they realised that the only way to survive was to start a business.

“My mother and I would wake up early in the morning and I would go and assist her in food sales at the surrounding schools,” he said.

Methula said that after matric, he took a gap year to figure out what he wanted to study.

He decided that he would move to Cape Town to study public administration.

“Unfortunately, due to financial instability I could not complete my studies and I was forced to return home.

“I had an idea for a business. I did not want to just stay at home and do nothing.

“While I was helping my mother sell perfumes, I realised it had sparked a love for fragrances in me,” he said.

To fully follow his dream, Methula knew he had to take the big step of moving out of his home.

Shortly after making his decision, Methula moved to Johannesburg where he began to work on his own cologne.

“I did my research and got well informed on how I should go about it. I was fortunate to meet a woman in the perfume business who gave me few pointers. I also had an opportunity to mix my perfumes at the Ekhurhuleni Fablab.”

Methula uses essential oils with 100 per cent pure alcohol to mix the fragrances.

The bottled fragrances are then stored in the dark for two weeks.

“This gives the oils a chance to mix naturally.”

The first testing takes place after two weeks.

“Perfumes have a rich story in the industry, and all I want to do is to leave a legacy to my family. My most recent collection is called Minenhle.”

“The collection is very special to me. It was inspired by my journey in the business world and the challenges that I came across,” said Methula.

For Methula, Minenhle means a beautiful day and encapsulates a new chapter in his life.

“I always advise my peers to never limit themselves when they are in business and to invest in their brands. I started with nothing, but I learned and researched to have my brand be where it is at now,” he said.

For more information on Valentinas Kafungo, contact 062 123 7720.