Starting and running a small business is hard.
Running one as an autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) woman? That’s a completely different level.
I’m the founder of Ozark Perfume, and behind every scent is a story most people don’t see.
For a long time, I didn’t understand why everything felt harder for me. Social situations were exhausting and awkward. I never know what to say and when to say it. Always interrupting or oversharing, it sucks lol. Noise, crowds, and constant interruptions quickly became overwhelming. Even simple daily tasks could feel like too much. It seemed everyone else had the handbook to life and its so effortless, while I can barely get through "simple" situations.
Now I know why.
I’m autistic and I have ADHD ( audhd ).
And it affects everything—from how I think to how I run my business. Living with AuDHD means constantly feeling pulled into two different directions. Autism craves comfort, routine, sensory-friendly spaces that feel calm and safe, and predictability. ADHD wants the exact opposite. It wants spontaneity, chaos, and change.
The Reality of Being an Autistic Business Owner
One part of me wants everything planned, steady, and quiet.
The other part gets restless, bored, and wants to switch everything up immediately.
It’s exhausting.
Being an autistic entrepreneur comes with challenges people don’t always talk about.There are days I crave structure—clear plans, organized tasks, a calm workflow.
And then there are days where my brain rejects all of it and wants to create something new, completely different, right now.
How This Shows Up in My Business
This is part of why my creative process looks the way it does.
Some days I’m deeply focused—perfecting a fragrance, adjusting notes of vanilla, marshmallow, or soft musk until it feels just right.
Other days, I’m full of ideas—new scents, new concepts, new directions—and I want to chase all of them at once.
It can look inconsistent from the outside.
But from the inside, it’s just me learning how to balance both sides of my brain.
Finding Balance in the Middle
I’m still learning how to work with both—not against them.
Creating structure where I can.
Allowing flexibility where I need it.
Letting comfort and creativity exist at the same time.
Because the truth is—both parts of me are what make this business what it is.
The part that craves comfort is why I create soft, nostalgic, unique scents.
The part that craves spontaneity is what keeps things fresh, evolving, and alive.
Focus can disappear without warning.
Overstimulation can shut me down completely.
One small problem can feel like everything is falling apart.
Running a perfume business means juggling product creation, customer service, website updates, marketing, and social media—all at once.
For someone with AuDHD, that can feel overwhelming fast.
And then there are days where my brain simply won’t cooperate.
The Fear Behind the Business
There’s also a constant layer of fear that comes with being a small business owner.
Will this work long-term? Can I keep up with everything? Do I look or sound unprofessional?
When you’re neurodivergent, those thoughts don’t just pass through. They stick. They loop. They get loud.
A slow sales week doesn’t just feel like a slow week—it can feel like the beginning of the end. It feels like failure and what am I doing wrong? Are my customers not happy with their products? These thoughts are never ending, always pushing me to do more. I feel like I'm rooted in fear. It's honestly, extremely hard most days.
Why I Started Ozark Perfume
Even with all of that, I keep going.
Because scent has always been a source of comfort for me.
Soft vanilla, creamy marshmallow, warm sugar—these aren’t just “gourmand fragrances.”
They’re grounding. They’re calming. They feel safe.
That’s what I wanted to create with Ozark Perfume:
comfort in a bottle.
Fragrances that feel nostalgic, soft, and familiar.
Scents that make you pause for a second and just breathe. I want to make you pause and just relive a memory, grasp a long forgotten feeling, or just FEEL something nice when you smell my perfume.
AuDHD and Feeling Everything Deeply
One of the biggest parts of being autistic is feeling everything deeply. So much so, I'm always tearing up or just straight up crying. My daughter is like " mom, are you crying again?!"
The excitement of a new product launch.
The absolute JOY of a kind customer message or post.
The pride of building something from nothing despite it being incredibly difficult.
But also the lows.
The overwhelm.
The bad review.
The doubt.
The moments where everything feels like too much and I want to give up.
There isn’t always a middle ground—it’s intense on both sides.
Building a Small Business While Neurodivergent
Building a small business as an autistic woman means learning to work with my brain, not against it.
It means giving myself grace on hard days.
It means adjusting expectations when I’m overwhelmed.
It means celebrating small wins that might not look like much to others.
And it means continuing, even when it feels impossible. Sometimes, I have to step back and walk away from everything for a few days.
More Than Just Perfume
Ozark Perfume isn’t just a fragrance brand.
It’s a reflection of my journey—
the struggles, the growth, the fear, and the determination to keep going anyway.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, different, or like the world expects you to function in a way that doesn’t come naturally to you—you’re not alone.
Thank You for Supporting a Small Business
If you’ve purchased from Ozark Perfume, shared my products, or even just taken the time to read this—
thank you.
Supporting a small business means more than most people realize.
You’re not just buying perfume. You’re supporting a real person, a real family, and a dream that’s being built one step at a time.