Rising Stars: Meet Rhyan Mccoy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhyan Mccoy. 

Hi Rhyan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My number one goal in life is to be happy. I’d like to think of myself as an artist and more than that, a creative at large. I’ve always wanted to create a brand that I makes sense. I started working on ‘Scents of Serotonin’ in January of 2021. It took me almost exactly one year to launch the business, but all the aspects put into the business started well before then. I’ve always wanted to create something that resonated with me personally and could expand to something that became important to other people as well. I’ve always been someone that embraced energy, positivity and I loved science! My first interest in science started when I took AP chemistry my junior year of high school and that opened my mind to caring about how humans work mechanically. Switching gears to my first major in college; Neuroscience. I decided on that major because I love the way the brain works and how the tiny neurons inside can affect our mood and behaviors. I changed my major to psychology in my 2nd semester of my second year and started to focus more on the behavioral aspect and how the past can influence the future. In December of 2021, I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Women’s gender and sexuality studies. Professionally, I will be a licensed therapist specializing in expressive arts therapy and sex therapy. I have a collection of art on my right side that I like to call my “science arm”. This includes a tattoo of the equilibrium sign on my middle finger, a tattoo that says positive vibes on the inside of my wrist, a replica of a neuroscience front cover of a magazine of a brain that is half colored in/half black and white, and finally the inspiration for my brand, a serotonin molecule. As I mentioned before, I am very big on energy and trying to manifest, be aware of and control the energy around me as much as possible. My number one goal in life is to be happy. So, when deciding what direction, I was going to take my brand, and what I was going to create, and how I would tie that into my passions, it became very clear. Scents of Serotonin is a luxury aromatherapy company-curated in the Queen City of Cincinnati, Ohio. I want to tie together my love for luxurious scents, passion for therapy, and keen interest in chemistry. Thus, Scents of Serotonin was born. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter whose biological function is complex and multifaceted. This includes regulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes. At Scents of Serotonin, we focus on creating scents that increase the production of Serotonin in the body to increase happiness and improve mood. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Wow. Getting here was the hardest part and continuing has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I have attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and focusing on things I hyper-fixate on for the moment hasn’t always been my strong suit. I knew the passion and motivation that kept me building my business would pay off. But, to see myself stick with this and love it as much as I do, I am just proud of myself. I truly believe in this brand and what I am trying to do at Scents of Serotonin. I overcame a lot of personal battles to create it, but now they’re in my rearview and I am on the road to discovering my purpose. No struggle, barrier, or battle that gets in my way can stop me. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Newton said, “I can calculate the motions of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.” Psychology is not rocket science. It’s harder. I am a creative visionary and, by definition, that means I have an ability to think about and plan the future with imagination and wisdom. A creative, like myself, is an artist, an individual, and a leader. Professionally, I will be a licensed therapist specializing in expressive arts therapy and sex therapy. In my collegiate career, I have accomplished becoming Vice President of an organization called Health for the Homeless. This organization provides toiletries and health care supplies to the homeless community and allied organizations through fundraising and donations. I was a Registered Behavior Technician (ABA) that helped facilitate behavior treatments to autistic children for enhanced school integration. I have been a Morehouse Lab Research Assistant working in a lab setting to study and track behaviors. I became an Art Therapy Intern, working at St. Judes orphanage alongside an Art Therapist. I secured the title of Miss Black and Miss Congeniality from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Alpha Chapter. In the words of Kanye West: “I am a creative genius and there’s no other way to word it”. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
My industry is on the rise! More and more people every day are taking their self-care seriously. These same people are understanding that mental health accounts for more than they realized. With the pandemic and its challenges, we even see virtual therapy platforms arising with healthcare and insurance providers. My goal is to help people understand who they are and what they want so that they can be happy and make informed decisions based on their goals. Digging into yourself mentally is the best way to do that. With the help of a professional, it could even be life-changing! 

Contact Info:

• Email: scentsofserotonin@gmail.com
• Website: scentsofserotonin.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/scentsofserotonin?utm_medium=copy_link

Image Credits
Ethan Benavidez