Man In The Mirror

This week’s guest is Ben Janoušek, the CEO UK & Europe for Kaorium, a company that builds tech to enhance the in-store customer experience with fragrance. Billed as ‘the scent sommelier’, Kaorium sits at the intersection between retail, technology and the customer. It’s an intuitive table-top unit that helps fragrance discovery using words around feelings, emotion and mood, rather than brands, perfume notes or materials.Ben and his team are keen to make the perfume shopping experience as frictionless and fun as possible, with no barriers to participation. It was fascinating to find out more about his career to date, his extra curricular activities in the theatre (!) and of course his morning and evening routines.Ben mentioned the following products from his grooming routines:Original Source - Mint & Tea Tree shower gelhttps://www.original-source.com/uk/products/originals/mint-tea-tree-shower-gel/Sure - Deodorant https://www.suredeodorant.co.uk/products.htmlWella - Shockwaves hair gelhttps://www.wella.com/international/about-wella/shockwavesParfums de Marly - Haltanehttps://uk.parfums-de-marly.com/products/haltaneGallivant - Gdańskhttps://www.gallivant-perfumes.com/products/gdansk-eau-de-parfumYou can find out more about Kaorium here:Brand website:https://www.kaorium.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/discoverkaorium- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. 

This week’s guest is recognisable by his first name alone - and is someone that’s been at the vanguard of niche and luxury perfumery throughout the 21st century. Roja Dove is the Founder of Roja London. He’s had a long and storied career that’s taken him from working personally with the Guerlain family to setting up the ‘Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie’ in the Salon de Parfums in Harrods, then going on to create his own brand, Roja London.I sat down with Roja in the brand’s boutique in Burlington Arcade in London in April 2026. We chatted about his background, his career, his favourite products - and what he thinks about the man that looks back at him in the mirror. This was a hugely enjoyable conversation - and thanks to Roja for being so kind, thoughtful and generous with his time.Roja mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:La Roche Posay - Effaclar Toner https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/%C2%A0effaclar-clarifying-toner-for-oily-blemish-prone-skin-200ml/LRP_065.htmlChanel - Sublimage Eye Serumhttps://www.chanel.com/gb/skincare/p/147960/sublimage-le-serum-yeux-ultimate-eye-serum-reinvigorates-and-illuminates/Chanel - Antaeus stick deodoranthttps://www.chanel.com/gb/fragrance/p/118700/antaeus-deodorant-stick/Roja London - Bespoke perfumehttps://rojalondon.com/You can find out more here:Brand website:https://rojalondon.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rojalondon/Roja Dove on IG:https://www.instagram.com/rojadove/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. 

This week’s guest is a Max Foucaut, a young menswear designer I met earlier this year. I was hugely impressed with the collection and then I found out he has also released a trio of fragrances to sit along side the menswear, so I had to chat to him on the podcast!Max was born in Paris, educated in Southern California and studied in London at Central St Martins. His designs take all those contrasting cultures and environments and create something fresh - there’s elements of French workwear, relaxed Californian silhouettes and then the precision and craftsmanship of Savile Row in London. I particularly loved a boxy indigo jacket in the Max’s latest collection shown in Paris Fashion Week, there’s incredible details in the cut and the pockets. Max is a name to watch out for - and an exciting future talent in the fashion and fragrance industries. I’m thrilled he agreed to spend some time talking to me about his life and his work. Max mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Aesop - various products from the hand & body range.https://www.aesop.co.uk/hand-and-body.htmlMax Foucaut Parfums - Ombre Vivante, Ombre Solaire and Ombre Nocturnehttps://maxfoucaut.com/parfumsYou can find out more here:Brand website:https://maxfoucaut.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/max.foucaut- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. 

It’s your weekly ‘Man in the Mirror’ fix and this week’s guest is someone I’ve wanted to get on the show for a long time - it’s Geza Schoen, co-founder & perfumer at Escentric Molecules.The brand turns 20 years old this year and is about to open their first stand-alone store in Berlin. It was the perfect chance to chat to Geza about his background, his work, the brand and the plans for the future. There’s a brand new fragrance pillar called ‘Cologne One’ that has just been released and it fits seamlessly into the range. Bright, refreshing, optimistic and a riff on a Gin & Tonic. It has the signature Escentric Molecules ease-of-wear and a dry down of ambroxan, Iso E Super and musk that helps it linger on the skin. I’ve been loving wearing it over the last few weeks. https://www.escentric.com/products/cologne-oneGeza mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Biotherm Homme - Aquapower Creamhttps://int.biotherm.com/en_GB/mens-grooming/by-mens-collection/aquapower/Eccentric Molecules - 01, 03, 05 Body Lotionhttps://www.escentric.com/collections/body-lotionSebastian - Craft Clayhttps://www.sebastianprofessional.com/en-GB/products/specialists/craft-clay-texturizing-and-flexible-styling-clayDavidoff Cool Water - Deodorant Stickhttps://www.justmylook.com/products/davidoff-cool-water-for-men-deodorant-stick-75gYou can find out more here:Brand website:https://www.escentric.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/escentric_molecules/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. 

Welcome back to a brand new season of Man in the Mirror! There’s been a slight hiatus between seasons, slightly longer than planned, to be honest - but I’m back! Thanks so much for joining me for this first episode in season 11, with perfumer Nicolas Bonneville.Nicolas is a perfumer with DSM Firmenich, one of the major fragrance houses. He was in London recently to talk about the Harrods exclusive ‘London Confidential’ for Givenchy. We met in Harrods and chatted about his background, how he got into fragrance and of course the beautiful fragrance he’s created to celebrate the brand new Givenchy boutique within Harrods, London. It draws on the luxury brand’s heritage and its connection to the famous Knightsbridge department store. You can find more information here:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/c/givenchy-la-collection-particuliereNicolas mentioned the following products/services from his morning and evening routines:L’Oreal Men Expert - Moisturiserhttps://www.loreal-paris.co.uk/men-expert-hydra-energetic/men-expert-hydra-energetic-anti-fatigue-moisturiserHair Wax - VariousYou can find Nicolas on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/bonneville.nicolas/Brand website:https://www.givenchybeauty.com/gbBrand Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/givenchybeauty/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. 

One of the joys of this job is learning about new brands - and one of my favourites fragrance discoveries of 2025 is Nosu. I met the co-founders, Jacob Grainger & Lucy Webster at the Barnes Fragrance Fair earlier in the year and it was a pleasure to re-connect with Jacob recently for the podcast.Jacob is the co-founder and self-taught perfumer of Nosu, a British indie perfume house. There are currently 3 fragrances in the collection, made in North London and each one is accompanied by an original artwork created by Lucy, inspired by the textures and themes within the scent. Together, these elements blur the lines between the visual and the olfactory worlds, offering a full sensory experience.Lucy & Jacob are part of a new wave of talented indie brands who are doing things their own way and working collaboratively. In line with that ethos, Nosu are taking part in the first ‘Pop Up Perfumery’ where various brands will take over a temporary space at 69 York Street, London W1 from 13-16th Nov 2025, alongside Eau de Boujee, Soul Notes and Sainte Cellier. https://www.instagram.com/thepopupperfumery/They have also created a bespoke scent for the ‘Passengers’ exhibition at Parallel LDN Gallery, which is running until the end of November in Devonshire Square in London. https://www.instagram.com/parallellondon/Jacob mentioned the following products/services from his morning and evening routines:Tocobo - Moisturiserhttps://www.boots.com/tocobo-multi-ceramide-cream-50ml-10359710The Ouai - The Wave Salt Sprayhttps://theouai.co.uk/products/wave-spray?variant=54933620228478George Northwood Barbers - Shoreditch, Londonhttps://www.georgenorthwood.com/You can find Nosu on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/nosuparfum/?hl=enBrand website:https://www.nosuparfum.com/Nosu Fragrances are available from the following stores:https://www.instagram.com/roullierwhite/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/parfumledanceuk/?hl=en- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production and Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork.