Paperback Perfumes

“Can you walk the road your dream goes?Sometimes. Sometimes I am afraid to.Who is not.” -Ursula K. Le GuinDr Caroline McMillan is a researcher, designer, speaker, olfactory art expert, and smell tech founder and we discuss science fiction and possible futures of olfactive design. Dr McMillan’s work has been featured at SXSW, Cannes Lions, CTM Festival Berlin, Holitopia Festival, the BR41N.io residency at Ars Electronica, the Digital Olfaction Society and the ACM International Conference on Tangible Embedded & Embodied Interaction (TEI), and for clients Tubi, Amplify, Soho House, Deutsche Telekom, WGSN London, H&M and Zalando. She now helps organisations design and implement scent experiences in a way that enhances connection. She’s studied the art of haute couture techniques in the métiers of Paris and won awards for her technology innovations. Her podcast, Sensuous Peripheries, explores the aesthetics of creativity, culture, and technology, described as an “audio delight” by Yosh Han, the pioneer of American Perfumery. Fragrance mentioned:Honey Blossom - Mandy Aftel Autumn 25 - Liminus Aurelius - Siuno Book mentioned: The Word for World is Forest - Ursula K. Le GuinFind Dr Caroline McMillan on Instagram: @__carolinemcmillian__Sensuous Periphery Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man's-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh.” Storytelling is key in creating fragrances and how scents connect to our emotions. Using Pema Chodron’s ideas on change and fear, Karen Gilbert helps examine how these themes relate to personal growth and perfume-making. Karen is a teacher of perfumery, hosting in person and online masterclass and is the host of the Perfume Making podcast. She has also studying meditation and incorporates these learnings into her workshops on brain training and personal rituals. We highlighted the intricate nature of scent memories—how one smell can trigger strong emotions and take us back in time. Karen shared her path to self-discovery, the difficulties she faced in staying true to herself in business, and the importance of accepting change. We also discussed how emotions and self-compassion can enrich our experiences with scents, highlighting the value of supporting artisanal fragrance creators and the joy that well-made scents can bring, especially in tough times. Fragrance mentioned:Poison - DiorNo. 5 - ChanelLipstick Rose - Frederic MalleHomme - Dior O’de Lancome - LancomeOriginal Cologne - 4711 Gilay - L.A CouchBook mentioned: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times - Pema Chodron Find Karen Gilbert on Instagram: @karengilbertWebsite: karengilbert.co.ukIf you are interested in the Scent Shift workshops : https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/the-scent-shift Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

“I should like to bury something precious in every place where I've been happy and then, when I'm old and ugly and miserable, I could come back and dig it up and remember.”Fliss Walton returns to the podcast to engage in a thoughtful discussion about Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited,' a novel that stands out as one of her all-time favourite books. Waugh’s has a beautifully light touch when it comes to the intricate themes of love, profound loss, and the weight of social expectations, examining how these elements intertwine with the experiences of the novel's characters. This enlightening conversation also touches on the bittersweet notion of nostalgia, the complexities of relationships, and the multifaceted nature of love, with a particular focus on the dynamics between Charles, Julia, and Sebastian. Fragrance mentioned:Figment - Amouage Fate Woman - Amouage Jicky - GuerlainShalimar - Guerlain Habanita - MolinardEdimbourg - Chanel Le Pavilion D’or - DusitaDeux - Trudon Wander Through the Park - Miller Harris Once Upon a Garden - La PerlaInvasion Barbare - MDCI Parfums Original - Eight & BobIncense Avignon - Comme de Garcon Bois d'Encens - Armani Prive Book mentioned: Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder - Evelyn Waugh Find Fliss on Instagram: @fliss_sniffs_stuffTheme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

Life choices can be reflected in the narratives we create, But we can change the narrative at any time.This conversation features Diane Risopoulos, a perfumery apprentice in Rome and a graduate of the 5eme Sens school in Grasse. She also is the author of the blog Pixidis Perfumes. We talk about how literature and perfume connect, focusing on how scents trigger memories and emotions. Diane collaborates with the Aromata Prize, a new perfume competition in Rome that celebrates perfume as an art and explores its ties to literature. We also discuss the philosophical ideas of choices and fate in both stories and fragrances. The speakers share personal stories about their perfume journeys, the challenges of training in perfumery during the COVID pandemic, and how scent enriches storytelling.Fragrance mentioned:White Whale - Christian Alori for Masque MilanoComedia Di Mezza Estate - Edoardo Tacconi for Ateneo dell'OlfattoJasmin et Cigarette - Etat Libre d’OrangeLa Rose Jacqueminot - CotyShalimar - GuerlainNo.5 - Chanel Apres l'Ondee (After the Rain Shower) - GuerlainThe Nightingale’s Cup - Cult of Scent No. 19 - Chanel Infusion d'Iris - PradaBook mentioned:Life After Life - Kate AtkinsonPoem mentioned:Demain dès l'aube (Tomorrow At Dawn) - Victor Hugo Find Diane onInstagram: @pixidisperfumes Website: www.pixidisperfumes.comFind Aromata onInstagram: @aromata2024Website: liberostile.org/en/aromata/Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

Stories and fragrance are portals into other worlds. There are opportunities for connection and understanding when we experience both. In this conversation, I explore with Yosh Han the profound connections between scent, literature, and cultural identity, particularly through the lens of Octavia Butler's 'Kindred'. We discuss the serendipitous journey of discovering the book, the complexities of decolonizing scent, and the spiritual and physical connections that fragrance evokes. The dialogue delves into the impact of colonialism on scent, the role of fragrance in healing, and the power of literature to foster empathy and understanding. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the intricate relationship between personal experiences, cultural contexts, and the sensory world. Fragrance mentioned:Le Demimonde - Studio Scent More on the perfumer Candice Windrow Weekly Books mentioned: Kindred - Octavia Butler Find Yosh Han on Instagram: @scent_festival , @eaudeyosh , @scenttrunk (creative director) Website: eaudeyosh.com , scenttruck.com , Youtube: Scent Festival Netflix: Human: the World Within Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

"We are nothing but the stories we tell ourselves..."In this conversation, Purvi Joshi, the creative director of Peosym, shares her journey into the world of niche fragrances, inspired by personal loss and the stories that shape our lives. We discusses the significance of storytelling in fragrance creation, the cultural inspirations behind her scents, and and how we change and grow when we move into new spaces. Our chat explores themes of loss, memory, and the evolving nature of language and identity, culminating in reflections on the narratives found in young adult fiction and their parallels to personal growth and understanding.Fragrances mentioned:Nirmohee - PeosymHorn Ok Please - Peosym Lost Wonderer - Peosym Books mentioned: Aru Shah and the End of Time - Roshani ChokshiThe Henna Artist - Alka JoshiFind Peosym on Instagram: @peosymWebsite: peosym.com.auTheme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records