Man In The Mirror

Thanks for checking out this episode of ‘Man in the Mirror’ podcast. My guest this week is self-styled ‘perfume author’ Jonathan Ward, who is founder of his eponymous brand, well known for exquisite home fragrance and now fine fragrance too. I first got a Jonathan Ward ‘Kartushya’ candle a few years ago and now and I think it’s still one of the best I’ve ever had. A room-filling, rich fragrance, aesthetically beautiful, a smooth, even burn and using only the finest organic waxes. It’s no wonder his products are sought by the great and the good and can be found in many high-end restaurants, hotels and boutiques. During our chat Jonathan tells me about his creative process, the move into fine fragrance, what’s coming up this year and some of the recent changes he’s made to his life.It was a really honest, open and revealing conversation and I’m so grateful to Jonathan for trusting me. You’ll hear how candid he is about past addictions and issues and how determined he is to make this next chapter of his life his most fulfilling and successful yet. I have no doubt he will do it.In the episode Jonathan mentioned the following products in his routine:Neal’s Yard Remedies - Frankincense Cleansing Melthttps://www.nealsyardremedies.com/products/frankincense-intense-cleansing-melt-100mlNars - Radiance Primerhttps://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/radiance-primer-spf-35/0607845022312.htmlNars - Bronzing Powderhttps://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/mini-laguna-bronzing-powder/0194251137650.htmlMoroccanoil - Moroccan Argan Oil https://uk.moroccanoil.com/products/pure-argan-oilJonathan Ward - Untopia EDP Fragrancehttps://www.thejonathanward.com/u-n-t-o-p-i-a/edpYou can find the whole Jonathan Ward range online at:https://www.thejonathanward.com/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/thejonathanward/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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.

Welcome to episode 3 of the latest season of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ My guest this week is creative, designer, entrepreneur and founder of anatomē, Brendan Murdock. anatomē are a wellness brand and a contemporary take on the apothecary. The formulations and products support sleep, gut health, and emotional wellbeing and attempt to bring balance to modern lifestyles. The brand has just launched a range of wellbeing parfums with four available now and 2 more to come in mid-August 2024.Brendan has also published a book with Gabriel Weil entitled ’The Modern Apothecary’, all about the power of botanicals and what they can do to improve your wellbeing:https://www.anatome.co/products/the-modern-apothecary?_pos=2&_sid=6914000ff&_ss=rIn this episode Brendan mentioned the following products in his routine:Illuminating Face OilFace & Hand WashMuscle Ease Body OilUltra Hydrating Face MoisturiserSleep Oil - all from anatomēAvailable here:https://www.anatome.co/anatomē - Expression’ Parfum:https://www.anatome.co/products/expression-eau-de-parfumFragrances from Cire Trudon:https://trudon.co.uk/eaux-de-parfum/eaux-de-parfum-100ml.htmlAcqua di Cuba - Santa Maria Novella:https://uk.smnovella.com/products/7010384You can find the whole anatomē range instore and online at:https://www.anatome.co/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/anatomelondon/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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.

Thanks for listening to episode 2 of the new series! My guest this week is Austin Mutti-Mewse, the brand manager at the oldest barbershop in the world, Truefitt & Hill. The brand has served monarchs, prime ministers, military leaders and the great and the good for over 200 years. They are now based in the St James area of central London.Truefitt & Hill are known for their range of colognes, splashes and grooming products, as well as the barbering services. I was lucky enough to get my hair cut by Aldo in the store ahead of my chat with Austin and it definitely was a ‘cut-above’ (sorry, I can’t resist a hair-based pun!) I highly recommend the calm, unhurried professionalism of the team, the quality of the cut and the refined atmosphere. Austin & I also discuss the ways the brand has modernised, including collabs with Netflix’s ‘The Gentlemen’ and with The King’s Foundation on the Highgrove rangeIn this episode Austin mentioned the following products:Truefitt & Hill:Pre-shave oilSandalwood shaving cream Sandalwood beard oilhttps://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/collections/shavingSandalwood aftershave balmHighgrove colognehttps://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/collections/fragrancesYou can find the whole Truefitt & Hill range instore and online at:https://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/and on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/truefittandhillofficial/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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.

Welcome back to Season 7! Something a bit different to kick things off - I recorded this first episode in front of an audience of fragrance lovers at the world famous Liberty department store, London in June 2024. I was lucky enough to get some time with world renowned perfumer Pierre Negrin, the man behind Black Orchid for Tom Ford, many fragrances for Amouage and Ralph Lauren - and he has now created ‘Tudor’ for Liberty’s LBTY fragrance line. It seemed appropriate to talk about the fragrance in the building that inspired it. It was a huge pleasure to talk to Pierre about his life, his work and his inspirations in Liberty - and I hope to do more live events in future! In this episode Pierre mentioned the following products:LBTY - Tudorhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/tudor-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000785499.htmlSavon De Marseille Soaphttps://www.frenchsoaps.co.uk/collections/savon-de-marseilleAesop Fragranceshttps://www.aesop.com/uk/You can find the whole LBTY fragrance range exclusively instore and online at Liberty:https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/department/beauty/perfume/The brand new Liberty Fragrance Lounge that we refer to in the podcast is on the Lower Ground Floor, for the concierge service, a spacious, thoughtful layout and a whole new way to shop for fragrance. The OG ground floor perfume department still stocks an extensive range of the best brands and has the most brilliant staff, so be sure to visit both areas if you’re in the store. Liberty can be found at: Regent St, London W1B 5AH.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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 Insta:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Liz, Sophie and Hannah at Liberty for looking after us so well and organising a brilliant event, Andrew and Giancarlo for a great job on the AV in store. 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.

My guest this week is, err, me! I thought as an ‘end of term’ episode I could tell you a bit more about me - and some of the products I’ve been enjoying recently. Rather than talk to myself, which might be weird, I remembered that I’m married to an ex-radio DJ, so I enlisted the help of my wife Ali to turn the tables and pose the questions for one week only. She also has the honour of being the first female voice on the podcast, ha ha! Huge thanks to Ali - she did a great job and if I don’t watch out she’ll be coming for my job and will be back on the mic each week!I talk a little bit about my other work in the music industry and how I got into writing/blogging and now podcasting about fragrance, skincare and grooming. Thanks for joining me this season and hope to see you back in June. Normal service will be resumed next season, don’t worry - I won’t make a habit of this!In this episode I mention the following products:Horace - Orange Blossom & Petitgrain Shower Gelhttps://horace.com/en/product/orange-blossom-petitgrain-shower-gelHeath - Face Wash, Cream Shave, Eye Serumhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/Shake Up - Face Forward Tonerhttps://shakeupcosmetics.com/products/face-4ward-tonerPatricks - AM1 Moisturiserhttps://patricksproducts.co.uk/collections/skincare/products/am1-moisturizer-normal-to-dry-skinLa Roche Posay - SPF 50 Oil Controlhttps://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-oil-control-invisible-fluid/LRP_930.htmlMurdock London - Beard Moisturiser, Sea Salt Spray, Textured Hair Creamhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/Vyrao - Magnetic 70https://www.spacenk.com/uk/fragrance/personal-fragrance/fragrance/magnetic-70-eau-de-parfum-MUK200048685.htmlMurdock London - Black Teahttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/cologne/products/black-tea-cologne-50mlTom Daxon - Laconiahttps://www.tomdaxon.com/products/laconia- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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/--------------------------------Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. See you next season!!

My guest this week is Alex Oprey, who is the Marketing and E-Commerce Director at British fragrance brand Miller Harris. Alex lifts the lid on the creative process once the actual perfume is made. We speak about the task of bringing the product to life and inspiring customers to find out more - and then ultimately purchase! It’s quite a challenge, if the work is too enigmatic and vague it risks saying nothing, if it’s too specific there’s a danger it won’t ’speak’ to a broad enough audience. Alex has been responsible for some of my favourite creative work over the last few years, campaigns like Hydra Figue, shot with an almost ‘reportage’ photo-journalistic style, showing the sedate beauty of Hydra via tantalising moments of real life. It just happens to look like a stunning place and fulfils the job of making me want to find out more. Link below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeXyMZHOHUHuge thanks to Alex for a fascinating and insightful glimpse behind the curtain of a modern fragrance brand. Alex mentioned the following products from his routine:Baz & Co - Exfoliating Cleanser https://bazandcoskincare.com/products/brightening-2-in-1-exfoliator-cleanserMiller Harris - Body Washhttps://www.millerharris.com/collections/body-washAesop - Eye Creamhttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/skin/mature-skin-concern/parsley-seed-anti-oxidant-eye-cream/Aesop - Antioxidant Face Treatmenthttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/skin/parsley-seed-range/parsley-seed-anti-oxidant-facial-treatment/Moosehead - Grubby Puttyhttps://www.krystaldirect.co.uk/MooseHead-Grubby-Putty-100g-p/moom03.htmAmouage - Boundlesshttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/amouage-boundless-eau-de-parfum-100ml-18963693Kilian - Fievre Vertehttps://www.bykilian.co.uk/product/19797/124136/perfume/fievre-verte-by-kilian/the-liquors#/sku/181487You can find the Miller Harris range on their website here. Look out for some exciting new products in May:https://www.millerharris.com/You can find Miller Harris on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/millerharris/You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs: https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

My guest this week on ‘Man in the Mirror’ is Carlos Huber, who is the fragrance developer and founder of fragrance brand Arquiste. I met Carlos earlier this year when he hosted an event with Fiole and I knew I needed to get him on the podcast to find out more about the brand - and the man himself!Arquiste is the result of the inquisitive and thoughtful approach that Carlos takes to fragrance. It is definitely infused with his fascination and knowledge of history, architecture and historic preservation, but not in an overly academic or stuffy way. You may have seen (or even smelled) perfumes such as Architects Club, Sydney Rock Pool or Anima Dulcis, all of which are beautifully composed and possess a real sense of place and time. However, these are not recreations of bygone perfumes or museum pieces - they are energetic, modern and vibrant takes on what fragrance can be in 2024. There are some incredible new launches coming this year and Carlos tells me more about them in the podcast.Carlos mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Mary Allan - Beauty Waterhttps://maryallan.com/collections/mists-essences/products/infused-beautywaterMary Allan - Vit C Cold Pressed Oilhttps://maryallan.com/collections/face-treatment-oils/products/vitamin-c-cold-pressed-oilBeekman - Moisturizerhttps://beekman1802.com/collections/moisturizers/products/bloom-cream-moisturizerArt of Shaving - Sandalwood Creamhttps://www.theartofshaving.com/products/creams-soaps/sandalwood-shaving-cream-5-oz/Harry - Razorhttps://www.harrys.com/en/gb/productsChanel - Platinum Egositehttps://www.chanel.com/gb/fragrance/men/c/7x1x2x33/platinum-egoiste/You can find Arquiste on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arquiste/You can find the Arquiste range on their website here:https://arquiste.com/Arquiste are also available online here in the UK via Fiole:https://fiole.co.uk/collections/arquisteAlso via Liberty and Bloom Perfumery.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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 also follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

My guest this week on ‘Man in the Mirror’ is Tajinder Hayer (Taj), the founder and editor of print & digital luxury mens fashion magazine, ‘The Rakish Gent’. I’ve always loved reading the magazine. Taj has a clear sense of his audience and he super-serves them with beautifully shot fashion, grooming and lifestyle content. Taj has South-Asian heritage and it’s important to him that the brand showcases diverse faces and stories - and that it is representative of contemporary Britain. So for example, in the latest issue of Rakish Paper (issue 6 out now!) you’ll find comedian Mo Gilligan on the cover, a punjabi music star, Raf-Saperra and a refugee from Afghanistan, Karanjee Singh Gaba, who is now a male model working with brands such as Louis Vuitton. I should also declare that my feature on French couturier and fragrance brand owner Marc-Antoine Barrois is in this latest issue! So I may be slightly biased, but there’s lots of great features - and coverage of fascinating people you may not hear about or see in other publications. Taj & I talk about The Rakish Gent brand, fashion, style, grooming and the challenges around being an independent magazine publisher in 2024. He mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Kiehls - Clearly Corrective Cleanserhttps://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/cleansers-scrubs/clearly-correctivetm-brightening-exfoliating-daily-cleanser/WW0050KIE.htmlFace Gym - Multi Sculpt https://facegym.com/products/multi-sculptAesop - Facial Oilhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/treatment/face-oils/fabulous-face-oil-UK300055864.htmlOliviere Wilson - LED Maskhttps://olivierewilson.com/products/led-glow-mask#Zaza Barbershttps://www.instagram.com/zazabarbers/?hl=en-gbRoads - Harmattanhttps://roads.co/product/harmattan/Side Story - Third Datehttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/third-date-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000800483.htmlYou can find The Rakish Gent on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/the_rakish_gent/You can buy print copies and check out the website here:https://www.therakishgent.co.uk/paper-6- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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/maninthemirrorI'm on IG here @maninthemirrorpod :https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

Thanks for joining me for episode 4 in season 6 of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ My guest this week is Vesa Kalho, the Head of Beauty Buying for UK department store group, Fenwick. Vesa is originally from Finland, but moved to the UK over 20 years ago and had a long career at Harrods, working his way up through various retail & buying roles before his current position at Fenwick.Buying is an area of the industry I don’t know much about and always seems quite mysterious! Who better to lift the lid on how it all works, than one of the most well regarded beauty buyers in the UK. Huge thanks to Vesa for joining me and sharing his passion and knowledge. Vesa mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Dior - On/Off Cleanserhttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/cleansers-and-toners/make-up-removers/la-mousse-off%2Fon-foaming-cleanser/2530021691539.htmlBIOEFFECT - EGF Serumhttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/serums-and-oils/serums/egf-serum/2500004922240.htmlDaimon Barber - Texture Tonic, Shampoo, Conditionerhttps://www.daimonbarber.com/products/texture-tonicEscentric Molecule - 01 + Irishttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/fragrance/mens-fragrances/molecule-01-iris-100ml/2530020526092.htmlAtelier Cologne - Silver Irishttps://www.ateliercologne.com/us_en/silver-iris-100-mlGlossier - Youhttps://uk.glossier.com/products/glossier-you?variant=41719194681391Bleu de Chanel - (EDP)https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/fragrance/mens-fragrances/bleu-de-chanel-eau-de-parfum-spray-50ml/2500001364579.htmlYou can find Vesa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vesakalho/Fenwick are on Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/fenwickofficial/You can find their website herehttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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/