Man In The Mirror

You may remember a previous guest from season 7, the wonderful Adam Hurly, who is a journalist and the man behind the ‘Blue Print’ channel. He mentioned a U.S. grooming brand that I didn’t know called Brightside and then kindly connected us. Brightside have now launched in the UK and EU, so I took the opportunity to chat to co-founder Chris Hjerling about the inception and the ethos of the brand, the influence of his coastal location in San Diego, California and what’s next for Brightside (hint, it may include fragrance and more body products!ñChris was a fascinating guest, with real insight into the joys and the challenges of developing a brand from scratch. Along with his co-founder Landon, they have created men’s hair products that have been lauded by GQ (as well Adam Hurly!) and are all about elevating personal care and styling using clean, premium ingredients. The products are high performance, but low-maintenance - now that’s something we can all get behind…Chris mentioned the following products during our conversation:Acure - Facial Scrubhttps://acure.com/products/brightening-facial-scrubWahl - Beard Trimmerhttps://www.wahl.co.uk/product-category/personal-care/mens-grooming/beard-trimmers-mens-grooming/Brightside - Hair productshttps://brightsidestyle.com/collections/all https://slickstyles.co.uk/product-category/brands/brightside/ (U.K stockist)Kiehls - Facial Cleanserhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/cleansers/cleanser/ultra-facial-cleanser-MUK200003314.htmlSalt & Stone - Body Misthttps://www.saltandstone.com/en-gb/products/body-mist?variant=45052090876154You can find Brightside on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/brightside.styleOnline at: https://brightsidestyle.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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 was a real treat to talk to Thomas Dunckley this week on the podcast. He was one of the first accounts I followed when I got into fragrance and has an incredible ability to make his content accessible, relatable and fun. Thomas is a hugely experienced and knowledgeable writer, blogger, speaker and podcaster. He used to write using the name ‘the candy perfume boy’ (changing the gender of the title of a Madonna song!) but now goes under the name ‘making scents make sense.’ This seems to neatly encapsulate his ethos - democratising fragrance and bringing it to life.Thomas’ new podcast will start in April 2025, also called ‘making scents make sense’ and it sounds like he has some great guests and topics lined up. He mentioned the following products during our conversation:Pixie - Glow Tonichttps://pixibeauty.co.uk/products/glow-tonic-250mlPixie - Rose Ceramide Creamhttps://pixibeauty.co.uk/products/rose-ceramide-creamChanel - Hydra Beauty Micro-Serum.https://www.chanel.com/gb/skincare/p/143180/hydra-beauty-micro-serum-intense-replenishing-hydration/Bedhead for Men - Shampoo/Conditionerhttps://escentual.com/products/tigi-bed-head-for-men-clean-up-shampoo-and-conditioner-tween-duo-2-x-750ml?variant=49266697896260Roger & Gallet - Fleur de Figuierhttps://escentual.com/products/roger-gallet-fleur-de-figuier-wellbeing-shower-gel?variant=49265921294660Bon Parfumeur - 403 Myrrh Shadowhttps://www.bonparfumeur.com/en-gb/products/403-timut-pepper-myrrh-benzoinYou can find Thomas on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/makingscentsmakesenseOnline at: https://www.thomasdunckley.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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 I had the pleasure of talking to Rodrigo Nikaido who is co-owner and Global Growth Director at Mexican luxury interior fragrance brand Aromaria. Aromaria recently opened their flagship European store on Regent Street in London and it’s a stunning expression of Mexican creativity and flair fused with an elegant, minimalist aesthetic. The brand is known for candles, room sprays and giant ‘perfume sticks’, which are available as 50cm (M) & 1.2m (XL) incense sticks in a variety of scents. All the fragrances are developed in Grasse, France and the products are crafted in Mexico. If you’re ever in Central London the Aromaria store is well worth a visit, you can even craft your own bespoke fragrance. Rodrigo mentioned the following products during our conversation:Aromaria - Cabinet de Curiosities Incense Sticks https://www.aromaria.co.uk/products/buddhas-apprentice-pure-perfume-stick-collectionAromaria - Fresh White Room Spray, Grapefruit Room Sprayhttps://www.aromaria.co.uk/collections/room-spraysLa Mer - Lip Balmhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/lipcare/lip-balm/the-lip-balm-MUK200034795.htmlRodrigo uses fragrances from - Amouage, Byredo, MFK, Orto Parisi - as well as fine fragrance that Aromaria is developing for release soon.You can find Aromaria on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/aromariamxOnline at: https://www.aromaria.co.uk/ (UK)https://aromaria.mx/ (Rest of the world) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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. Special thanks to Bacchus Agency for arranging the interview.

A very special episode this week with not one, but two hugely talented and in-demand perfumers. I am joined by (friend of the show!) Julien Rasquinet along with Paul Guerlain. The two of them were at Harrods in London to discuss ‘Lustre’, a fragrance they co-created for the house of Amouage. ‘Lustre’ is one of a trio of fragrances that make up ‘The Essences’ and each one is double-infused and aged for 6 months. The other two fragrances in the new collection are ‘Reasons’ and ‘Outlands.’ They have all been created using a high concentration of 30% perfume oil, along with many other technical and aesthetic innovations that we discuss during our conversation. We had chance to talk about ‘The Essences’, the opportunity to work with the prestigious Amouage, how they approached working as two perfumers on one fragrance and also (for Paul) what it means to be part of the Guerlain family.Paul mentioned the following products in his routine:Abeille Royale Day Cream - Guerlainhttps://www.guerlain.com/uk/en-uk/p/abeille-royale-day-cream-P061500.htmlAbeille Royale Night Cream - Guerlain https://www.guerlain.com/uk/en-uk/p/abeille-royale-honey-treatment-night-cream-P061850.htmlJulien is a man of simple pleasures and uses bar soap and anti-dandruff shampoo!You can find Amouage on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/amouageofficial/?hl=enOnline at: https://amouage.com/en-uk/pages/the-amouage-essences‘The Essences’ are available in the UK at Harrods:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/amouage-lustre-essence-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007713693Julien is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/julienrasquinet/?hl=enPaul is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/paulguerlain/?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, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Special thanks to KGA for arranging the interview.

Welcome back! This is the first ‘Man in the Mirror’ of 2025, we’re in March so I’m WAY too late to say ‘Happy New Year’ to you, but I hope the year has got off to a great start. I’m delighted to be back with more new episodes, there’s some amazing guests to come this season…My guest in episode 1 is Stuart Williams-Philp, who describes himself as a ‘Liberty veteran and retail survivor!’ Stuart has been a sales specialist in the Ground Floor fragrance department at the world famous Liberty in London, UK for over 20 years. There can’t be many people who know the retail space, the trends and most importantly, what the customer wants better than Stuart. I first ‘met’ Stuart via his Instagram channel @Stubieblessed. If you aren’t following him, you should do so immediately. It’s a (rare) positive, joyful and fun account where he talks about his love of interiors, design, beauty and of course fragrance. Oh - and he also has a ‘Monday moan’, so you can see what gets on his nerves each week! I subsequently met him IRL in the Liberty store and I can confirm he’s just as friendly and fabulous in the flesh! Stuart mentioned the following products in his routine:Augustinus Bader - The Rich Creamhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/the-rich-cream-30ml-000725185.html#pos=2Aesop - Facial Cleanserhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/purifying-facial-cream-cleanser-100ml-304141.html#pos=34Sam McKnight - Shampoohttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/rich-cleanse-nourishing-shampoo--250ml-000783331.html#pos=11Ultra Violette - SPF50https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/u/ultra-violette/Escentric Molecules - Molecule 01https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/u/ultra-violette/?algq=escentric%20molNew Notes - Latte di Cherryhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/n/new-notes/You can find Liberty on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/LibertyLondon/Online at: https://www.libertylondon.com/Stuart is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/stubieblessed/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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

Surprise! A cheeky Christmas mini-pod episode with me/Santa recommending a few festive gifts in fragrance and grooming at various price points. Hopefully there’s something to suit your budget to either buy for someone (or to ask for yourself!)I’ll be back with a brand new season in January with lots of great guests. Have a great Christmas break, thanks for listening in 2024 and I look forward to your company in the new year.Brioni - Suave EDP - £76 (60ml) https://www.debenhams.com/product/brioni-brioni-eau-de-parfum-suave_ydd17333?colour=miscHerlum - Hand & Body Duo - £56https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/herlum-hand-and-body-wash-and-lotion-duo-sandalwood-and-grapefruit-500ml/13950834/Arkive by Adam Reed - No One Elsie Scent for Hair & Body - £30https://arkivehea£dcare.com/products/no-one-elsieRoger & Gallet - Cologne Twist Eau de Cologne - £34.96https://escentual.com/products/roger-gallet-twist-eau-de-cologne-spray-100ml?variant=49266671419716AKT - Deodorant Balm - £21https://www.aktlondon.com/Acqua di Parma - Caminetto Candle 200g - £63.75https://www.johnlewis.com/acqua-di-parma-caminetto-scented-candle-200g/p112520183Murdock London - Quince & Oakmoss Shampoo/Conditioner Gift Set - £35.70https://www.murdocklondon.com/products/quince-oakmoss-shampoo-conditioner(Please note - some of the above items were gifted to me, with no obligation to post or review. Some of them I bought myself.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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————————————————————————————————Special 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.