For Françoise Epéti-Beckem, perfume is more than a product. It is an opportunity to show that Cameroon can create premium brands, add value to local resources and create jobs at home.
Based in Douala, Cameroon, Françoise is the founder of France Epéti SARL-U and the creator of Parfums Sangô, a locally produced fragrance brand built around quality, innovation and identity.
Her entrepreneurial journey began with experimentation. Driven by a scientific mindset and a passion for fragrance, Françoise researched extraction methods and built a small, improvised distillation system to produce her first essences. In 2024, she took another important step by opening a dedicated workspace.
What began as a modest experiment has since grown into a structured business with a growing team, increasing income and new commercial opportunities.
Turning Local Resources into Value
Françoise’s fragrances draw on plants, flowers, bark, spices and other natural materials available locally. Her approach goes beyond sourcing local ingredients: she is also exploring ways to make production more resource-efficient and reduce waste.
Some extraction residues are repurposed into products such as black soap, while certain perfume bottles are refilled or redirected into recycling channels.For Françoise, green entrepreneurship means finding ways to use resources more efficiently, reduce waste and create greater value from what is already available locally.
This approach reflects her broader vision for Parfums Sangô: building a business that creates economic opportunities while making better use of local resources.
Changing Perceptions, One Fragrance at a Time
Building a premium local fragrance brand also comes with challenges.
One of Françoise’s biggest challenges has been changing perceptions around locally produced perfumes. In a market where imported products can be associated with prestige, she is working to demonstrate that a Cameroonian brand can also deliver quality, attractive presentation and a distinctive customer experience.
For her, every satisfied customer is an opportunity to challenge assumptions about what can be produced locally.Her ambition goes beyond selling perfume. She wants Parfums Sangô to become an example of how African entrepreneurs can build competitive brands by combining local resources, knowledge and innovation.
Turning Support into Business Growth
As her business developed, Françoise received coaching, visibility and USD 5,000 in seed capital through the IYBA WE4A programme.
She invested the support in areas including packaging, brand presentation and market readiness — important elements in a consumer-facing business where presentation and customer trust play an important role.
The results are visible.Françoise’s average monthly business income has increased from 350,000 FCFA to 650,000 FCFA, representing an increase of approximately 86%. Her team has also grown significantly, from two employees before the programme to 15 today, following recent recruitment. The company has also secured new commercial opportunities. Françoise has obtained three contracts worth a combined 4 million FCFA: one worth 2 million FCFA with a local bank and two contracts worth 1 million FCFA each with local retailers.
Parfums Sangô at a Glance
- 2 → 15 employees
- 350,000 → 650,000 FCFA average monthly business income
- 4 million FCFA in new contracts
- USD 5,000 in seed capital through WE4A
Creating Opportunities Beyond Her Business
Françoise’s ambitions extend beyond the growth of Parfums Sangô. By building a locally produced fragrance brand, she is contributing to a growing space for African-made consumer products and creating employment opportunities in Cameroon. She also hopes her journey will encourage other women entrepreneurs to recognise opportunities in sectors where locally produced brands can compete with established international products.
Looking ahead, Françoise wants Parfums Sangô to be present in homes across Cameroon, expand its reach across Africa and eventually gain recognition in international markets.She plans to strengthen local production, create more jobs and continue demonstrating the potential of African entrepreneurship.
From Local Roots to Global Ambition
From an improvised distillation system to a growing company with 15 employees, Françoise’s journey reflects what can happen when entrepreneurial ambition is matched with access to skills, investment and opportunity. Her story is also about creating value close to home — using local resources, reducing waste, building a local brand and creating jobs.
For Françoise, the vision is simple: build a successful Cameroonian brand that can stand confidently on the African and global stage.
“When we believe in the value of what we create locally, we begin to change how the world sees us.”
