On The Scent

Epizodai

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  Series 8, Episode 16: Sumptuous, Textural, Stroke-able Scents 01.10.2026 41min

  What does a fragrance feel like? This week, Suzy Nightingale and Nicola Bonn arefollowing their noses into the wonderfully tactile world of perfumery, where a scentcan suggest velvet brushing the skin, the smooth swish of nylon, or the crumblywarmth of freshly sliced cake. There’s oudh as soft as autumnal sun-warmed suede,a mineral hush reminiscent of earth after rain, and an aromatic breeze that arriveswind-whipped and bracing before settling into comfort.These perfumes invite you to think beyond notes alone. Some wrap around you;others seem to lift you into cool, open air or draw you into the glow of a city afterdark. Join Suzy and Nicola for an episode devoted to sumptuous scents you canalmost reach out and touch...The fragrances discussed in this episode are:Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Velvet Mood ExtraitVelvet warmed by desert sun is the irresistible idea here. Peach skin, delicate suedeand deep oud wood unfold in a slow, enveloping caress – soft, sensuous and richlytextured, with a sillage that seems to ripple across dunes beneath a starry sky.D.S. & Durga Ain’t That Sweet?The blissful comfort of a freshly sliced cake, with no apology for its sweetness.Cinnamon lends a spicy dusting, fresh floral lily keeps things lifted, and creamyvanilla melts into the skin, leaving a decadent trail that lingers like the last deliciouscrumb.Pigmentarium AereoAiry yet grounding, Aereo feels like finding a quiet moment after rain. Soft, mineralcashmeran suggests warm soil, pink pepper brings a flicker of clarity, and soothingmyrrh anchors it all in a clean, contemplative stillness.Aesop Unforeseen AerWind-whipped and refreshing at first, this aromatic fougère brings rugged, mineralheights to mind. Geranium, lavandin and rosemary create its cool rush of air, whilenutmeg lends a textured warmth as the scent settles into comfort.Prada Olfactories Nylon NoirPrada’s iconic nylon becomes something you can almost feel against your skin.Luminous jasmine gives way to a clean, enveloping nylon accord, before muskemerges in the dry-down, leaving a sleek, softly polished trail.Prada Olfactories Troubled MidnightA city after dark, where hot pavement meets cold air and light flares againstshadow. Smoky incense and patchouli bring depth to this warm amber-musk, whilea date accord adds a softly fruity glow – satin darkness in perfume form.
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  Season 8, Episode 15: Pitti Roundup Part Two – The Fragrances That Stopped Suzy in Her Tracks 25.09.2026 45min

  Suzy & Nicola are back for part two of their Pitti Fragranze roundup, continuing their deep-dive into the perfume launches, houses and ideas that made this year’s Florence fair feel so full of possibility.Having attended Pitti Fragranze for thirteen years, Suzy felt this was one of the most exciting editions yet. Alongside the return of classical perfume structures reinterpreted for contemporary tastes, she noticed a growing confidence in brands drawing upon personal heritage, local materials, food culture, landscape, ritual and memory. In this episode, the pair explore some of the fragrances that most vividly expressed those stories.From a Chinese-French house capturing the transient scent of sun-dried osmanthus, to Korean brands evoking fire-charred ingredients, graceful calligraphy and fine-dining balances of flavour, this episode travels widely through fragrance’s newest creative terrain. There is also a decadent, night-time gourmand journey through Bandra in Mumbai; a woody incense scent from Reserve en Afrique; and two beautifully emotional creations from Italian poet-perfumer Meo Fusciuni.Listen for a perfume that smells of roasted chestnuts, fermented tea and Korean seaweed crisp; a vivid, herbal peach; a “new century” Parma violet growing in a cold spring garden; and a cocoa-rich love story that charts the bitterness and sweetness of heartbreak…https://fragranze.pittimmagine.com/en/events-calendarReserve en Afrique – WoodooReserve en Afrique’s Woodoo is a woody, resinous composition built around the warm, meditative pull of incense, balsams and dry woods.It opens with ginger and olibanum, giving the fragrance both brightness and a slightly peppery, ceremonial character. Labdanum, iris and white flowers arrive at the heart, adding a soft, ambery texture: floral, but shadowed by resin and a certain velvety darkness. The base of musk, benzoin, cedar, tonka bean and cypriol brings a long-lasting warmth, with dry woods, sweet balsams and a gently smoky earthiness.The name suggests ritual, mystery and a connection to wood, smoke and spirituality, and the composition seems to play with all those ideas. This is not necessarily a loud fragrance, but one that gradually develops its presence on skin: incense-lit, softly floral, smooth with tonka, and grounded by a woody, mineral base.Reserve en Afrique draws inspiration from African landscapes, stories and olfactory traditions, translating them into contemporary fine fragrance. Woodoo feels like a particularly atmospheric example of that approach: a scent that uses familiar perfume materials, but lets them tell a more transportive story.Cent.PM – eau de penséeEau de pensée, the debut fragrance from Chinese-French house Cent.PM, begins with an intensely personal memory: founder Haoyuan recalling the childhood ritual of sun-drying osmanthus blossoms in a field.Rather than trying to make a literal flower portrait, Cent.PM treats the memory as something unstable and shifting. The perfume is intended to capture that instant when an old recollection suddenly brightens into focus, only to blur again as past and present overlap. The opening is vibrant and light-filled, with notes including neroli, pink pepper and mandarin lending a sparkling, green-citrus lift. From there, the fragrance becomes more veiled and contemplative, eventually settling into a warm, close-to-the-skin afterglow.Osmanthus can be a fascinating material in perfume: floral, but also capable of suggesting apricot, tea, suede and a certain honeyed, almost leathery softness. Here, its role appears to be as much emotional as olfactory, carrying the atmosphere of childhood, sunshine, landscape and passing time.Cent.PM approaches fragrance as a meeting point between cultures, materials and memory. Its name and first release suggest an interest in the fleeting, in-between time of late afternoon: a moment for reflection, imagination and sensory recollection.Sisology – Être toiKorean house Sisology’s Être toi is a tender, uplifting fragrance built around the idea that being fully oneself is its own kind of beauty.The scent opens with freesia and peach, combining clean floral freshness with soft, gently juicy fruit. Rose sits at the heart, bringing a familiar, romantic bloom, but the fragrance’s real appeal lies in the ease of its overall structure. Patchouli, woods and amber provide a warm, lightly earthy base that gives the composition depth without overwhelming its airiness.Sisology describes Être toi as a perfume for the easy laugh, the hopeful heart and the comfort of sincerity. It is imagined as sunlight through lace curtains: bright but soft, clean but intimate. That makes it sound less like a dramatic statement fragrance and more like a gentle confidence-builder, the kind of scent that feels naturally part of the wearer rather than something imposed upon them.The brand is based in Seoul and works across fragrance and sensorial beauty. Its style is rooted in the expressive, emotional side of scent, but presented in a modern, approachable way. Être toi is a quietly optimistic introduction to that world.Insenf – Charred WoodFounded in Seoul in 2025, Insenf is a niche perfume house that combines traditional Korean craftsmanship with modern scent science. Its work takes everyday cultural references such as fashion, food and lifestyle, then interprets them through fragrance in unusual and highly textural ways.Charred Wood is part of the Table Collection, inspired by ingredients transformed through fire, smoke and time. In perfume terms, that means the scent has the drama of a meal cooked over open heat: black pepper freshly crushed on the table; chestnuts slowly roasting; smoke rising from salted seaweed; the mineral warmth of charcoal lingering after the flames are gone.The opening combines black pepper, roasted chestnut and smoked sea salt. It is dry, spicy and savoury, with the chestnut adding a nutty, almost comforting contrast to the salt and smoke. The heart moves in an even more unexpected direction: fermented tea, Korean seaweed crisp, incense resin, myrrh and clove leaf. These notes suggest a rich umami character, but the resins and clove also ensure it remains recognisably perfumery rather than becoming simply gastronomic.Charcoal, hinoki, amberwood, patchouli and vetiver provide the base. Hinoki is especially evocative here, its dry, aromatic woodiness echoing Japanese and Korean bathing and temple woods, while vetiver and patchouli add rootiness and shadow. Charred Wood sounds like a fragrance for anyone who enjoys scent at its most savoury, smoky and unconventional.Kuoca – Wild PeachKuoca approaches fragrance through the lens of fine dining, treating its compositions as carefully balanced experiences in which freshness, sweetness, texture and contrast all matter. The Korean beauty brand is best known for making sensorial products that feel deliciously tactile, and Wild Peach takes that same appetite for pleasure into fragrance.Wild Peach centres on the sunny, juicy character of ripe fruit, but it is not designed as a dense peach syrup. Verbena and mint bring a sparkling, aromatic greenness that makes the peach feel freshly picked and still cool from the morning air. Peach blossom adds a lighter floral aspect, while ho wood lends a smooth, softly woody finish.The brand describes Wild Peach through the image of freshly squeezed peaches from Provence, with aromatic herbs giving a more sophisticated edge to the fruit. This sounds like a peach scent for those who usually find fruit fragrances too candied or obvious: bright, translucent and almost thirst-quenching rather than sticky.It is also a useful example of one of the wider trends Suzy noticed at Pitti: perfume houses taking familiar notes and shifting expectations around them. Peach here becomes less about confectionery and more about the contrast between ripe flesh, green leaves, fresh herbs and pale wood.Salon de Nevaeh – ChoseoKorean house Salon de Nevaeh was impossible to overlook at Pitti, not least because of its exquisite bottle design. The flacons are ceramic and inset with mother-of-pearl, giving them the presence of miniature objects of craft rather than simply containers for perfume.Inside, the fragrances draw upon Korean aesthetic and cultural references. Choseo is inspired by “Grass Script”, a flowing form of cursive calligraphy in which brushstrokes can appear dynamic, spontaneous and unruly, while still carrying great poise and control.That movement is reflected in the perfume’s green composition. Dried herbs, green leaves, lime and mandarin give the opening an angular, bright and almost brush-like energy. Spearmint, geranium and muguet create a cooler, softer heart, while pine needle, galbanum, rosewood and musk provide a base that is leafy, resinous and quietly woody.The brand describes the fragrance as sharp and unruly green up close, but gentler and pale green from a distance. That is a beautiful way of describing the evolution of a green scent: the vivid snap of crushed stems and herbs gradually becoming more hazy, calm and atmospheric on skin. Salon de Nevaeh is described as Korea’s first niche perfume house and translates traditional Korean culture into contemporary fragrance.Sasva – Forbidden Words Bombay...
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  Season 8, Episode 14: Pitti Fragranze Roundup - New launches, brands & reasons to be excited… 17.09.2026 51min

  If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a fragrance trade fair, get ready for all the news as Suzy reviews this year’s Pitti Fragranze in Florence. There are some some thrilling new launches and brands to get excited by, and she reveals some of the trends we can expect to see filtering their way through to the wider fragrance world over the coming months.In fact, firstly a storm stopped play as we arrived in Florence, with Suzy’s plane stranded on the runway for three hours as lightning struck. Luckily the rest of the trip was exciting for all the right reasons!Suzy has been attending the Pitti Fragranze trade fair for thirteen years, and genuinely felt this was one of the best ever years. The overall vibe seemed to be a return to beauty - classical perfumery elements woven in new and intriguing ways, and with greater cultural diversity from brands showcasing their heritage and aromas they grew up with. We’ll be focussing more in this aspect - as well as talking about the trends Suzy saw emerging this year - in next week’s episode. But until then, enjoy this whistle-stop rundown of some of Suzy’s highlights of the show this year…Suzy’s top picks of the show (well SOME of them - there were a lot! We’ll have to cover some more in future episodes and on our Patreon page).Beaufort London Sunken TobaccoImagine an ancient, lead-lined wooden box of tobacco—lost in a shipwreck and submerged beneath the sea. Centuries later, the wreck re-emerges and its precious cargo is rediscovered. Barnacled and salt-encrusted, the lid is levered off - within, tobacco lies preserved in shadow and silt.Exposed at last to the sun, the furled leaves begin to bloom: warm, dark, faintly honeyed. Salt crystals glitter on wave-lapped rocks as the tobacco is laid out upon sun-bleached driftwood, its leathery richness threaded with mineral air, smoke, tar and sea-spray.A buried treasure, reclaimed from the deep - not pristine, but made stranger and more compelling by its long immersion. Sunken Tobacco is the scent of faded maps and flooded holds - of a sailor’s hoard brought blinking into daylight, still carrying the ocean in its grain.Four new Olfiction Lab Editions (coming soon! Expected launch on their website by end of November)BALSAMNeo-vintage amberAldehydes, Apple, BergamotJasmine, Ylang Ylang, MuguetPeru Balsam, Labdanum, Vanilla absolute, Fir Balsam, Benzoin, White Musks, OakmossSUAVENeo-vintage fougereNutmeg, Shaving soap, Cedar Leaf, Coffee CO2Lavender absolute, Lavender oil, Coffee absolute,Geranium, SageMusk Accord, Suede, Animal notes, Incense resin, Rectified Cedarwood, OakmossCASSISSIMOFruity floralBlackcurrant Bud CO2, Blackcurrant Bud absolute, Blackberry, Red MandarinChampagne accord, Tuberose absolute, Rose absolute Bulgaria, Geranium RosatMusk, Cognac oil, Vanilla syrup, Benzoin, Patchouli, Sandalwood AustraliaLASKIAISPULLAGourmandNordic Shrove BunsWhipped Cream, Marzipan, Raspberry Jam, RaspberryLeaf, OrrisVanilla sugar, Vanilla absolute, Tonka absolute, Tonka infusion, Benzoin, OpoponaxOLYMRAFounder: Born and raised in Greece, Dr. Frida Michailidou is an award-winning scientist whose work is deeply rooted in Greek botanical heritage, nature, and innovation. Previously a Lecturer and Collegium Fellow at ETH Zurich, she led the first scientific expedition to decode the rare scents of Mount Olympus using pioneering non-destructive technology. Recognised as an MIT Innovator Under 35 Europe and TEDx speaker, she is redefining perfumery through the convergence of science, sustainability, and the timeless spirit of Greece.‘Born from the rare botanicals of Mount Olympus, OLYMRA transforms myth, memory, and wild nature into modern extrait de parfum.Grounded in earth, inspired by the divine.’Persephone‘Deep. Intimate. Transformative.OLYMRA PERSEPHONE is a fragrance of dual worlds: one of light, one of shadow. Inspired by the mythic queen who walks between both, it captures a moment of transformation: the instant spring yields to desire, and dusk begins to bloom.The fragrance opens with bergamot, pink pepper, and cardamom; bright, spiced notes that shimmer like sunlight across stone. At its heart, a lush pairing of Damask rose, Centifolia rose, and the OLYMRA plant accord, a precise reconstruction of rare mountain flora, unfurls with velvet intensity. Beneath, a deep base of cacao, tonka bean, beeswax, grey amber, and hyrax evokes warmth, earth, and skin; the lingering traces of a myth reborn.OLYMRA PERSEPHONE is not a fragrance of opposition, but of passage and evolution; from innocence to knowing, from surface to depth, from petal to flame. Crafted for those who carry both sunlight and shadow.She walks between worlds. Will you follow her into the dusk?’Kharon‘Dark. Sensual. Elemental.OLYMRA KHARON is a fragrance shaped by myth and memory. Inspired by Kharon, the ferryman of Hades, silent, unwavering, eternal, it is an olfactory passage through the darker recesses of the soul.The scent opens with sharp lemon, luminous neroli, and the spark of black pepper, evoking the moment just before surrender. At its heart, the complexity deepens: Damask rose and tobacco entwine with the OLYMRA Accord, a precise reconstruction of wild flora from Mount Olympus. In the base, smoked wood, beeswax, vetiver, sandalwood, and a bold note of hyrax create a dry, tactile finish; intimate yet vast, like breath inside stone.OLYMRA KHARON is not designed to please. It is designed to confront. To carry. To remain. A fragrance for those drawn not to light, but to truth; wherever it may lead.The river lays ahead... Are you ready to cross?’Laboratorio Olfattivo Bagage à main(translates as hand luggage in British English)‘Leather and Nutmeg; middle notes are Vetiver and Peru Balsam; base notes are Patchouli, Amber, Tonka Bean and Ambronova ™’Laboratorio Olfattivo Rose Me Twice(By Jean-Claude Ellena)‘With over 40,000 varieties, the rose is the flower whose fragrance has been most extensively explored by perfumers — an entire universe in which one can easily lose oneself among its infinite nuances. This exploration took a decisive turn in 1867, when the breeder Jean-Baptiste Guillot created ‘La France’, the first hybrid tea rose.With this innovation, Guillot introduced not merely a new flower, but an olfactory signature that would shape perfumery forever. Today, whenever I perceive a tea note within a rose, I immediately recognize its lineage from that historic hybridization. The secret of this aroma lies in a specific molecule: ionone — used to recreate the scent of violet, but also a key component in the olfactory impression of tea.’Heeley ChirisHistoric French house revered and revived by James Heeley in this INCREDIBLE leather / iris / Chypre fragrance.‘The fragrance house of Antoine Chiris dates back to 1768 and is considered to be the first and perhaps the greatest of the enterprises that made a business of harvesting natural materials and turning them into the raw materials of perfumery and, at times, creating the perfumes themselves.Antoine de Chiris was born into a wealthy family of Italian origin. In Grasse he began buying up fields which produced flowers which were converted into perfumery materials. Chiris held early patents on a steam distillation process capable of producing significant amounts of high quality oil at an economic cost. This technology helped made Grasse the international focus of perfumery for over a century and a half.’History from https://www.perfumeprojects.com/museum/marketers/Chiris.shtmlThe fragrance: ‘Chiris by James Heeley is an iris and leather fragrance created by James Heeley and launched in 2026. It pays tribute to Chiris, the historic perfume-materials producer founded in Grasse in 1768, and to the Iris Pallida it cultivated in Tuscany. Osmanthus, citrus and peach open the composition, followed by Iris Pallida and olibanum over a base of leather, cedar, sandalwood and amber.’Lorenzo Villoresi Vol D’AbarisThe nose behind this fragrance is Alessandro Villoresi. The fragrance features Tobacco, Amber, Vanilla, Musk and Woody Notes.
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  Season 8, Episode 13: Getting Our Cosy On 10.09.2026 50min

  Are you feeling the need for snuggly scents yet? Suzy and Nicola are leaning into the cosiness in this week’s episode and have been gathering together some of new launches and favourite fragrances they’ve been wearing as autumn approaches. The discussion ranges from ultra-sophisticated gourmands encompassing chocolate and lattes, to a bohemian rose, a truly fantastic new woody scent, and an American niche tobacco fragrance Suzy fell for years ago and a listener kindly sourced a sample of for her. Plus, the #listenerprescription this week is for a ‘friendship fragrance’ to link and be shared by a listener and her best friend who is moving far away...Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat By Daniela Andrier‘TOM FORD has long been drawn to the sensual, masculine heat of tobacco – and now, the perfumer adds another iteration to its repertoire. Tobacco Chocolat is an eau de parfum founded upon the brand’s exclusive cocoa smoke accord, a note that fuses the rich, intoxicating quality of cocoa with the grounding earthiness of tobacco. Alongside this powerful core are a host of complimentary notes, from bright orange essence to balsam and patchouli, coming together to make a fragrance set to capture attention.Top Notes: cocoa smoke co-distillation, Orange EssenceMiddle Notes: peru balsam, chocolat noir grand cru delightBase Notes: patchouli cœur Indonesia, Ambrofix.’NEST New York Cardamom Latte ‘Like cashmere on bare skin, this spicy gourmand eau de parfum is endlessly wearable. The gentle heat of cardamom drifts through jasmine-laced air steeped in the creamy comfort of coconut milk.Cardamom Latte unfolds like the perfect pour—layered and immersive. Heat blooms into softness. Spice melts into cream. Steam diffuses into air. Transforming your atmosphere with warmth you can feel. An enveloping fragrance that surrounds before it settles. Because comfort isn’t static. It’s fluid.’Acqua di Parma Signatures of the Sun Cedar Virtuoso (& body cream)‘Cedro Virtuoso celebrates the sensorial warmth of creation—the moment when an idea begins to take shape and inner confidence turns sensibility into emotion. Like the different stages of a creative process, the fragrance unfolds like a warm embrace, encouraging creativity to rise from within. Between vivid, vibrant notes and deeper, cocooning tones that accompany the journey from intuition to realization is the fragrance’s distinctive singularity: a co-infusion of Virginia cedarwood and hazelnut, whose encounter shapes a creamy woody signature.’Miller Harris Scherzo Extrait ‘Developed at 30% concentration, Scherzo Extrait captures the vibrant spirit of the original Eau de Parfum while unveiling a deeper, more intoxicating signature. Bright, luminous sweetness meets newfound richness and warmth, allowing the fragrance to bloom with a more immersive intensity for lasting presence. The fragrance opens with the familiar rush of tangerine and davana, radiating vibrant fruity luminosity. At its heart, delicate peony blooms abundantly alongside crisp pittosporum, while a new dimension begins to emerge: a more sumptuous and velvety rose, enrobed in golden honey and entwined with creamy vanilla for a richer sensuality, its floral radiance enhanced by threads of incense to bring light and vibration. Together, they introduce a magnetic tension, guiding the fragrance towards more mysterious territory. At the base, shimmering oudh unfolds with greater texture, amplified by intensified patchouli and moss. The introduction of smooth amber woods brings warmth and refinement, creating a striking counterpoint to the fragrance's signature sweetness. As these richer notes emerge, they reveal new facets of its character. The result is a fragrance which is radiant yet mysterious, vibrant yet profound, with a more enduring and enveloping trail.’HEAD NOTES:Tangerine*, Davana* (herb with a fruity, sweet, tea like smell, member of the Artemisia family.)HEART NOTES:Rose Nectar Accord, Peony, Olibanum* (Frankincense), Pittosporum.LASTING IMPRESSIONS:Patchouli*, Vanilla, Oudh, Moss, Amber Woods, Sweet Note.Sonoma Scents Tabac Aurea ‘Tabac Aurea has an enticing golden amber drydown and a pipe tobacco note that is enjoyed by women as well as men. It’s smooth and softly gourmand, with notes of amber, woods, spices, tobacco, leather, tonka, labdanum, patchouli, and vanilla. The amber accord combines dry earthy notes with sweet elements and subtle fruity touches to create an addictive, beautiful, golden aura. One of our top three best-selling scents.’Ormonde Jayne SybariteNicola has been finding great comfort and energy in this, lately. It’s the only store-exclusive founder and creative director Linda Pilkington has allowed for her own Royal Arcade boutique, this was so worth the wait. A perfect melange of creamy hazelnut and orris butter, it’s the Timur pepper and the effervescently spiced sparkle it adds to the composition that ties it all together. Utterly unique, and beautifully balanced, it’s the finer things in life lovingly bottled. Those craving outside London: call or email them for information.Perfume Prescription:Luci Tither:‘Hi lovely ladies, you very kindly gave me a perfume prescription for a magical trip to Porto last year (excellent recommendation of Claus Porto). And I wondered if you'd indulge a second prescription if I may. I loved the notion of a friendship fragrance mentioned in a recent episode. It really struck a chord with me as my best friend is very sadly moving to Canada from the UK early next year and although I'm very happy for her, I'm going to miss her immensely. I wondered if it would be at all possible to help us find a fragrance that we could both wear whenever we meet, and will remind us of each other when we're apart.She loves a gourmand like Bianco Latte, Seven Virtues Vanilla Amber or skin scents like Not A Perfume and Phlur Not Your Baby. For me, I love clean, powdery skin scents (like Molecule Iris, Prada Infusion), and warm sandalwood/ambery scents (think Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple, BDK Vanilla Leather). We also both love a rogue option like Dries Van Noten Fleur de Mal, BDK Rouge Smoking Jacket and Amouage Guidance. Apologies for the long message - I hope you can suggest something that we'd both love and can make being thousands of miles apart that bit easier. Thank you in advance - your podcast is very much my happy place on my commute to work. Xx’Suzy thinks it’s definitely worth trying a sample of Estée Lauder Glimmer (and the Acqua di Parma Cedro Virtuoso), and also suggests:Molton Brown Milk Musk Eau de ToiletteMilk gently laps at luscious notes of pear, delicate florals and sheer white musk, while Ambroxan and cashmere add that skin-on-skin warmth. Scented contentment awaits, tender as a fluttery kiss, softly embracing rather than swaddling.Fischersund Faux Flora No. 1Encompassing the life cycles of plants and humans alike, this scent ‘springs from universal experiences.’ A sparkle of bergamot’s brightness is swathed by ‘mountain milk’, cool, pristine and porcelain-like, warming to salty iris’s mortal muskiness. Eris Parfums Mothers MilkAntoine Lee’s ‘primordial gourmand’ blends buttery orris and vanilla with hyper-realistic warm milk, subverting the soft-focus skin-swaddled kiss of comfort, as ‘good’ mother (rosily nurturing) becomes ‘bad’ (suede-like, sultry). Think fairytale mother turned Joan Crawford.Maison Louis Marie Bois de Balincourt (You can get a mini travel set with the oil and EDP, so could purchase one to share, perhaps?)‘Bois de Balincourt is inspired by our family home, nestled deep within an ancient forest. Along a trail we fondly called Lover’s Lane, generations wandered under towering trees, surrounded by stillness and memory. This signature scent layers creamy sandalwood and cedar with warming cinnamon and nutmeg, anchored by earthy vetiver — a romantic, comforting fragrance with effortless depth.’Olfactive O SkinNicola had the brilliant idea of using this scent as your shared ‘base’ layer, which you can wear alone or layer with any other perfume you have. That way, she thought you’d always be grounded in the same scent. Suzy then had the idea if you both ordered bottles, you could use then personalise them – each full-size bottle of Skin extrait comes with a fingerprint ink pad and blank label for this purpose! Olivia, the founder, describes Skin as: ‘...for everyone, universal yet deeply personal. The delicate balance of notes blends with your skin chemistry to create the absolute essence of you – unmistakable and compelling. It can be applied on its own or worn in combination with any of the other personality scents to magnify and enhance your unique scent. I am the alchemist, the musician, the storyteller. I am confident in my own skin and never need to pretend. I confound expectations and you’ll keep coming back to me, intrigued and charmed. I am sun-warmed skin on the beach, tousled hair, the cool of cotton sheets at the end of the day.’
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  Season 8, Episode 12: New Iris Scents & a Fragrant Renaissance 03.09.2026 50min

  This week Suzy & Nicola are pondering the resurgence of iris - one of the most traditional (and costly) notes in perfumery made modern by exploring it in surprising ways. From one of the all-time classic iris perfumes launching a new version after 114 years, to another historic house who’s just launched a dashingly debonair iris scent; and a brilliantly affordable iris from a high street shop that’s one of our star buys year… There’s a lot to love!After discussing what else we’ve fallen for lately, and Suzy’s perfume picks from an Australian brand’s stunning new East End boutique; we asked Scott (@blublazer guy) to answer a listener’s question about fragrances to wear while visiting Edinburgh.On the show:Guerlain L’Heure Bleu (new)Perfumer Delphine Jelk says she didn’t try ‘to modernise the original L’Heure Bleue from 1912, nor to revisit it, but to pay tribute to a masterpiece and to translate that emotion into the present through a new palette of ingredients.’ A ‘homemade iris tincture created exclusively for this perfume’ is woven into a fresher-feeling ‘ozonic blue sky accord to shiver’, together with ‘the softness of orange blossom’, on a base of vanilla, woods and musk, creating what Jelk calls ‘airy, powdery sensuality’.Creed Iris Debonair‘Unlock Iris Debonair, an addictive fougère floral capturing the allure of an aesthete's domain, where every room reveals an intentional art of living. Opening with a luminous stroke of bergamot co-infused with absinthe leaves, at the heart, crisp English lavender unfolds with cool, aromatic clarity. French iris pallida, suffused in pale blue, is magnetic and among perfumery's most precious materials.Head NotesBergamot & Absinthe, Pink Pepper, CardamomHeart NotesEnglish Lavender, Violet Leaf, Fig Pulp AccordBase NotesFrench Iris Pallida, Ambrette, Amberwood’Boots Last Note Echoes of You50ml fragrance priced at £12.99 from the debut "Last Note" collection. It features a sparkling pink pepper top note, a middle core of velvety iris and cashmere musk, and a warm amber base.Top: Pink pepperHeart: Iris, cashmere muskBase: Warm amberMerchant of Venice Renaissance‘By Calice Becker, this floral-leathery fragrance is inspired by Renaissance ideals of balance and harmony, housed in a golden-accented Murano glass bottle.Top Notes: Galbanum, Orange Blossom Absolute, SaffronHeart Notes: Iris, Indonesian Patchouli, Leather, AkigalawoodBase Notes: Ambrofix™, Vanilla, Frankincense (Incense), Musk.’Jo Malone London Rose & Oud Leather Cologne Intense (Harrods)‘The captivating fragrance is a tribute to the prevailing beauty of the flower and is brought to life by additional notes of patchouli and amber.Top Notes: oud, leatherMiddle Notes: damask roseBase Notes: patchouli, amber.’Thomas de Monaco Luisant Haze (Wild Iris)‘Luisant Haze expands the Gold Collection of Thomas De Monaco Parfums with a fragrance that approaches sweetness in a different way.At the heart of the composition is a reimagined tuberose. Not opulent or dense, but softened, diffused, and luminous. Sweetness appears here in a new form: airy rather than heavy, radiant rather than indulgent. Notes of fraise des bois, cotton candy, and tonka are lifted by white musks and amber facets, creating a transparent structure that stays close to the skin.’Givenchy L’Interdit Elixir‘L'Interdit Elixir evokes a precious talisman infused with power, created to unveil the magnetic strength within every woman.The scent opens with the voluptuous intensity of Black Cherry, illuminated by the delicate bitterness of almond essence. It melts into L'Interdit's iconic bouquet of white flowers, where Orange Blossom, Tuberose, and Jasmine reveal an opulent, almost carnal femininity, enriched by the profound woody nuances of pure oakwood extract.Faithful to Givenchy's art of contrast, L'Interdit Elixir balances shadow and light, sensuality and strength. At its most addictive, a warm, liqueur-like accord unfolds through the richness of Rum Absolute, Davana Essence, and Vanilla Extract, leaving behind a deeply enveloping trail. Fused with the skin, the fragrance becomes a captivating aura of confidence — a pure expression of empowered femininity.’Giorgio Armani I WILL‘A sensual strength forged through time, I WILL awakens tenacity with confidence and leaves an intense, unmistakable trail. Created by Nathalie Lorson and Alberto Morillas, it opens with bergamot and cardamom, develops through lavender and violet leaf, and settles into Madagascan vanilla with a woody leather accord.’Flaner fragrances: new Australian niche fragrance boutique in East London. You can listen to a live recording of Suzy and Amanda Carr visiting their stunning shop and hearing all about the collection on an exclusive extra episode. Head to patreon.com here to sign up for an extra episode every week:https://www.patreon.com/u84518038Suzy’s favourites from Flaner were:Sonic Silver‘Inspiration: Tram tracks connecting city streets The sun peaks through the clouds after rain, glistening off the sleek silver tracks. Urban landscapes echo past, providing a window into the irreverent spirit of an eclectic city with backdrop of thunderous rhythm of metal. Imbuing the artistic spirit found in the canvas of urban laneways, this fragrance captures the raw, urban edge of a city's atmosphere to create something truly unique.Notes:Top: Basil, Lavender, BergamotMiddle: Metallic, Petrichor, CardamomBase: Asphalt & Tar, Green Patchouli, Musk & Tonka.’Manhattan Cherry‘Inspiration: Speakeasies of ManhattanA laneway door opens and down a flight of stairs a small room with leather chairs, dark woods and the faint smell of tobacco signals a forbidden and mysterious world. Dimly lit and intimate, the night invites indulgence and seduction. A sensual tryst of cherry and dark bourbon, this fragrance evokes the boldness and intoxicating allure that comes from the Manhattan cocktail, in Manhattan of course.’Enjoy responsibly.Notes:Top: Maraschino cherry, Red vermouth, Orange peelMiddle: Bourbon, Ginger, CinnamonBase: Amber wood, Tobacco, Leather, VanillaListener prescription:Ashley Burk‘Hello! :) I have been listening to your podcast for years and years! I feel like you both have been traveling with me around the world because you have now helped me find fragrances to wear in Greece, Ireland, and Japan! This October I got myself a ticket to go to Edinburgh, Scotland and was wondering if you could recommend me some perfume to wear while I go for a week. I will be doing the Harry Potter steam train day trip one of the days! If you know of any perfume stores I should see in Edinburgh please let me know as well. I am so excited to be there during October. Thank you both! :)’Who better to turn to than our friend Scott @blublazerguy (who happens to live in Edinburgh) and suggested:Kingdom Scotland Portal‘Ancient forest. Still air. The scent of Scotland before the world arrived.A green woody chypre eau de parfum that opens on crushed heather and wild herbs, deepens into cool fern and forest moss, and settles into a long, intimate base of oakmoss, vetiver, and peat-warmed cedar.’Jorum Studio Boswelia Scotia‘Royal Green Hojari Frankincense, Pink Pepper, Saffron, Cistus, Sandalwood Mysore, Cypriol, Patchouli, Black Hemlock, Fir Balsam, Olibanum Absolute. A golden veil of gossamer-light. Royal Green Hojari Frankincense soothed by fir balsam and black hemlock. Boswellia Scotia is incense reimagined; translucent, atmospheric and quietly magnetic.’ANFORH Aire‘Crisp citrus, cool ozonic air, and dry vetiver - Aire is clarity bottled. Fresh, textured, and quietly confident.Fresh, zesty, and mineral. Green mandarin and Calabrian bergamot open with a burst of citrus brightness before giving way to the cool lift of ozonic air and the dry, earthy depth of vetiver. A fragrance that moves with energy and purpose, settling into a steady, confident calm.From the Scots word "aire" (a gravel-shored coastal edge where land meets sea), Aire captures the sensation of standing on a coastal edge, breathing in invigorating, mineral air as light breaks across the water. It’s bright, citrus-driven, and full of energy - the feeling of movement and clarity. Inspired by the Scottish coastline, it balances natural vibrancy with grounded calm.’Suzy suggests visiting Jorum Studio’s shop (incredible Scottish fragrance brand)Jorum
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  Season 8, Episode 11: Fragrant Glimmers & Bottled Scent Memories 27.08.2026 1val 1min

  In this episode we’re partnering with Estée Lauder for the first in a new series: Fragrant Focus. This is where we take our time exploring a single scent - smelling it together and sharing our thoughts. And we have an exciting GIVEAWAY for you to enter! Listen and read on to find out how to enter, hear our reviews of Glimmer, and the beautiful inspiration behind its launch.We have a plethora of exciting new launches to tell you about, from niche names, designer and heritage houses alike. But we begin with an emotional journey to capture the scent of something very special to Suzy…MANE Dad’s RoseSuzy got very emotional about this olfactory delivery, as MANE - a fragrance creation house in the U.K. who’ve made scents for some of the biggest brands out there - managed to capture the scent of a rise her father planted for her when she was a little girl. One of MANE’s standout innovations is their ‘Jungle Essence™’ technology. In some ways similar to ‘headspace’ captures of previously unusable materials in perfumery, these essences are utterly unique and exclusive to MANE. And to see it in action is just MIND BLOWING!Jungle Essence™ is a patented, eco-friendly scent and flavor extraction technology created by the fragrance house MANE. It uses supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) to capture the exact, true-to-life aroma of a raw material—whether it is a spice used in men's cologne, a flower, or wood—without using harsh chemical solvents or high heat. You can hear all about the process in a special Patron only extra episode on patreon.com (search for ‘On the Scent podcast’ to find us)Penhaligon’s The Manoeuvres of The BaronessSuzy and Nicola got very excited about this latest character in the Portraits collection (and it’s an orange blossom - one of the notes they regularly swoon over!) Key notesOrange Blossom, Chantilly, Sandalwood‘Collector of secrets and quiet conspiracies, the Baroness has always ruled from the shadows. Orange blossom sparkles with influence next to Chantilly. A whispered order of sandalwood. She doesn’t outrun danger; she outsmarts it.’Jil Sander collectionBoth Suzy & Nicola were hugely impressed by the latest Jil Sander fragrances, and these were Suzy’s two favourites:Lily‘Caught by surprise by an enchanting perfume on a warm Florentine night.Lilies are white, sensual flowers that primarily release their fragrance after sunset.In Jil Sander Lily the aldehydes bring the flower's metallic, blooming facets to life, while the floral power of the CO₂ extracted Jasmine Sambac, the warmth of Benzoin from Vietnam, and the verticality of the upcycled Cypress structure and balance this luscious, radiant fragrance.This new majestic Floral White Flower fragrance magnifies the ephemeral into a lasting form.’Mahogony:‘The supreme energy of a tropical forest captured into a scent.For the depths of its hues where red turns to black, mahogany is one of the most fascinating trees.Jil Sander Mahogany pays homage to this exceptional expression of nature in a fragrance that fuses upcycled Cedarwood with the profound leathery facets of Cypriol from India, the fizzy, spicy notes of CO₂ extracted Ginger, and the aldehydes.A rich and sophisticated Woody Leathery fragrance that raises mahogany to new heights.’Nicola was so impressed by how realistic the Jil Sander Sesame was (though admits she may not be brave enough to wear it yet), while Suzy thought it was cosy and comforting.French Cowboy Mezcal Chocolate (available at Wild Iris)Suzy continues to be wowed by this exciting new niche house, and cannot wait for cooler weather in which to indulge in this one.‘Mezcal Chocolat is fueled by extraordinary raw materials. It hits like a shot of mezcal: it opens with a sparkling Lime Oil, sharpened by Olibanum from Somalia for smoky depth. To push it further, our perfumer added an ultra-rare Rhum extract (as costly as some of perfumery’s finest Iris!).Instead of just a synthetic cacao accord, Mezcal Chocolat goes all in on Cacao Absolute: the most precious form of cocoa, used here in unprecedented amounts. Its creaminess melts into a bed of woods: Virginia Cedarwood, prized for its soft smoky creaminess, and Cypriol Oil from India, adding shadow, depth, and a dark, earthy glow.’Byredo Future MemoriesAnother fascinating take on vanilla, and our hosts both adored the juicy blackcurrant note balance g the sweetness here. ‘Byredo captures the tension between now and next: an invitation to live fully, to choose deliberately, to imprint the present with intention. Held like a quiet mantra at the back of the mind, one question remains: What do you choose today, to remember tomorrow?A scent crafted like a memory in motion. The fragrance opens with the vivid green freshness of galbanum, illuminated by the juicy brightness of blackcurrant and a veil of aldehydes that diffuse light through the composition. At its heart, powdery iris unfolds alongside warm, resinous labdanum, creating a textured impression that settles gently onto the skin. In the base, vanilla emerges in full, enriched by Ambrofix and an intimate veil of musks lingering on the skin as a subtle trace of what remains.Top Notes: Galbanum essence, blackcurrant accord, and fresh aldehydes for a bright, sparkling, and green start.Heart Notes: Iris butter, labdanum resinoid, orange blossom, and white vanilla accord providing powdery floral warmth.Base Notes: Madagascar vanilla CO2, vanilla liqueur accord, Ambrofix, and sensual musks.’Nishane Thorns Become RosesWhen a rose is velvety and gorgeous but still displays its sharpness… This is by Julien Rasquinet, and inspired by the Rumi quote "With love, thorns become roses"‘Thorns Become Roses is a contemporary, contrast-driven rose that embodies transformation, evolving from a vivid, luminous opening into an intense floral heart, and settling into a deep, enveloping woody amber trail. Crafted as an extrait de parfum, it redefines the rose through a balance of tension and softness, offering a structured yet sensual and evolving olfactive experience.Lychee and raspberry, luminous and vibrant, meet the metallic sharpness of saffron and cardamom, evoking the harsh brilliance of noon light on Petra’s cliffs.At its heart, Turkish rose unfolds with dense, velvety depth, held in contrast by the green-leathery facets of violet leaf and the powdery softness of mimosa. A rose both thorned and tender, asserting its beauty through contrast.The base settles into a mineral, enduring trail of amberwood and patchouli, softened by creamy sandalwood. Here, tension gives way to a quiet radiance, neither sweet nor austere, but balanced, tactile, and lasting.Top Notes: lychee, raspberry, saffronHeart Notes: rose, mimosa, blackcurrantBase Notes: patchouli, amberwood, aetoxylon’FRAGRANT FOCUS:AD: Estée Lauder GlimmerExtraordinarily, this is the first new main line fragrance for 12 years, and the first ever gourmand style fragrance for the house! But Suzy and Nicola think that unmistakable Lauder DNA shines through. Indeed, this a scent that celebrates shining - finding your own light and the things that lift you every single day.Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Jean-Marc Chaillan are the incredible perfumers.Top Notes: raspberry, orange blossom, milk mousse and mandarinHeart Notes: Cashmeran, macarons, vanilla and roseBase Notes: amber, tonka bean, sandalwood, patchouli and cedarwood.Bright, sparkling and mouthwatering. Fruity-rosy raspberry, a fresh lift of mandarin, and a soft orange flower glow.Warmer and more enveloping. Macaron Rose Accord comes forward with its gourmand impression, wrapped in the radiant depth of Amber Embrace Accord and Shimmering Patchouli, with a smooth, skin-warmed softness.The fragrance settles into a lingering, addictive trail, a glowing blend of Amber, Patchouli, Woods and Tonka Bean notes. Still warmed by a whisper of sweetness that stays close and feels unforgettable.Estée Lauder says:This is the fragrance for life’s most extraordinary moments. It’s a scent not just to be worn, but to be felt, remembered, and shared. Because when you find what makes you glimmer, it lights up everyone around you.For the full sizes, a beautiful rectangular bottle embodies femininity and strength. Sculpted semi-circles catch and reflect each ray of light. A circular gold-tone cap adds a luminous finish.Travel Size:The Travel Size is a deluxe mini fragrance spray. Perfect for on the go, to gift to a friend, or to try for the first time. 10ml travel size £25Also comes in 30ml, 50ml & 100mlGIVEAWAY:We have a full size bottle of Glimmer to giveaway - see the post on our Instagram to enter!How to enter: Follow both @onthescentpodcast and @esteelauderuk on Instagram, then like and comment on the giveaway post on our Instagram account. That’s it!Entries must be made before 8.00 pm BST on Thursday, 3 September 2026. Because of delivery restrictions we can only accept entries from U.K. residents.Terms...
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  Season 8, Episode 10: Last of the Summer Scents? + Perfume Prescriptions 20.08.2026 50min

  We’re hanging on to summer with the fragrance launches discussed, and in what we’re wearing this week, but there is a noticeable change in the weather here in the U.K. There have even been sightings of socks, jackets, cardigans and knee-high boots on the streets! A week ago, such items were unthinkable, but now we’re almost looking forward to the seasons changing again. ALMOST, but not quite yet. Not when there’s a plethora of new perfume discoveries to delve in to (many of which will prove incredibly versatile in cooler weather anyway, we feel). Quite apart from some exquisite new fragrant finds to welcome Nicola back from holiday with, we’ve two more of your utterly brilliant Listener Prescriptions to answer, and an exciting update from Madeline – the musician / vineyard worker / medal-winning fighter we helped find new fragrances for last week! In this week’s episode we discuss: Jo Malone London Sea Salt & Bergamot‘Plunge into the exhilarating surf of the Celtic Sea. Immersed in the wild waters, every wave carries a fresh minerality. Joining a burst of bergamot, driftwood anchors this sea-salt fresh scent. Experience the untamed beauty of the British coast. Top Note: bergamot(Brightens with its sparkling, citrus freshness) Heart Note: sea salt(The crunchy nature of sea salt accord brings both texture and a sense of freshness and purity to the heart of the fragrance) Base Note: driftwood(Suffused with the saltiness of the sea, this accord brings a light woodiness to the fragrance)’ Jo Malone London Iris & White Musk Cologne Intense (recommend to listener in last week’s episode seeking clean / soapy iris fragrances!) Harrods ‘The Iris and White Musk Cologne Intense from Jo Malone London is a light and airy scent that’s perfect for everyday use. It marries powdery iris with creamy white musk, resulting in a distinctive aroma that’s ideal for layering with other fragrances but can also be worn alone.’ Ex Nihilo Demon Dancer (Harrods)‘Ex Nihilo recreates the defiant freedom of dance in motion.Inviting you to move to your own rhythm, Ex Nihilo’s Demon Dancer is a call for ‘unapologetic self-expression’. Inspired by contemporary dance performance, the fragrance ignites an inner fire through energetic fruity notes that flow with freeing freshness and grounded intensity. Top Notes: rhubarb, bergamot, peppermint, blood orangeHeart Notes: orange blossom, blackcurrantBase Notes: georgywood, akigalawood, ambrofix, musks, tonka bean.’ Une Nuit Nomade Sun Bleached ‘Clean Linen Accord • White Flowers • Bergamot •Ambrette AbsoluteMuscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, also known as the White City. The sun drowns the immaculate walls with its rays. It is a bright light that makes eyes squint. Omanis wander the streets, elegantly wearing their dishdashas, a long white tunic decorated with a pom-pom that is delicately dipped in perfume. 'Sun Bleached' is adorned with freshness, in an accord of clean linen, white flowers and a zesty flight of citrus fruits as if biting into a piece of orange, with white musks and sandalwood rounding off its explosiveness.’ Connock London Pelago‘A sun-drenched Mediterranean fragrance with bright citrus and aromatic herbs, evoking the warmth of golden afternoons along sunlit shores. Top Notes: orange, bergamot, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit.Heart Notes: rosemary, neroli, petitgrain.Base Notes: amber, vetiver.’ Roger & Gallet Neroli Solid Perfume ‘Discover your Néroli Wellbeing Fragrant Water in a new solid format to put on the neck, the neckline and the wrists. An alcohol-free perfume merging soflty with the skin. A new way to boost and facet your trail all day long. Enriched with rose essential oil, known for its relaxing benefits, the solid fragrance is a real caress onto the skin. Its rich and unctuous texture with vegetal waxes encapsulates the olfactive notes and keep the trail longer. A small and nomad format with an addictive gesture, to bring everywhere, wherever you are.’ French Cowboy Pear Pavlova‘Almond, Ambrette Seeds, Jasmine, Meringue, Pear, Pink Pepper, Powdery Musk, Vanilla. Ashley Santiago is the youngest perfumer at Givaudan and the co-founder of French Cowboy. California-born with Mexican-Caribbean roots, she honed her craft in Paris, New York & Singapore: blending global flavour with French savoir-faire.’ PERFUME PRESCRIPTIONS: Update from Madeline (the musician / vineyard worker / medal-winning fighter from last week’s Correspondence Special episode): ‘OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!Suzy and Nicola thankyou so so sooooo much for my prescription!!When I saw that you had dropped a new episode WITH MY NAME IN THE NOTES I screamed!!!! It's perfect perfect PERFECT beyond words.I have already ordered a bottle of the Map Of Hearts Valour and I am currently hunting for samples of the others you both suggested!!I CANNOT wait to let you know how I go, l am so so sooooo excited to try them all!!’ (If we don’t have time this week: NEXT WEEK’S EPISODE, another Perfume Prescription special?) Jessi - aka @grotesquex_o‘hi suzy and nicola, the day that you answered my cave perfume prescription was one of the best days of my life. i was hiking around the forest on a break at the museum in san francisco where i work, squealing and reveling in our shared zeal! ill remember the feeling forever. although i havent gotten my nose on that perfect perfume you found just yet, my sister and boyfriend know exactly what to get me for Christmas… I’m writing to you humbly with the hope of another perfume prescription. i love cold incense perfumes, and found that my favorites (andrea maack craft and CDG avignon) have a chlorine note (to my nose at least, tho unlisted) that i crave. like the way your skin and hair smell after a swim in the pool, not the smell of sunscreen or tropical fruits that so often characterizes pool culture-inspired perfumes. are there any other cold, chlorinated, incense perfumes you love?’ Suzy’s Answer: Serge Lutens L’Eau Froide‘By Christopher Sheldrake. The fragrance features Sea water, Pepper, Mint, Musk, Incense, Olibanum, Ginger and Vetiver.’‘"The situation was too hot for me to handle.” or “A chill ran down my spine.” I simply applied a similar concept to an Eau. The hero of this story is a tree during the dog days of summer. If an incision is made in its trunk, "tears of glass" come out. Without air conditioning, the heat would kill it. Frankincense helps this scent preserve an icy cool." - a note from the brand.’ Bibbi Swimming Pool‘By Jérôme Epinette. Top notes are mint, basil and Ginger; middle notes are Eucalyptus and Geranium; base notes are Blonde Woods, Grass, White Wood, Ambroxan and Light Amber. You completely forget about time and space when you swim in the pool. The water forces you to go through all the darkest hours and brightest moments of your life. After swimming in the pool, you will be forever changed and have an intense basil-like scent stuck to your skin forever.’ Heretic Nosferatu‘SMELLS LIKE: An encounter with an apparition in the cold, damp caves of Count Orlok's castle.’‘In partnership with Nosferatu and Focus Features, Heretic is proud to present Nosferatu Eau de Macabre, a fragrance inspired by the iconic vampire. A chilling scent of wilting lilacs, velvety vegan ambergris and strikes of lightning that fill the air with petrichor and electricity—It's both delicate and hedonistic. Samples available.Top Notes: lilac, ambretteHeart Notes: petrichor, violet absolute, orris concrete, cypriolBASE: vegan ambergris, oudh, labdanum.’ Pip:‘Hi Suzie and Nicola. I’m looking for a perfume prescription. I’ve had a bit of a rollercoaster year, my partner and I were lucky enough to have a little boy together after IVF and it’s been a really incredible (though exhausting!) time. One of my oldest and dearest friends died a month before we had him and there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think about her. I’m incredibly sad that we never got to share any of our boy mum moments together. She was always so positive though and down to earth, and I want to remember her with happiness, as well as have a comforting fragrance that will make me think of my little boy when he’s older and him of me. My memories of my friend when we were growing up together are scented with incense, books and the sticky floors of rock bars! I like vanilla, sandalwood and scents that have a bit of smoke. Thanks so much and thank you for keeping me company on my particularly sleep deprived days, I love listening to you both! Pip x’ Suzy’s answer: The Perfumer’s Story Old Books by Azzi ‘Character: intelligent, eccentric, rock &...
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  Season 8, Episode 9: Correspondence Special – Finding Your Favourite New Fragrances 13.08.2026 34min

  We cannot tell you how much we LOVE receiving your questions and requests for‘perfume prescriptions’ (something we’ve always specialised in at On the ScentPodcast – it brings us such joy being able to match people to perfumes they’dperhaps never tried or even heard of). And we get a LOT of DMs@onthescentpodcast on Instagram, and messages on our On the Scent privateFacebook group, so here we are dedicating an episode to do a deep dive on twofascinating fragrant conundrums...Sometimes the prescription requests we get are to help find a ‘replacement’ for abeloved signature scent that’s since been discontinued – to which we say, there’sprobably never going to be an exact match, but we can definitely guide you towardtrying some scents that match the vibe, the feeling that fragrance gave you whenyou wore it, and the way it slotted into your life like a puzzle piece. We also get alot of requests for very specific scenarios, sometimes quite abstract themes orintimate moments our listeners are seeking to scent! But when we think aboutthem more broadly, there’s ways of applying these scenarios (and the things thelistener needs to take from them: strength, motivation, comfort, energy...) toaspects of our own lives.In this correspondence special, we begin with some lovely feedback from a listenerwho made a new discovery via a previous prescription suggestion, then we dive intothe two new requests, which are equally intriguing, and really showcase the kindsof questions we get so many of and adore researching (often for hours!) to find theperfect perfumes for.Let’s begin!Joanna said:‘Dear Suzy and Nicola,I can’t thank you enough for your amazing affordable iris prescriptions! Both soundincredible and I will be definitely be hunting them down, especially Fragonard Bellede Paris!I especially want to thank you for your reviews of the new M&S perfumes. Thatepisode came out shortly before my trip to England from the States, and Iimmediately added M&S to the itinerary! And WOW…Sheer Musk and DarkestVanilla are incredible! M&S perfumes are unavailable in America, so had my tripbeen just a couple of weeks earlier I would have been completely out of luck, as Iwould never have considered exploring M&S as a perfume haven without yourexpert recommendation. I humbly beg you to do full reviews of the rest of theStudio lineup! I feel that the interests of promoting truly exquisite super-affordable,unique fragrances warrant such a podcast focus. Thank you for all you do for thefragrance community!!’Listener prescriptions:Netta asks:‘Hi! I recently discovered your podcast and I’m absolutely loving it. I’ve been bingelistening and enjoying every episode!!I’ve always been obsessed with fragrance and smelling good, so it feels like I’vefinally found my people.I was wondering if you could recommend a perfume that’s similar to thediscontinued Armani Privé Pierre de Lune. I absolutely loved it and have nevermanaged to find anything that captures the same feeling. It had such a clean, soft,almost soapy quality while still feeling fresh and elegant. I’d be so grateful for anyrecommendations! Many thanks in advance, Netta.’Daniela Andrier (well known for her love of iris) created Pierre de Lune, featuringviolet, iris, cassia & woody notes.Suzy suggests:Prada Infusion d’Iris‘This modern and elegant fragrance opens with notes of mandarin, galbanum,orange and orange blossom which lead to the heart composed of iris, cedar andvetiver. The base is composed of incense and benzoin.’Fragonard Belle de ParisAnother stunning iris scent by Daniela Andrier. And only £42 for 100ml eau detoilette! ‘Belle de paris is elegantly cloaked in iris, a symbol of chic, and wears itsincomparable scent. Its fruity head notes of green mandarin, neroli, and pearbrighten a generous heart of iris absolutely adorned with violet and incense. Muskand white cedar form its base.’27 87 Per sē‘Per sē is our scent identity and the olfactive translation of our core belief: There isNo Scent Like the Present. It combines the now. The achromatic, and the individualin a sensory experience.“In creating Per sē, we aimed to capture the very essence of the present moment.This fragrance is unparalleled; it ebbs and flows with the dynamism of change, yetits core remains strikingly constant. Just as time never stops, neither does ‘Per sē’.It serves as evidence of the enduring within the ever-changing.”Crafting a symphony of achromatic elegance, Per sē is composed of a floralbouquet, orris butter, and violet leaves. Juxtaposed with clean aldehydes, bamboo,and a pinch of spicy pepper, a subtle underscore of ambrette seeds, angelica roots,and gentle musk complete the incompletable experience of the sensory now.’Nicola suggested:Diptyque Fleur de Peau‘A tribute to the mythical love between Psyche and Eros, which led to the birth oftheir daughter, Hedone. One scent can convey this legend: musks. At the heart ofFleur de Peau, they are cottony, downy or soft. Highlighted with iris and ambretteseed, they reveal their full tactile dimension.Absolute ambrette seed extract comes from hibiscus flowers. Its notes areextraordinarily rich: sweet, slightly animal, fruity (like pear and plum).’Madeline @rocknrollgypsy_13 asks:‘Hello Suzy and Nicola! Fragrance goddesses!Long time listener of the pod, I work on a vineyard in the Hunter Valley NSWAustralia and listening to both of you have gotten me through some long, long daysworking by myself. My name is Madeleine and I was wondering if you could give mea perfume prescription to empower and ground me.Apart from being a musician, one of my other passions is Muay Thai. As a femalefighter I compete quite regularly, recently coming back from a life changing trip toBangkok where I competed at the WBC games winning a silver medal for Australia.It was a tough fight and I know I could’ve done more to win that gold, but my mindalways seems to stop me before I even step over the ropes. My mentality issomething I always battle with, self-doubt, self-confidence and self-belief is alwayswhat I struggle with. This is a weird kind of prescription, but I would like somethingto wear before my fights, something that is empowering, fires me up, grounds meand makes me feel like I am an unstoppable force going into the ring to face myopponent. Think a goddess of war, powerful, strong, unbreakable and fierce.Something to spray on before I warm up, or walk into the ring that grounds me,centres me and reminds me of who I am.I am open to anything, as my love for perfume has grown so much since listeningto you both. Much love always, thank you for all you do.Madeleine xx’Nicola’s answer:Olfactive O New Earth‘I am the host who cooks to the rhythm of the seasons, the one who pulls up anextra chair before you’ve even asked. I believe in the beauty of things made byhand - the thumbprint in the clay, the worn-in softness of a family heirloom. Thereis quiet joy in walking the same path every day and noticing the first green shootsof change. For me, luxury resides in the weight of a heavy linen shirt and thesimple, rhythmic task of chopping herbs from the windowsill pot. I am a life lived inthe present tense.NOTES:Luminous top: shiso, pink peppercorn, spearmint, elemi Present heart: deep-leafimmersion, armoise, geranium, chamomile blue, cardamom, clary sage Rootedbase: hay absolute, fir balsam, oakmoss, myrrhMOMENTS:Nurturing my sourdough starter Fantasising of a life in the wilderness Leaving thebookshop with just one more A cup of tea in the garden Seeking out the perfectsoulful escape’Amouage Meander‘The Amouage Meander eau de parfum explores the exhilarating feeling ofhappiness in a land covered by fog – think lush green mountains and runningwaterfalls covered in steamy clouds. Translating this surreal landscape using notesof frankincense and vetiver, the rich greenery with cypriol and jonquille, and thecaramel-hued earth with sandalwood, carrot heart and orris root, this uniquefragrance captivates the senses and doesn’t let go even hours after being spritzedon the pulses.’Suzy’s answer:Eris Parfums Ma Bête‘MA BÊTE (My Beast) caresses you with the suggestiveness of perfumed fur. Acollision of the floral and the animal, MA BÊTE combines a regal Tunisian Neroli withspices and a 50 percent overdose of Antoine Lie's own animalic cocktail.’‘Ma Bête is a fierce beast with raunchy elegance.’ – Antoine Lie (Perfumer)Aldehydes, Tunisian Neroli, Indian NutmegIndian Cypriol, Honduran Styrax, Indian Jasmine SambacVirginia Cedarwood, Indonesian Patchouli, Synthetic Animalic Accord‘After interviewing Master Perfumer Antoine Lie for Scent and Subversion, Barbaraasked him to help her create a collection of fragrances as bold as her favouritevintage perfumes but for a modern audience.Named after ERIS, the Greek goddess of troublemaking and disruption, ERISPARFUMS is inspired by muses — divine, human, and fragrant — that exemplifyunconventional beauty and...
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  Season 8, Episode 8: Our Five Favourite Vanillas 06.08.2026 41min

  Okay, we all know vanilla has been trending for ages now, but WHY does it proveso popular? We think half the reason is the sheer diversity of vanillas available,and the incredibly high-quality materials perfumers are able to use these days.Plus the fact that vanilla continues to be one of the most universally adoredscents. Love them or loathe them, we feel sure there’s truly something for everytaste (and maybe some that will surprise or even shock you) in this week’sepisode...Now, obviously, we mean five favourites *each*, we couldn’t possibly containthem all to only five vanillas when there are SO many excellent varieties ofvanilla fragrances around these days. We have to say, though, f you’re a vanillanaysayer, please don’t shy away from this episode, as we’ve versions that seguefrom the just-launched and fabulously tobacco-filled, the sweetly tempting andaddictive you might expect, to the mind-blowingly modern and unlike any vanillayou’ve ever smelled.Encompassing hip-swivelling seduction, a stunning body butter, hugely powerfulfragrant talismans, and summery every-day wearability, there’s also a trulyaffordable modern classic vanilla – created by a Master Perfumer who trained atChanel, created scents for Frederic Malle, Guerlain, Gucci, Amouage andAtkinsons, but THIS one can be snapped up for under £30!While some of our top vanillas crossed over, we also surprised each other withsome of our choices. Now then, which have YOU tried or want to go and smellafter listening...?We discuss:D’Orsay Vanilla Affair ExtraitBy Nathalie Lorson‘Immerse yourself in the captivating mystique of D’ORSAY, with Vanilla Affairextrait de parfum transforming your everyday allure into one of intriguingelegance.Its scent – reminiscent of forbidden encounters and fierce passion – is infusedwith riveting notes of tobacco and tonka bean, deepened with a vanilla duo, andgrounded with a smoky base of white musks and patchouli. No matter theoccasion, its aromatic blend of exhilarating notes will elevate your essence withease.’The Body Shop Vanilla Body Butter‘This indulgent cream melts in beautifully, delivering up to 96 hours of hydrationwithout greasiness. Skin feels instantly softer, smoother and cared for. Thefragrance opens with juicy nashi pear and fresh coconut water, lifted by moodorchid. At its heart, rich Madagascar vanilla tincture blends with upcycled vanillinex rice, creamy milk and heliotrope for a smooth, enveloping warmth. It settlesinto a sensual base of vanilla absolute, sandalwood and second skin musk for along lasting, skin hugging finish. Every application is a warm, comforting routine.’Jovoy Fire at Will‘This perfume’s sweet promises echo around your like languorous kisses.Crafted by independent perfumer Vanina Murraciole, Fire at Will eau de parfumfrom JOVOY explores the duality of vanilla and mimosa – at once intense yetsubtle, seductive yet enchanting. The opening reveals an unexpected vanilla: airyand ethereal, lifted by honeyed, powdery mimosa. As it evolves, the vanillabecomes more gourmand and fruity, evoking the delicacy of real vanilla icecream while lingering with the allure of whispered promises.’Top Notes: Mimosa Absolut, Vanilla AbsolutMiddle Notes: Vanilla Sugar, Brown SugarBase Notes: White Musks, Amber VetiverMaison Louis Marie No.15 Vanille Infinie‘Vanille Infinie, a luxurious and sweet gourmand, is a celebration of hope andrenewal. No.15 Vanille Infinie unfolds as a warm, luminous composition, soft vanillalayered with citron, sugared amber and cashmere oud for gentle resinous warmth.The Eau de Parfum evolves naturally on skin, shifting with your body heat to reveala smooth, enveloping trail that feels both intimate and enduring.’Jeroboam Insulo‘For François Hénin, the founder of Jeroboam, vanilla has always been theabsolute weapon of seductive souls. The ingredient is recognized throughout theworld as an irresistible enticement to be devoured. Insulo (meaning ‘island’ inEsperanto) is used in this case as a code name for Madagascar, the island whichproduces perhaps the highest quality and most famous vanilla in the world.The olfactive pyramid of Insulo is incredibly simple with vanilla at the top, jasmineat the heart and the signature blend of enigmatic musks at the base. These fewnotes combine to produce a luxurious and irresistible.’AKRO Bake‘Bake is our addictive cupcake fragrance.Everyone has their own favourite sweet treat, and for Akro, it's the small, butperfectly delicious lemon cupcake—an item we just can’t resist any time we walkpast a good bakery. To honour our favourite cupcakes, we created BAKE, agourmand fragrance made up of Tart Lemon notes, followed by sweet Vanilla andrich, nutty Praline. BAKE is so good, you might not need that second cupcakeafter all.TOP: Lemon peelMIDDLE: Chantilly cream, PralineBASE: Brown sugar, Vanilla.’Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder‘A sophisticated take on vanilla, diffusing like a bright, soft cloud. I contrasteddark vanilla absolute with an overdose of modern white perfumer powders — asif the vanilla bean had been painted white.Palo Santo Oil Ecuador brings structure and verticality. The addictive character ofVanilla is reinforced by Coconut powder. White Musks envelop the Vanilla andpowders for a contemporary, luminous perfume.’ - Aurélien GuichardRochas TocadeOne of THE best vanillas if you’re on a budget. Or even if you’re not, come tothat!‘Originally launched in 1994, and composed by Maurice Roucel, Rochas Tocadeopens with a vibrant burst of bergamot and green notes, setting the stage for aheart that blooms with the rich aromas of rose, geranium, and magnolia. Thesefloral elements are beautifully balanced by the warmth of vanilla and amber,creating a harmonious blend that is both sensual and inviting. The base notes ofmusk and cedarwood add depth and longevity, ensuring that this enchantingfragrance lingers on your skin throughout the day.’
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  Season 8, Episode 7 Alice du Parcq & The Philosophy of Perfume (her NEW BOOK!) 30.07.2026 55min

  Season 8, Episode 7 Alice du Parcq & The Philosophy of Perfume (herNEW BOOK!)This week we welcome back dear perfume pal and friend of the pod (star of twoprevious episodes), the multi-award-winning fragrance writer, presenter, contentcreator and now AUTHOR, Alice du Parcq!Alice has always been ‘on a mission to decode perfume in a fun, relatable andobjective way.’ Now, added to her perfumed portfolio will be an incredibly gift-able (to self or scent-loving friends) book, created in collaboration with noneother than The British Library, called The Philosophy of Perfume. Out in October,we cannot WAIT to read it, and in this episode, Alice gives us a sneak peek atwhat you expect to find inside, plus the entire story of how the book came to be,and why she burst into tears in a library.We’ve even managed to wangle a must-sniff list of perfumes Alice has beenwowed by so far this year (not in the book, just a little scented extra to get youscurrying to smell them). We loved this warm, emotive, wide-rangingconversation and, as ever, could have talked to Alice for hours longer, and we sohope you enjoy this deep dive into one of the most hotly anticipated books forsome time...Some context about the British Library and this collection:‘The British Library has an in-house publishing division, and they have anestablished collection of around 18 books called "The Philosophy Of...". It's afamily of small giftable books that cover fun and whimsical lifestyle topics, suchThe Philosophy of Cheese, The Philosophy of Christmas of Gin, ofTattoos and of Houseplants, where an expert in that specific field dives into theorigins and evolution of that subject. In January, I was invited to do ThePhilosophy of Perfume and it will sit within this collection but as a slightlylonger and more standout format. It's out in October, in time for the giftingseason, and the RRP is £12.99.’About the book:‘The Philosophy of Perfume is a fun, warm, thoughtful and practical book allabout fragrance, which looks at its origins and how it's made, how we smell andhow best to shop for perfume. It is an adventure into the facts, folklore andfantasies surrounding perfume, delving into how it has evolved through the erasand decades as an artform, reflecting our cultural patterns through history. Inthe book, you'llmeet perfumers who share insights into their fascinating creativeprocess; you'll learn the science behind how we smell and the wild emotionalvoyage from smell to soul! There are tales of scented superstitions, and theliterary and historical figures who inspire perfume, plus the ways in which AI isimpacting the future of fragrance and a helpful guide on how to shop forperfume and find The One(s!). It was so important to me that this book was not for perfume experts, but forfragrance lovers of all ages who want a moment of enchantment laced withinteresting facts, a sprinkle of science and some practical guidance when on theirnext scent shopping safari.’Can’t wait until October? You can see Alice talking live, interviewed by thewonderful Amanda Carr (founder of Barnes Fragrance Fair @barnesfragrancefair)at the Barnes Bookfest sat 26 th September at 6pm, and get tickets and moreinfo here: https://barnesbookfest.org/Fragrances Alice has adored so far this year:Pia Long’s Olfiction Iconic (by name and nature! An utterly staggering vision of1980s department stores, expensive makeup and body creams – nostalgiapersonified)Botega Venetta’s new Ulta collection (especially Bare Morning which Alicefeels is the longest-lasting most comforting powdery scent she’s smelled foryears)Hellenist (all of them basically – a stunning house Suzy first saw at PittiFragranze, and which we all very much hope will be available in U.K. soon)Neal’s Yard Remedies Mood Awakening Collection (Alice loved how truethese felt to the brand’s ethos, and how they slotted so perfectly into their mostbeloved collections)Ode Ona (all of them, again – an exquisitely crafted and curated collection, allworth exploring)
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  Season 8, Episode 6: Madcap sniffathon - new launches, exclusives & a dance of jasmine 23.07.2026 1val 1min

  This week is a truly madcap sniffathon HOPEFULLY encompassing [*takes adeep breath*] wild seascapes, fragrant ghosts and a notorious rake; a spicysummer scent to set your senses tingling; a fruity treat based on a perfumer’sfavourite breakfast; a splendiferous peacock strutting its scented stuff; a stunningsueded rose; perfumes pulled straight from the vegetable patch; Harrodsexclusives to swoon over; a seriously affordable new niche house; a mesmerisingmyrrh, and Alice du Parcq’s book pre-order discount code…AND if all that wasn’t enough, we’re also answering a #listenerprescription for ajasmine fragrance to remind her of a dance while wearing jasmine garlands.Phew!Can we possibly fit it all in without going off-topic? Listen along and find out!BeauFort London continued: Following on from last week’s fascinating interviewwith founder Leo Crabtree, Nicola tries a trio of intriguing scents:Cape Wrath‘Cape Wrath Eau De Parfum. Named after the rugged area of coastline on themost North Westerly tip of Britain, Cape Wrath pulls inspiration from this wild,treacherous seascape. The remote landmark - named after the old Norse wordfor ‘turning point’ has for centuries been used by sailors to safely navigate thecoast of Britain, yet its treacherous waters have claimed countless vessels.Character: Powerful; wild; windswept

 THE WEARING EXPERIENCETop Notes: Pink Pepper, Elemi, Galbanum, Angelica Root
Opens with a blast ofbracing ocean air.Heart Notes: Frankincense, Mastic, Geranium
Resinous smoke and geraniumadd both warmth and austerity.Base Notes: Ambergris, Vetiver, Ambrette, Seaweed, OakmossAbsolute
Mossy oceanic base which powerfully lingers.Perfumer: Euan McCallAbsent Presence‘‘O absent presence, Stella is not here’The fifth and final instalment of the Revenants collection draws inspiration fromthe Elizabethan poet Sir Philip Sidney. In his Sonnet sequence ‘Astrophel andStella’ Sidney develops and captures the essence of a haunting… the presenceof one that is always felt but never seen.‘Now I, wit-beaten long by hardest fate,So dull am, that I cannot look intoThe ground of this fierce love and lovely hate,Then some good body tell me how I do,Whose presence absence, absent presence is;Blesst in my curse, and cursed in my bliss.’Comprising the highest level of natural ingredients of any BeauFort fragrance,Absent Presence explores its themes with typically ‘overdosed’ concentrations ofviolet leaf absolute, vetiver bourbon oil, smoky leather and black pepper oil. Aswith all the Revenants family, Absent Presence is presented as 30% Eau DeParfum.Character: Dark; enveloping; waves.THE WEARING EXPERIENCETop Notes: Bergamot, Galbanum, Pepper
Fresh, green, and fleeting felt but outof reach.Heart Notes: Jasmine, Violet
 Jasmine and violet bloom with intensity.Base Notes: Leather, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber, Cedarwood 
Warm leather,woods, amber and musk linger like a ghost on the skin, the violet heart returningin waves.Perfumer: Julie Dunkley.’Rake & Ruin‘Rake & Ruin Eau De Parfum is inspired by the works of satirist William Hogarth,this fragrance summons his characters from a gin soaked 18th century London.This debauched Eau De Parfum incorporates the botanical ingredients of gin;dark woods, civet, musks and amber bringing to life 'all manner of Vice andWickedness.’

THE WEARING EXPERIENCETop Notes: Angelica, Liquorice, Juniper, Coriander, Szechuan Pepper, PinkPepper, Orange, Lemon
Opens with a sharp, gin-like freshness, spiced andeffervescent.Heart Notes: Cypress, Pine Needles, Castoreum, Labdanum, Cade Oil, Costus,Violet Orris
Bowing to a heart of smoky woods, animalic tones and powderedflorals.Base Notes: Dark Woods, Ambrarome, Sandalwood, Musk
Dark woods, muskand animalic. Ambrarome complete the seductive yet slightly sinister finish.’Alice du Parcq’s book: The Philosophy of PerfumePre-order at Waterstones for £10 (25% off with code SUMMER26)https://tinyurl.com/AliceWaterstones‘The Philosophy of Perfume is a fun, warm, thoughtful and practical book allabout fragrance, which looks at its origins and how it's made, how we smell andhow best to shop for perfume. It is an adventure into the facts, folklore andfantasies surrounding perfume, delving into how it has evolved through the erasand decades as an artform, reflecting our cultural patterns through history. In thebook, you'll meet perfumers who share insights into their fascinating creativeprocess; you'll learn the science behind how we smell and the wild emotionalvoyage from smell to soul! There are tales of scented superstitions, and theliterary and historical figures who inspire perfume, plus the ways in which AI isimpacting the future of fragrance and a helpful guide on how to shop for perfumeand find The One(s!). It was so important to me that this book was not for perfume experts, but forfragrance lovers of all ages who want a moment of enchantment laced withinteresting facts, a sprinkle of science and some practical guidance when on theirnext scent shopping safari.’AKRO Heat‘HEAT is our addictive chili fragrance.Chili is not just a spice. It is a rush. A burn you think you can handle. The firsttime you smell it, it hits, it wakes you up. Then it warms you. Then you want itagain.The best chili doesn’t just flavour. It ignites. It makes your skin tingle. Yourtemperature rise. Your pulse quicken. Your senses sharpen.HEAT is that moment when warmth turns into craving. When your body asks formore. A vibrant indulgence. A dopamine shot you keep coming back to.HEAT is a scent that sets you on fire and makes you love the burn.TOP: CORIANDER SEED, LEMON, RED CHILIMIDDLE: CARDAMOM, GINGER, JUNIPERBASE: CEDARWOOD, AMBROX, MUSK.’Jeroboam Oud MorningBy Vanina Muracciole‘Oud Morning from Jeroboam is the perfect balance of brightness and depth.Opening with an unexpected burst of blueberry, saffron and resins, thecomposition moves into a heart of Indian oud, softened with leather and agedwoods. Sandalwood, ambroxan and white musk anchor it into a smooth, sensualbase, finishing the creation on an intimate note.Top Notes: Blueberry, Gurjum Balsam, SaffronMiddle Notes: Indian Oudh, Leather, Dry Wood, VioletBase Notes: Sugar, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, White Musks.’Alexandre J Royal Peacock (Harrods Exclusive)‘At the turn of the 20th century, Art Nouveau reshaped the decorative arts.Mucha, Gallé, Tiffany, Lalique, all drew on nature to invent a new grammar ofcurves, stylised plants and extraordinary birds. Among them,the peacock reigned supreme: its iridescent eyes and regal bearing embodiedthe movement's core belief in beauty for beauty's sake.The opening evokes an Italian espresso served with Viennese pastry. Roastedcoffee dialogues with hazelnut in a frankly gourmand accord, before maplesyrup brings its unmistakable amber roundness, sweet without cloying, almostwoody. Caramel amplifies the indulgence, while violet casts a powdery floral veilthat keeps the composition from tipping into excess. The vanilla-almond basesettles into a lasting, addictive warmth.’Ormonde Jayne Suede Silhouette‘Bathed in crimson and violet, Suede Silhouette reflects the warmth of saffron,the richness of raspberry and the quiet confidence of suede. Exclusively atSelfridges.’Jo Malone London Veggies collection:Celine Roux says: ‘We just loved that people, even in the middle of cities likeLondon, can grow their own carrots and herbs – the fact that everyone wants tohave a grasp on nature from wherever they are. This [collection] takes that ideaof something homegrown and unmanicured but gives it a fresh take’Velvety Butternut:‘The path ahead is smooth, just like a velvety butternut playfully plucked from theveggie patch. Notes of smooth butternut, warm tonka bean and patchouli createa woody gourmand scent.Top - GingerSpicy and fresh with a zingy lemon quality, it opens the fragrance with livelybrightness.Heart - ButternutSmooth and nutty, notes of butternut imbues the fragrance with a deliciouswarmth and creaminess.Base - PatchouliGrounded in patchouli, a sensuously deep woody note that enhances thelongevity of the fragrance.’Carrot Blossom:‘Life is sweet, just like carrot blossom gloriously gathered from the veggie patch.Notes of subtly sweet carrot, orange flower and white musk create a fresh floralscent.Top - FennelHerbaceous with hints of aniseed, it adds a dewy sweetness to the top notes.Heart - Carrot BlossomLightly floral and sweet, with an earthy accent, complementing the powdery notesof orris.Base - PatchouliGrounded in patchouli, a sensuously deep woody note that enhances thelongevity of the fragrance.’Suzy’s favourite: Scarlet Beetroot‘Colour is all around, just like a scarlet beetroot splendidly spied in the veggiepatch. Notes of beetroot, vibrant blackcurrant and a dash of...
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  Season 8, Episode 5: Through the Smoke with BeauFort London’s Leo Crabtree 17.07.2026 1val

  [AD: This episode is proud to be in partnership with BeauFort London - a house Suzy has championed from the start, spoken about passionately over the years, and continues to be excited by.] From a single, hand-poured moustache wax to one of the world’s most daringly distinctive fragrance houses, BeauFort London’s story is as elemental as the scents themselves. Founded in 2013 by musician Leo Crabtree, the brand was born from salt-spray memories, naval histories and a fascination with the poetry of smoke — quite literally “per fumum” (‘through smoke’).In this episode of On The Scent Podcast, Suzy Nightingale and Nicola Bonn sit down with Leo to trace that journey: from the formative fragrances he wore as a teenager to the moment he realised scent could become a storytelling medium for his fascinations with maritime might, Shakespearean drama, and the awe-inspiring power of nature. With the launch of Come Hell Or High Water in 2015 — featuring the now-iconic Tonnerre, Coeur de Noir and Vi et Armis — BeauFort London set out its stall with unapologetically bold compositions, rich in unusual materials and deliberately ‘overdosed’ in their intensity. As you listen, you will hear Suzy, Nicola and Leo smelling some of the creations together — Nicola encountering them properly for the first time, while Suzy revisits fragrances she has worn and championed for years, having known Leo since the brand’s earliest days and even helping to shape the direction of Fathom V. Together, we delve into the inspirations behind the scents, the emotions they stir, and the evolving landscape of perfumery that Leo reflects upon with candour. It is a conversation about transformation — personal, creative, and within the industry itself — and one that invites you to explore these boldly original fragrances for yourself…
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  Embracing the heat, and leaning into the ‘Sunscreen Scent’ 09.07.2026 47min

  Embracing the heat, and leaning into the ‘Sunscreen Scent’ perfume profile this week, we’re following on from the BONUS episode originally available to Patreon subscribers (which should soon be available here too - keep checking & scroll back in your podcast app to find it), in which we explored our favourite scented sunscreens. Flipping that fragrant theme on its head, this time we’re all about those solar, ‘holiday in a bottle’ type perfumes, and find ourselves particularly drawn to those with a vintage vibe.Later in the episode, Nicola answers a listener question from someone who had fallen head over heels for spicy tonka / vanilla fragrances way out of her budget, and seeks affordable scents to satiate this new obsession…We discuss;Nuxe Prodigieux Le ParfumThis first launched in 2012, and was created by Serge Majoullier (who also created Mugler Womanity Eau Pour Elle and Viktor&Rolf Bonbon).Top notes are Orange Blossom, Mandarin Orange, Orange and Bergamot; middle notes are Gardenia, Magnolia and Rose; base notes are Coconut Milk, Vanilla and Pebbles.DIOR La Collection Privé Eden-RocWe rather suspect that Dior’s resident perfumer, François Demachy, enjoyed even more than usual his ‘research’ for this fragrance, a hymn to one of the world’s most legendary hotels, on the rocky shore of the Côte d’Azur. Flooded with sunlight, it’s cooled and ruffled by a salty breeze, revealing an accord reminiscent of nothing so much as expensive suntan oil, suffused with jasmine and a touch of coconut. Truly the stuff of holiday dreams.Juliette Has a Gun Sunny Side UpOhhh allow yourself to dream of a scented destination somewhere more far flung. Close your eyes and imagine an impossibly perfect beach: warm sand, warm skin, an omnipresent hush of crystal waters massaging brightly coloured pebbles and your own deep, contented breaths. Sunny Side Up is all blissfully relaxed limbs glowing with the retro-smelling scent of suntan oil, the softness of the blanket beneath you and a waft of vanilla ice-cream on the breeze as the sun dips its toes in the ocean. Bliss in fragrant form!Elie Saab Le Parfum Lumière‘Like an haute couture dress, Elie Saab fragrances adorn the feminine form, with a radiant sensuality. Elie Saab Le Parfum Lumière captures the sensual sparkle of light. The Dawn. The time when night meets day, when a ray of light softly glides across the darkness and reveals the golden hues of daybreak. Inspired by Mediterranean sun rays, Elie Saab Le Parfum Lumière is an ode of warm light.’Top notesMandarin Essence, Ylang-YlangHeart notesJasmine Samac Absolut India, TuberoseBase notesPatchouli, Musky Woods & Soft amberTom Ford Soleil‘Soleil Brûlant captures the high-shine brilliance of the golden sun beaming on a private oasis. Sun-kissed citrus mingles with spices giving way to an ornate and regal floral heart—while orange flower absolute and black honey release a seductive vapor, melting into the burnished warmth of amber.Soleil Brûlant releases sun-kissed florals warmed by amber, conjuring a blazing encounter between gilded rays and naked skin. Your own private summer.’Jennifer Elizabeth:Hi Nicola and Suzy, I find myself turning to your podcast and fragrance in general to comfort and sweeten my day during the cold winter in Melbourne. I am really enjoying my perfume journey and recently discovered a Libertine Parfumerie near me! I got a sample of Amouge, guidance and Tonka Kumaru Atelier Materi. I didn’t think I would like the spicy saffron in Guidance but I have really warmed to it! And now expanding my tastes into spicy fragrances with a bit of heat. I absolutely love Tonka Kumaru it has become my favourite! Unfortunately both perfumes are way above my budget, and I was wondering if you have any recommendations for a similar fragrance with tonka, vanilla, almond and a spice. I find this fragrance very complex and addictive and its projection is amazing, so it would be may to find something under 100 pounds . I love this scent so much I’d also like to find a candle with similar almond and cardamon notes.I also like Vanilla Powder Matiere Premier.Ps I am so happy I can walk into Mecca or libertine and identity so many of the perfumes from your podcast! It brings me such joy!Nicola’s suggestions:Essential Parfums Divine VanillaGranado Tonka Eau de ToiletteL'Occitane Almond CandleMama Moon Prosperity and Courage CandleScents Journey - Masala Chai CandleJsala - Apothecary Candle
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  Season 8, Episode 3: Posh bananas, burning roses & perfume blending! 02.07.2026 46min

  Talk about varied - we go from a ‘posh banana’ Brazilian carnival in a bottle Nicola experienced at a vibrantly fun perfume pop-up in Liberty, to an extraordinary, burning, bloodied rose Suzy’s entranced by (don’t worry - it’s not as scary as it sounds!)We’re also featuring two incredibly inspirational women on this week’s show - one who’s created her own fragrance brand to reflect a life lived in scent and adventure, and another who’s bringing the playfulness back into perfumery by allowing you (and your friends) to attend a blending workshop via Zoom - to create your own fragrance with her stunning and easy-to-use accords. A whole group of the #fragfam (Suzy, Nicola, Jo, Alice du Parcq, Amanda Carr, Thomas & Hayden attended a Zoom, and we were HUGELY impressed, plus love the scents we blended!)Amidst all of that there’s talk of a naughty Toy Boy who’s back in town, and Suzy finds two exquisite (and very affordable) iris-forward fragrances for a listener.Plus: get the second issue of On The Scent magazine which has just been published and is already flying out again! Order online here:https://www.onthescentmedia.com/on-the-scent-magazineNow, on with the show, and let’s jump in…We discuss:Granado Yes, Nós Temos Banana!The Brazilian brand has taken over Liberty’s historic Atrium for the whole of July with a huge banana pop-up! Do see it in-person if you can. They say: ‘Evoking the tropical vibrance of Brazil in olfactive form, Yes, Nós Temos Banana! eau de parfum from Granado is an invigorating addition to any fragrance collection.Anchored by a classic, woody base of sandalwood and cedar, this fragrance combines vibrant notes of banana and peach blossom with the romantic delicacy of fig and iris, while highlighting banana leaf as the protagonist of the creation - spritz onto skin for a breath of escapism.’L’Entropiste Ensang Noir[From Sainte Cellier] ‘This rose is on fire… Ensang Noir is an extraordinarily pungent rose perfume, sanguineous red petals stained with black ink, rusted at the bleeding edges. A scent of temptation, danger and the ritualistic fumes of burnt love. Fanatical, obsessive. Skin becomes an altar for this most plush and smoky offering.’Top Notes: aldehydes, blackcurrant, coriander, cucumberHeart Notes: red rose, magnolia, peonyBase Notes: incense, birch, opoponax, patchouli, vetiver, caramelMoschino ToyBoy 2‘Moschino’s celebrated fragrance for him is back! This time, the new TOY BOY 2 will take you on a sensory journey that opens with a spicy spark and closes with an amber caress.Toy boy 2 comes alive with an explosion of intriguing nutmeg and sparkling ginger and sets out on a quest to start a journey of lively and ironic charm, to escape from the daily greyness by retracing distant but ever-present emotions. It wraps you in a warm embrace of intense coffee, while akigalawood adds a bold touch. As the adventure continues, it leaves behind a soft trail of myrrh and vetiver, comforting you and promising even more surprises.’Top notessaffron accord, nutmeg Indonesia, fresh gingerHeart notescoffee extract, cedarwood, akigalawoodBase notescistus concrete, vetiver oul, myrrh resinoidLiz Astor Fragrances‘Three perfumes, three chapters of a life lived through fragrance.From an English garden to distant horizons and star-filled nights — each captures a moment in Liz Astor’s journey: where she began, where she wandered, and what she became.’HETHERSETT‘Hethersett is a return to origin — a chypre–fruity fragrance that feels like sunlight through orchard branches and summer gardens in full bloom. Each breath reveals the early whispers of creativity: petals, citrus, and memory intertwined. Bright, romantic, rooted — the scent of home becoming art.Olfactory Notes Orange • Citron • Jasmine • Magnolia • Orange Blossom • Saffron • Cedarwood • MuskFrom £40 for 7.5ml8.7°S 118.3°E‘The coordinates point to a remote stretch of the Indonesian sea — a place etched in Liz Astor’s travels, when she chased adventure beyond familiar shores.8.7°S 118.3°E captures the spirit of exploration — the scent of salt spray and sunlight, the pulse of courage, and the thrill of finding beauty in the unknown. It is both fearless and fluid, an ode to self-discovery carried on the ocean wind.Tone Wild, radiant, unbound — freedom bottled in light and sea air.Olfactory Notes Bergamot • Mandarin • Grapefruit • Clary Sage • Jasmine • Patchouli • Vetiver’From £40 for 7.6ml eau de parfumNadira No.9‘Nadira No.9 evokes the sensual hush of desert air beneath a vast night sky — where time slows and the spirit expands. It’s a fragrance of reverence and reflection, born of distant travels and the quiet awe of standing beneath a thousand unfamiliar.Soft, luminous, intimate — starlight woven through spice and skin.’Amber • Musk • Night-blooming Florals • Spiced Woods’From £70 for 7.5ml parfumDiscovery Set: £25 for x3 samplesPurchase the collection for £25 — this is fully redeemable against a future purchase of any 75ml fragrance once you’ve chosen your favourite.https://lizastor.comElix perfume blending workshop (via Zoom)Nicole founder Elix because: ‘Scent is uniquely powerful, yet we rarely have the opportunity to play and experiment with it. After a career in product innovation and creative facilitation, I returned to my childhood dream of perfume alchemy. Artisan perfumery became my creative outlet during lockdown, and I was inspired by the joy and mindfulness it brought into my life. I founded ELIX Personal Alchemyto share that playful magic with others and make artisan personalised perfumery more accessible.’‘Our hand-crafted Eau de Toilette blending accords harmonise beautifully in endless combinations. Blend 2–4 accords together to create a range of scents that evolve with your mood, style or occasion; or enjoy them solo.Our luxury set contains everything you need to enjoy a mindful personal ritual or a shared creative experience at home.Our curated collections are inspired by some of the most-loved accord combinations created during our live workshops, and include a selection of popular blending ideas to inspire your own journey.• Up to 70% naturally derived ingredients l • Blending accords can be worn alone or combined • Two refillable atomisers with replenishable elements • Additional accords available individually • Hand-crafted and hand-packed in the U.K.’£149 Personal Alchemy Blending Kithttps://www.elixfragrance.comListener Prescription:Joanna Caccavo:Dear Suzy and Nicola,First of all, a big congratulations on the new magazine! It is absolutely mouthwatering and Suzy’s prose is exquisite - I MUST read more! I am also eager for a perfume prescription for an affordable ($100 or under) very iris-forward fragrance. I’m accustomed to seeing iris perfumes raved about online, but they tend to be quite pricy. However, I recently blind-bought Zara’s Romance d’Iris Elixir, which is almost an iris soliflore and about $70, and I fell head-over-heels in love! I know that iris is a note in many fragrances, both expensive and inexpensive, but in my (admittedly limited!) experience it’s usually quite subtle. Surely there must be other affordable super-iris-y perfumes out there? (They needn’t smell only of iris, but I’d like that to be the dominant note.) Thank you! :)Suzy suggested:Fragonard Belle de ParisComposed by Daniela Andrier (of Prada Infusion d’Iris fame!) here,;lbase notes are Musk and White Cedar Extract.‘Belle de Paris is elegantly cloaked in iris, a symbol of chic, and wears its incomparable scent.Its fruity head notes of green mandarin, neroli, and pear brighten a generous heart of iris absolute adornedwith violet and incense. Musk and white cedar form its base.’Top Notes: neroli, pear and green mandarin;Heart Notes: iris, violet and incenseBase Notes: musk and white cedar extract.€42 for 100ml eau de toilette4160 Tuesdays Hush Hush‘Imagine a secret 1920s party, the perfumes that people are wearing are the new things: violets and iris, vanilla and musks. They're wearing smart suits and straight silk dresses with beaded tassels. Someone opens a new paper packet of cigarettes, and they all whip out their elegant holders, even the women! It has a powdery feel reminiscent of early 20th Century perfumes, because we both love the violet-iris texture and aroma created by ionones and irones, including those from natural orris (slightly extravagant but worth every penny). Among the many materials assembled here to create a completely new scent, we have a smidgen of natural rose, a fair quantity of Cashmeran, woods, sparkly orange flower, bergamot, creamy ethyl vanillin and layers of musks.’£35 for 15ml eau de toilette
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  Season 8, Episode 2: Some of THE best affordable fragrances we’ve ever smelled + a Listener Prescription 25.06.2026 56min

  Looking for some truly outstanding and very affordable fragrances? Have we got an episode for you! This week, as challenged by you, we went on a scent safari sniffing our way around the new fragrances in one of the U.K’s most beloved high street shops. The results? Well, we were rather awe-struck with how wonderful they were, to be honest.Suzy is totally in love with a new perfume shop she popped into for a (free!) half-hour hand and massage the other day; and we’ve also got some suggestions for a listener desperately missing their favourite (now discontinued) fragrance, and start this week’s episode with some lovely feedback about a previous listener prescription…Listener feedback:Anja:‘Hello, after listening to your brilliant podcast episode over the weekend and the scent prescription on marocan scents one perfume came straight into my mind: Andi Tauer's L'air du Desert Marocain.Thanks again for your podcast and hard work, it brings us all joy every week. I blind bought DS&Durga Big Sur Eucalyptus after Suzy described it and it so amazing and exactly whati was looking for (for years!) in a eucalyptus scent. Thanks, Anja’Marks & Spencer fragrances: We asked our Instagram followers to suggest a high street store to find some affordable fragrances in, and share our favourites. The top request by FAR was Marks & Spencer. So, we went to the Oxford Street store, and were SO impressed by the selection, layout, accessibility and thoughtfulness that’s gone in to the design - not only of the scents, but the space they’re displayed in.Not only was the layout chic and welcoming, the shelves were well-stocked with blotters and testers, making it a truly inviting place to go and explore perfumes (both M&S own-brand ones, and a great curation of other brands).First up, we sniffed the Summer Limited Edition duo (which we’d already promised to test for you a couple of episodes ago):Suzy’s favourite:Marshmallow Delight £12 for 100ml eau de parfum ‘Indulge in a scent that feels soft, sweet and irresistibly playful with this Marshmallow Delight eau de toilette from our Discover range. Juicy raspberry brings a bright opening, melting into fluffy marshmallow and smooth cream for a comforting, dessert-like finish.’Nicola’s favourite:Solar Fleur £12 for 100ml eau de parfum ‘Capture the warmth of sunlit skin with this radiant eau de toilette from our Discover range. A bright burst of mandarin opens the scent, softened by delicate jasmine and wrapped in the creamy sweetness of coconut milk. The result is a smooth, glowing fragrance that feels effortless and uplifting.’Then we made a beeline for the brand new M&S Studio Fragrance collection - and were both completely blown away! The quality is apparent the second you pick up the bottles: stylishly pared back they feel satisfyingly weighty with good quality lids, and even the labels are slightly recessed - a very luxe touch, all for £22.50 per 100ml eau de perfume. And the SCENTS! Oh my. So many great ones to choose from (shall we do a whole series?) but we chose…Suzy’s favourites:M&S Studio Amber Crème‘This Amber Crème eau de parfum is a refined and evocative choice. Sensual amber and rich vanilla combine with notes of rum, patchouli and crème anglaise to create a lavish, indulgent scent.Top note: Brown Sugar Middle note: Tonka Base note: Amber’M&S Studio Ginger Flower ‘Enjoy a fresh and contemporary scent with the Ginger Flower eau de parfum. The heart of the fragrance combines lively ginger with sweet citrus and orange blossom for an uplifting accord. Sensual white musk and blond woods create a warm, grounded finish.Top note: Ginger Middle note: Orange blossom Base note: White musk’Nicola’s favourites:Darkest Vanilla‘Enjoy a rich and velvety accord with the Darkest Vanilla eau de parfum. The sensual vanilla heart is complemented by warm amber, luscious tonka bean and dreamy patchouli. Notes of floral orchid and sweet brown sugar ensure a luxurious finish.Top note: Vanilla bean Middle note: Tonka Base note: AmberSheer Musk This Sheer Musk eau de parfum from M&S Studio is a subtly sensual choice. A heart of vegan sublimolide™ musk and ambrette absolute is complemented by floral rose and velvety orris. Cashmere and sandalwood notes create a grounded finish.Top note: Pink pepper Middle note: Cashmere Base note: MuskThey really are knocking it out of the park at M&S - in the beauty area (our fave, obvs) but also in their fashion and accessories. So many reasons to be excited again about going in-store! We must go back to try more perfumes, though, don’t you think?Nicola loved her Atelier Rebul mixing masterclass experience, and this is a house we want to tell you much more about (and smell our way through all their creations) in future episodes.Meanwhile….Suzy had the most incredible FREE half hour scented hand & arm massage at Norfolk Natural Living in their Lambs Conduit Street shop. This relaxing, unhurried ritual uses their all-natural products and ends with a bespoke fragrance discovery.Suzy chose to finish with a layered spritz of:Geranium & Tomato Leaf ‘Beyond the glass the garden breathes a little slower. Leaves stir with a soft whisper as the warmth begins to soften at the edges. The scent of crushed tomato vine lingers green and vivid against the rosy sweetness of geranium bloom. Neroli drifts through the shade like a pale ribbon of light while cool earth settles everything into an easy calm.It is the sort of afternoon that asks nothing of you. Sun warming terracotta. Green stems rubbed gently between the fingers. A bright citrus breeze wandering through open windows carrying lime and eucalyptus with it. The garden smells alive and a little unruly in the loveliest way.’(Layered with)Rose Garden‘The afternoon unfolds in layers of scent and light. I sit beneath the cedar tree, reading... The breeze is bright, alive, moving through the garden like thought. It brings the first shimmer of geranium leaf and Sicilian lemon, quick and green, a scent that catches the light like a silver blade. Then, the roses. They lean into the air, full and fresh, their sharp sweetness almost shocking after the citrus. The garden hums with life: petals opening, leaves trembling, sunlight deepening into gold.This rose is no dowager; it’s an ingénue with perfect posture. Geranium keeps it clean and quick, jasmine gives it flesh, cedar lends gravity, and amber that quiet, golden hum anchors it all. The air itself seems to thrum, half floral, half mineral, alive with that peculiar English freshness that smells of rain remembered rather than falling.’The fragrances start from £20 for 10ml and every one Suzy smelled was genuinely excellent (though we also need to go bs k here and try many more!)Norfolk Natural Living have stores around the U.K. (as well as selling their products online:You can enjoy the free Norfolk Natural Living hand & arm massage at selected stores (Cambridge, Southwold, Lambs Conduit St London, Woodbridge, Aldeburgh & Holt] by booking online, here:https://tinyurl.com/Norfolk-Natural-Living-MassageListener Prescription:Meira:Hi! I’m reaching out because I’ve heard you are experts in tracking down lost or discontinued fragrances. I’ve been on a long quest to find Ananya by The Body Shop (the original 1980s/90s version).​It holds so many memories for me, and I’ve been struggling to find it anywhere. Since it seems to be unavailable to ship to Europe, I was wondering if you could help me find it or, if not, recommend a fragrance that is a very close match in terms of scent profile (tuberose, peach, coconut, and sandalwood).​Any guidance or tips you could provide would mean the world to me. Thank you so much for your time and help!Suzy suggests:Chopard Casmir‘Casmir was launched in 1992. The nose behind this fragrance is Michel Almairac. Top notes are Peach, Coconut, Mango, Fruits and Bergamot; middle notes are Geranium, Jasmine, Floral Notes and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Vanilla, Amber, Sandalwood, Musk, Patchouli and Woodsy Notes.’Kayali Eden Sweet Peach | 35 ‘Sweet, luscious, and velvety, Eden Sweet Peach | 35 Eau de Parfum is pure happiness in a bottle. On first spritz, sweet-and-tangy peach and crisp red apple create a bright, mouthwatering opening while creamy frangipani adds softness and warmth at the heart of the juice. As the fragrance dries down, comforting musk melts into the skin, leaving a tender yet addictive trail that radiates effortless joy.’(Layered with)Kayali Utopia Vanilla Coco | 21‘Take a dip in your daydreams, where the clouds seem within reach and you’re blissfully floating in a glittering pool of possibilities. Creamy sandalwood and sweet white florals are topped with milky coconut, then whipped together with vanilla bourbon to evoke that sense of freedom from reality, transporting you to your perfect world, your Utopia.’On The Scent MagazineTo purchase a print issue of the first issue of On The Scent Magazine follow this link to order yours (delivery worldwide):
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  Bonus Subscriber Episode - Scents For Sleeping In A Heatwave 25.06.2026 32min

  If this is your first bonus subscriber-only episode: welcome! We’ve so much more for you in store, with an extra episode every single week (even when we’re on a break from the main podcast).Claggy, sweaty, humid weather: it’s the absolute worst for trying to get to sleep in, right? Well in this week’s extra episode, we’re discussing scents that, once sprayed, seem to instantly lower the temperature and create a cool, calming atmosphere.Do you wear fragrances to sleep (and save some especially for hot weather), or use diffusers, essential oils, or other fragrant ways of staying cool? We’d love to hear about them!Of course these fragrances don’t only have to be reserved for humid, sleepless nights - they can be used anytime you need to have an instant refresh or mood-re-setting moment.Here’s what we waft when it all gets a bit much…NEOM Super Shower Power Body Wash‘Smells like a fresh mint tea – invigorating and energising. All the flavours that make you feel awake, and alert are blended into this incredible sensorial shower cream: pinging mint, euphoric eucalyptus, cleansing rosemary and empowering coffee. Plus, there’s creamy oat milk to add a gorgeous feeling of nourishment and care around you, charging you up for the best start to the day. - Alice du Parcq.’NEOM Squeeze the Day Essential Oil Blend‘Smells like freshly cut and perfectly ripe citrus fruits - juicy and uplifting. The ultimate get-up-and-go blast of sharp-sweet citrus zest, featuring the perfect balance of bitter and tart grapefruit with warm and juicy mandarin. For extra oomph, there’s a subtle ping of cooling eucalyptus that radiates through your space – the greatest of all feel-good scents. - Alice du Parcq.’4711:Eau de Cologne‘One of the world's oldest and most famous authentic Eau de Cologne creations, having been produced in Cologne, Germany, since 1792. Known for its iconic blue-and-gold packaging, it is a timeless, unisex citrus-aromatic fragrance loved for its crisp, clean, and immediately refreshing profile.’Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Orange, Peach, and BasilHeart Notes: Lavender and RosemaryBase Notes: Neroli (orange blossom) and Petitgrain+ Eau de Cologne Tissues+ Eau de Cologne Cool StickGuerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca‘A note of fresh herbs sparkling with dew and springtime flowers, energised by a bunch of spearmint leaves and connected by a green tea accord. The fragrance is enlivened by a tonic accord with the aromas of cut grass glistening with dew.’DedCool Mineral Milk‘Your favorite MILK scent on a seaside getaway. The familiar, skin-like musk you love, refreshed with a salty breeze and mineral sparkle. A coastal daydream, bottled.TOP: GOLDEN NECTAR, PASSIONFRUITMIDDLE: COASTAL LAVENDER, OCEAN AIR, MARINE SALTBOTTOM: AMBER MILK, VIRGINIA CEDAR,AUSTRALIAN SANDALWOOD.’Roos & Roos Globulus‘At the top, eucalyptus globulus in two aspects: the essence of the leaves (aromatic) and the extract of the buds (fruity greens) for a lively freshness. In the heart, essence of mint (spicata mint) for a lively spicy burst of cardamom from Guatemala. The green facet is amplified by salviac (smell of sage leaves).In the background the cascalone blows a wind of aquatic freshness, like a morning dew. A crystal moss note (close to oak moss) creates a woody facet. A breeze of lively and minty freshness.’Diptyque Lemongrass & Geranium Body Spray‘A bright, aromatic spray infused with essential oils known to help repel mosquitoes. A limited-edition design inspired by summer water gardens.Lemongrass, geranium and neroli create a vibrant freshness on the skin. On the bottle, geraniums come to life in a design inspired by mosaic tesserae, imagined by Mathilde Jonquière.’HERETIC PARFUM - NOSFERATU‘In partnership with Nosferatu and Focus Features, Heretic is proud to collaborate on a fragrance inspired by the iconic vampire. Cold, pale and pellucid, this fragrance evokes the uneasy chill of encountering an apparition. The fragrance opens with a clap of thunder and downpour of rain, strikes of lightning fill the air with petrichor and electricity. Tangled in the stones of the dark, wet heart chord you will find lilac in vivid a bouquet of cadaverous hues punctuated by inky violet absolute. This floral accord of ether conjures memories of forgotten innocence and love everlasting that give way to the peculiar delights of vegan Ambergris. Soft and velvety the ambergris dances on the skin in a nostalgic waltz that is both delicate and hedonistic. Nosferatu is only in theaters this Christmas. © 2024 Focus Features LLC.’Norfolk Natural Living Magnesium Spray‘Our Magnesium Sleep body spray is…For sleep. For tension. For 3am spirals. Created by a mum who just wanted her child to rest.I didn’t set out to launch a magnesium sleep spray — I made this because my daughter couldn’t sleep.She wasn’t dramatic, just quietly anxious. Her little mind wouldn’t switch off. Bedtime became a knot of questions, overthinking, and restlessness. So I blended magnesium with lavender and sweet orange. A gentle, calming spray she could trust—and so could I. It helped her sleep. Properly.And once I saw it worked for her, I started using it too—after long days, before travel, when a migraine threatened, or when my own brain refused to slow down. Now it lives in every bag and on every bedside table. Not just for sleep. For calm.What it doesHelps you fall—and stay—asleep Spray on feet, wrists, or chest. Breathe deeply. Sleep comes easier.Calms anxiety For that wired-at-bedtime feeling, or mid-day overwhelm. A few sprays help settle things down.Relieves muscle tension & restless legs Ideal after workouts, desk days, or long flights.Soothes migraines & tension headaches Apply to neck and temples at the first sign of a flare-up.Supports sleep during perimenopause and menopause Great for night sweats, restless sleep, and general hormonal chaos—no hormones involved.What’s in itMagnesium Sulfate – Known to relax muscles, reduce anxiety, and support melatonin production.Lavender Essential Oil – The classic calming scent, soothing and familiar.Sweet Orange Essential Oil – Uplifting and comforting; balances out bedtime anxiety.Nothing synthetic, nothing sticky – Vegan, cruelty-free, and handmade in Norfolk.How to use itFor sleep: 4–6 sprays on wrists, feet, or backs of knees about 20 minutes before bed.For muscle tension: 8–10 sprays, massage into sore areas.For anxiety: Spray on palms, rub, and inhale slowly.For migraines or tension headaches: Apply to back of neck and temples.For children aged 5+: 2–3 sprays after bath or before bed.On-the-go: Use before travel, meetings, or school runs to take the edge off.’
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  Season 8, Episode 1: Bespoke Floris fragrance, Chanel’s symbolism & what we’re wearing 19.06.2026 1val 14min

  We’re back with a whole new season of On the Scent Podcast!While we had a break on the main pod, we’ve still been recording our Patreon exclusive episodes every week, which you can catch up with on patreon.com https://www.patreon.com/u84518038Meanwhile, we’ve been busy attending some incredible new launches, many of which you’ll hear about in this episode, and Nicola and her husband, Chris, got to have bespoke fragrances made for them by Nicola Pozzani, the Global Fragrance Ambassador and Bespoke Perfumer for Floris London! She’s talking us through the entire process here, and you’ll hear some recordings she made in the historic Jermyn Street perfumer’s office on the day.Suzy also got to experience something rather wonderful, visiting the newly appointed Chanel salon in Harrods for a ‘Grand Parfumeur’ session revealing the fascinating symbolism present in Chanel’s life, aesthetics, and the new Extrait perfumes. She also attended the jaw-dropping launch of BDK’s three new fragrances, each inspired by spectacular fabrics.After talking about the celeb-filled celebrations of The Fragrance Foundation Awards, with more being more, there’s much talk of what’s on the current ‘can’t stop wearing list’ (which includes a latex and lipstick scent Nicola adores, a mushroom fragrance Suzy’s obsessed by, and a reconnection with a past perfume love).On this week’s episode…Floris London Bespoke Experience:https://tinyurl.com/florisbespokeBDK Stellar Silk‘Stellar Silk unfolds around the milky, textured richness of a creamy, precious sandalwood. At the top, a spicy spark of ginger and cinnamon bark is delicately dusted with saffron. Then, the floral heart of iris unfolds, echoing the intimate caress of fabric against the skin, enveloped in vanilla, tonka bean, and the profound warmth of benzoin tears. In the base, sandalwood and musks carry and extend the trail with gentle intensity. Like a precious thread of silk, Stellar Silk lays a veil of sensuality across the skin. A fragrance of passion, it radiates as a luminous halo, balancing depth and lightness to create an enduring, timeless elegance. Around the silk, a universe of luxury emerges, defined by a noble material exploring with subtlety the porous boundaries between masculine and feminine wardrobes. The softness and delicacy of the fabric flirt with the sensuality of evening gowns, evoking Haute Couture silhouettes where creative freedom blurs boundaries, reminiscent of designs by Yves Saint Laurent or Valentino Garavani. In the airy, whispering rustle of muslin, an ode rises to the preciousness of a millennia-old material, noble and treasured.’BDK Silver Ceremony‘Silver Ceremony is conceived in resonance with the precious radiance of sequins. At the top, bergamot, green mandarin, and lemon illuminate the fragrance as light strikes metal, sparkling with a crystalline, vibrant, almost icy freshness, heightened by the spicy brilliance of ginger and pink pepper. In the base, woody notes unfold, dominated by cedar, set with patchouli and oud, and faceted with the amber nuances of labdanum. A textured creation, rich in energy and vibration, where freshness accentuates depth and warmth anchors luminosity. Constructed like an architectural masterpiece in which movement and stillness coexist, it is at once solid and fluid. Like a luminous, shimmering, ethereal garment, Silver Ceremony reveals itself as a fragrance with an electric, magnetic, incisive, and radiant signature. In the 1960s, when Paco Rabanne was celebrated as a metallurgist, he boldly wove metal into his creations, sculpting dresses with the precision of an architect. Thierry Mugler conjured robotized silhouettes, evoking a visionary, almost cosmic futurism. As for sequins, with their meticulous artisanal craftsmanship, they endure as a luminous and precious signature of Haute Couture, illuminating the most sophisticated ensembles with a radiant brilliance.’BDK Oud Paradiso‘Oud Paradisio unveils itself: a fragrance at once powerful, captivating, opulent, and audacious. Dominating with majesty is a dark, enveloping oud wood. At the top, the fresh, citrusy brightness of bergamot is enlivened by the juicy, succulent sweetness of frosted pineapple, while a subtle veil of incense and saffron whispers through the composition. The exquisite floral heart unfolds as a precious trio of roses, two essences and an absolute, imbuing the composition with elegance and depth. The warm base marries shadowy oud with cocoa, creating an arrangement rich in intensity and sumptuous voluptuousness. Sensuality blossoms among a woody warmth, nuanced with subtle restraint. Its assertive character is sculpted by the animalic accents revealed through the potent olfactory presence of oud essence. Complex and surprising, Oud Paradisio is a nocturnal perfume steeped in mystery. In fashion, leather claims its nobility without forsaking its innate animality, which imparts strength and commanding presence. Designers have challenged leather, shaping it into a second skin, Claude Montana in the 1980s with exaggerated shoulders crafted for fearless, audacious personalities. More recently, Rick Owens has celebrated this material with brilliance, transgressing its codes with boldness, even a hint of provocation. Animalistic by nature, leather embodies strength, power, and confidence.’Atelier Rebul Istanbul‘Discover the hidden scents of Istanbul with this eau de parfum. The glittering notes of bergamot is blended with spicy notes of cinnamon, saffron and clove, as well as floral and woody notes. The fragrance of our Istanbul collection is truly striking and unique.’ Vyrao Ludatrix‘Naughty notes of lipstick and latex entwine with powdery rose, energising sichuan pepper and courage-enhancing orris to cast Ludatrix’s enticing and empowered spell. Tantalising ambrette for igniting arousal is layered with voluptuous cedarwood, sandalwood and olibanum for positivity and protection, while a potent blend of ambrox and musk sparks sensuality. Bold and boundless desire, bottled.’Nasomatto MicrodelirioAll we’re told is ‘The fragrance is the result of a natural vital delirium, evoking a flourishing ecosystem of organic disobedience.’ Suzy senses ultra-realistic petrichor (rain soaked earth), creamy mushrooms, leaf-mulchy forest floor, vetiver, perhaps some beetroot fruitiness (?) and bags of patchouli earthiness. Lush Ginger‘A fragrance of the sensation of tasting ginger for the first time and feel it warming your body. Ginger is combined with flowers – mimosa, geranium, rose, ylang ylang and jasmine. A touch of juniper berry makes the composition vivid and fruity.’Goldfield & Banks Ingenious Ginger‘Ingenious Ginger is a floral amber perfume inspired by the lush Atherton Tablelands. red back ginger blends with bergamot, mandarin, magnolia, vanilla, amber and australian sandalwood.A world-first exploration of Australian Red Back Ginger, this best-selling Eau De Parfum offers an instant sense of nature in a blissful and sultry destination.’Buy issue 1 of On The Scent magazine and feast your eyes on the fabulous fragrant features, news and reviews in print! Get your copy here:https://www.onthescentmedia.com/shop
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  Season 7, Episode 41: On The Scent Revisits Alice du Parcq Part 2 11.06.2026 56min

  In this episode we’re catching up with the joyous beauty and fragrance journalist and broadcaster, Alice du Parcq, for part TWO of her mega-list of fabulous fragrances. (If you haven’t already, do go and listen to Part 1 (episode 11) where Alice hilariously explains how one of her favourites is forever entwined with frogs legs… Meanwhile, here we delve into those she’s adored for decades and more recent scent discoveries made on a shopping trip with Sali Hughes! Part 2 of Alice’s Fragrance List: @ysl Kouros @ysl Rive Gauche @guerlain Cuir Beluga @guerlain Bois d'Armenie @guerlain Tonka Imperiale @lartisanparfumeur Bois Farine @acquadiparma_official Colonia Essenza @diorbeauty Éden Roc @fredericmalle Musc Ravageur @celine Black Tie @loccitane_uk_ire Terre de Lumière @tomford Métallique
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  Season 7 Ep 40 - On The Scent Revisits Alice du Parcq (Part 1) 04.06.2026 1val

  In this episode we’re thrilled to welcome our first guest & who better than self-confessed fragrance obsessive, Alice du Parcq. From the age of 17, Alice worked in the beauty departments of Tatler, the Telegraph, The Times and Glamour magazine and was Beauty Director at Conde Nast Brides and Easy Living for over 10 years. Since going freelance she’s written for British Vogue, Red, Stella, Stylist, Sunday Times Style (the list goes on), is now Contributing Editor at Glamour & writes for Space NK’s magazine. Phew! During lockdown Alice began regular Instagram lives called Desert Island Spritz, which Suzy was honoured to be a guest on, but now we’re turning the tables to find out which fragrances have been her favourites for summer, lifelong loves, lockdown saviours and daily go-to’s… During our chat, these are the fragrances we mentioned: @ukgap Gap Heaven @guylarochefragrances Drakkar Noir @helmutlang Helmut Lang Eau de Parfum @millerharris L’Air de Rien @calvinklein Obsession @creedboutique Creed Angelique Encens @guerlain Mitsouko @jeanpaulgaultier Le Male @bentleymotors Bentley Momentum N.C.P Olfactive 704 Incense and Musk @cliniqueuk Aromatics Elixirs @jomalonelondon Basil & Neroli @diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’Eau @chanelofficial Le Lion @nivea_uk Nivea Sun (use Alice’s code to get 20% off! ALICE20)
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  Season 7 Ep 39 -On The Scent Revisits: Sali Hughes 28.05.2026 56min

  We’re utterly thrilled our guest for this episode is @salihughes - a hugely influential journalist with her regular Guardian column, a broadcaster, author of the books Pretty Honest & Pretty Iconic, and who can often be found ferreting around in celebrities’ bathrooms for her fascinating YouTube series ‘In the Bathroom With…’ As if that wasn’t enough, she’s also Co-founder of @thebeautybanks - an organisation that gets donations of self-care and hygiene products directly to those in need. We could have talked to Sali for hours, but in this episode we’re delving deep into the fragrances Sali uses in her emotionally-supportive toolkit. We just know you’re going to LOVE listening to this joyous (and often revealing) discussion. Fragrances that formed part of Sali’s childhood: @yardleylondonuk English Lavender @officialbiba perfume (1970s) @diorbeauty Miss Dior (the original) The scents Sali uses now as… Signature scents: @chanelofficial No5 @yslbeauty Rive Gauche @fredericmalle L’Eau D’Hiver Confidence-boosters: @chanelofficial Coco @ormondejayne Ormonde Woman @guerlain Mitsouko Va-va-voom sexy (for herself): @celine Nightclubbing Immediately calming: @johnsonsbabyuk Baby Lotion @nivea_uk Creme @fredericmalle Cologne Indélébile Wild card: @heeleyofficial L'Amandiere Extraits Find out more about @thebeautybanks & how you can help: https://www.beautybanks.org.uk (https://www.beautybanks.org.uk) Read Sali’s books: Pretty Honest https://tinyurl.com/PrettyHonest (https://tinyurl.com/PrettyHonest) Pretty Iconic https://tinyurl.com/PrettyIconic (https://tinyurl.com/PrettyIconic)