Andrea Brillantes. Image: Instagram/@blythe
Andrea Brillantes was “scarred and frustrated” after a brand backed out in offering her an endorsement when they learned that the actress has no sense of smell.
The actress, who has been diagnosed with congenital anosmia, recalled this while speaking about how she started her perfume business in a video on her TikTok page on Friday, Aug. 23.
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, congenital anosmia is a “condition in which people are born with a lifelong inability to smell.”
“I discovered [my condition] through perfume. I have never smelled anything in my life at all and all my life I thought it was normal, until I saw my older sister’s perfume collection,” she recalled.
“One time, I sneaked into her room tapos lahat ng bote ni-spray ko sa akin, hanggang sa namula na talaga—my skin physically turned red and it felt like it was burning,” she continued. “Parang nasusunog na ‘yung skin ko pero wala pa rin akong maamoy.”
@blytheYes! I don’t have a sense of smell, but I released a perfume line! Here’s the first part of my storytime series on how my team and I developed LUCKY POTIONS ✨💖 😉✨lucky potions now available on all major ecom stores!♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER sped up – Lilly 🎀
Because of her condition, Brillantes said she became very conscious of how she smells and this was one of the main reasons why she started her perfume brand.
The actress admitted that she initially had doubts on the business idea as she had already experienced rejection due to her condition.
“I was scarred from a previous experience before. Long story short, I was offered a brand endorsement but they backed out when they found out about my disability,” she stated. “Syempre umiyak ako. I was super frustrated kasi parang what can I do about it? I was born like this. It’s not really my fault.”
“But, two years after, ito na tayo—nagbebenta na ako ng perfume,” she exclaimed.
Aside from her perfume line, Brillantes’ brand also has a makeup line.