Perfume Room
Hosted by perfumehead and comedian Emma Vernon, Perfume Room is a safe space to obsess over all things scent. The podcast features intimate, never-before-told stories from fragrance legends, including master perfumers, industry titans, secret celeb fragheads, and indie perfumers. Critics call it hilarious, engaging, educational, and just earnest enough. Wherever you are on your perfume journey, you are welcome in the Perfume Room.
Episodes
214. MATHILDE BIJAOUI + LAUREN SHYMAN ~ A Conversation Between Perfumer and Evaluator.
Decorated MANE Senior Perfume Mathilde Bijaoui, and veteran evaluation exec Lauren Shyman are in the Perfume Room this week!How do perfumers and evaluators work together behind the scenes to create the juice we smell in our most cherished perfume bottles? Enjoy this an intimate (and fun!) look at the professional and personal relationship between a high-level perfumer and evaluator.FOLLOW: @mane_1
213. SEBASTIAN JARA ~ A NICHE PERFUME CONVENTION IS COMING TO SF!?
Sebastian Jara is not new to this [fragrance content]; he's true this. Since 2012, he's been creating videos, and today his YT channel boasts over 335K subscribers. Now he's onto the next venture. After years of attending perfume trade shows all over the world, Sebastian has created his own and it's called ScentFEST. And the inaugural show is happening in just 3 weeks in SF! (June
212. THE MASTER OF FLOWERS: Dominique Ropion!
Stop. what. you're. doing. DOMINIQUE ROPION IS IN THE PERFUME ROOM TODAY. FRAGS MENTIONED:Frederic Malle: Carnal Flower, Portrait of a Lady, Geranium Pour Monsieur; Mugler Alien, Lancome La Vie Est Belle, Givenchy L’Interdit, Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady, Givenchy Ysatis, Aphorismes Innocent Tuberose, Frederic Malle Carnal Flower, Aphorismes A Rose is a Rose, Frederic Malle Portrait of a
211. DR. RACHEL HERZ (Neuroscientist & Smell Expert) ~ Single? Let your nose pick your partner.
World-renowned expert on the psychological science of smell, neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Herz is in the Perfume Room this week!Bookmark this episode; you'll want to come back to it!Why are you attracted to the way certain people smell and what role does scent really play in attraction? Is your partner's perfume hiding potential red flags?! What can you to improve your sense of smell (especia
210. SONIA CONSTANT [Givaudan Sr. Perfumer + Ella K Founder] ~ The Real Life Ella K.
What do Tom Ford Ombre Leather, Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc, Valentino Donna, Jimmy Choo I Want Choo, and Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle all have in common? All were created by multi-award-winning Givaudan Senior Perfumer Sonia Constant.In addition to her illustrious client repertoire, Sonia is the creator of her own brand, Ella K—a brand that inspired by bold women that chronicles Sonia's person
209. CALICE BECKER (Givaudan Master Perfumer) ~ The Perfumery School Harder to Get Into Than Harvard.
PERFUME ROOM CANON ALERT!Givaudan Master Perfumer Calice Becker is shaping the future of perfumery at every level. Not only have her iconic creations like Tommy Girl, J'Adore Dior, Love Don't Be Shy, and Velvet Orchid (to name just a few) come to define entire decades of perfume, but she also serves as the Director of the Givaudan Perfumery School, handpicking the next generation of perfum
208. ANKITA GILL (Param Sara) ~ The Niche Indian Perfume Brand Winning Awards in Year One.
In just one year since launch, Param Sara, a new niche Indian perfume brand on the scene, has already won numerous prestigious accolades. And it all began when Founder Ankita Gill noticed a common theme in perfumery: non-Indian and non-Asian brands were telling Indian and Asian stories. Determined to reclaim and retell these stories through her own memories and experiences, Ankita pivoted careers,
207. DAISY BOW ~ 'Gourmands,' 'Authenticity,' & Other Western Constructs.
A Part-Time Assistant Professor at The New School, FIT, and Marymount Manhattan whose work centers on French food and identity, perfume, and (French) language instruction, as well as an instructor at the Fragrance Alliance, Daisy Bow interrogates fragrance from a critical, cultural, and academic lens. Today we discuss the colonial roots behind gourmands, the case for the 'basic bitch' perf
206. JANA MENARD [Fragrance Vault] ~ What Happens to Your Perfume When You Die?
All perfumes go to heaven. Heaven = the Fragrance Vault in Lake Tahoe. Jana Menard is the owner of Fragrance Vault, a one-of-a-kind perfume store in Lake Tahoe that carries niche, commercial, and incredibly hard-to-find, rare vintage perfumes (so like... everything). Today we chat about her store, how she sources and authenticates vintage, the most precious and rare gems in her collection, and her
205. GEORGE TEDDER [IFF PERFUMER] ~ Eau de Toilette (Bowl Cleaner): Scenting the Unsexy.
Perfumes sold in Ace Hardware AND LuckyScent?? Get you a perfumer who can do both.That's George Tedder: an IFF perfumer who specializes in home care. If you've ever wondered who's really scenting your toilet bowl cleaner (and how!), this one's for you.MY SOTD: ERIS Parfums Mother's Milk (code: PERFUMEROOM for 10% off)FRAGS MENTIONED:Hermès Terre d’Hermès, Downy Calm, Downy Unst
204. BRIAN PARK [COMEDIAN] ~ If He Can Pronounce Loewe, He Smells Like:
Comedian, writer, and Accidental PerfumeTok King™ Brian Park is in the Perfume Room today! You likely know him from his viral TikTok series where he satirizes 'taste bros' who use consumerism in lieu of developing a personality. Vids of his like 'POV: you're on a date with a guy who has Aesop soap in his bathroom' have garnered millions of views and have platformed him to an en
203. MICHAEL EDWARDS [RE-AIR] ~ The Quintessential American Perfumes.
[PERFUME ROOM - RE-SPRITZ - original air date 5/14/24] Today’s episode is a masterclass! Fragrance legend, author, historian, taxonomist and Perfume Room fan-favorite Michael Edwards is back (!!), this time to chat about his newest book, “American Legends: The Evolution of American Fragrances.”What makes a perfume *American* in style and who are the quintessential American perfumes? What makes the
202. AUDREY ROBINOVITZ ~ When is a Perfume Actually Undupable?
Audrey Robinovitz is a fragrance writer, critic, Diptyque shop girl, and honestly, a perfume obsessive who matches my freak.Today we chat about everything from the difference between Olivier Pescheux's Diptyque and Olivia Giacobetti's, to the role scent plays in various religions, to our collective breaking point with fantasy accords (and so much more)! ENJOY.FOLLOW AUDREY: @foldyrhandsSUB
201. BRUME ORPIN ~ The New [incredible] Perfume Brand with a 50-Ingredient Palette!
Launched in 2024, BRUME ORPIN is a niche fragrance brand putting sustainability at the forefront of EVERYTHING they create. Every aspect of the perfume, from the outermost packaging down the juice has been painstakingly designed to be biodegradable—to the point that the BRUME ORPIN has restricted its palette to just 50 materials. Yes, only 50.It's a perfect example of of creativity born from b
200! SMELLS LIKE LOVE ~ the live recording (finally)!
HAPPY 200 TO US! Almost one whole year later, enjoy this truncated live recording of the magic that is: SMELLS LIKE LOVE ~ the only dating show where the nose does the picking!With special presentation by dsm-firmenich's Justin Welch. APPLY TO BE A DATER &/OR GET SMELLS LIKE LOVE TIX HERE: linktr.ee/emmavern& use code 'perfume' for $20 tickets!!! V-DAY 9:30P @ CAVEAT - SEE U TH
199. THE BEST OF 2025 EPISODE! (in 1Q26!) (w/ surprise co-host!)
MY TOP 20 FAVE LAUNCHES/DISCOVERIES OF 2025!!! with highly requested/repeat award show co-host: my mom, Karen! (Most of these shouldn't surprise you because I have been talking about them all year.)FOR TIX TO SMELLS LIKE LOVE/TO APPLY TO BE A DATER: linktr.ee/emmavernFRAGS MENTIONED:Courreges Hyper Musc, EM Molecule 01 + Iris, Nobile 1942 Il Colore del Vento, Roja Isola Blu, Ex Nihilo Spiky Mu
198. SY TRUONG [SYLHOUETTE] ~ The Man With the Paracresol Tattoo.
In 2018, Sy Truong began studying (and teaching himself) perfumery. Six years later, he's the recipient of an Art & Olfaction Award, the founder and perfumer behind the internationally-celebrated brand Sylhouette Parfums, the perfumer of record for TOOUCH perfumes, and is shaping the emerging landscape of Vietnamese niche perfumery.Today, we chat about the perfume book that changed his ent
197. BRIAC FROCRAIN [MARLOU] ~ How To Smell Human.
MARLOU perfumes smell like LIFE—aromas of existence shared across human, fauna, and flora. They’re Dirty. They’re Clean. They’re tender. They’re coarse. And it’s this very proximity to reality that draws its critics and fans alike. Founder Briac Frocrain welcomes all reactions and through his perfumes, invites and challenges us to reflect—what do we [humans] smell like? Is that dirty? Is ‘dirty’ b
196. BONUS HOLIDAY EP ~ Hot Takes LIVE! (FEAT. YOU!!)
36 PIPIN' HOT TAKES FROM 36 PEOPLE. RECORDED @ STÉLE in NOLITA.Featuring:• CHRISTINA LOFF • ISABEL FINSTON • LOLA GUSMAN • JUSTINA SPARLING • KATE KHARASOZHENKO • MICHAEL NORDSTRAND • ARABELLE SICARDI • EMILY JENSEN • BILLIE MCGHEE • MICHELLE DELORENZO • ALISON RINI • LAURA HOPKINS • LIZ DYER • LIZ GERSHMAN • AMY SEIDEL • NOAH VIRGILE • EMILY BRUNSTEN • J.K. ROBBINS • JOEY ROSIN • BENJAMIN ESP
195. A SOLO ~ 2026 WILL BE THE YEAR OF TENDER WEIRD.
A look back on 2025 and a look ahead at 2026.Which of my 2025 predictions came true ;) ;) ;) and what's coming in the new year? My thoughts with RECEIPTS, PROOF, TIMELINE, SCREENSHOTS [notes, accords, categories, concepts.]FRAGS MENTIONED:Param Sara The Mandala, Biche, Artemis, lil luv dog, Beastie, Welltayl, Odette Parfums Pas de Chat, Redoux Silver Lining, Nostos Calico, Demeter Kitten Fur,
194. VÉRONIQUE SPOTURNO ~ The Great-Granddaughter of Modern Perfumery
Spoturno is an haute perfume house bridging and blurring the lines between legacy and modernity. And it makes sense. Founder Véronique Spoturno is the great-granddaughter of François Spoturno (dit Coty), who's widely credited as ‘the father of modern perfumery.’ Véronique drops by the Perfume Room to talk family legacy, the vision behind the brand, and the debut collection created with Christo
193. CHRISTOPHER SHELDRAKE ~ Your favorite perfumer's favorite perfumer.
Christopher Sheldrake is the nose behind numerous fragrances other perfumers only wish they had created: Feminité du Bois, Ambre Sultan, Chergui, etc. His style is at once deeply technical, classical, and avant-garde. Today, we chat about his prolific career, the creations he considers part of his personal canon, his unfiltered thoughts on the current state of niche, and Christopher shares the nev
192. CAMMYREVIEWS ~ MUD!!! (and other perfume white whales)
Cammy (of @cammyreviews) is a PerfumeTok darling with impeccable taste and niche recommendations to scratch your every fragrant itch. But her curation doesn't stop there. She’s as devoted to perfume as she is to gummy candy — equally discerning in both. So today, naturally, we smell perfume and eat candy!!WATCH FULL VID EP THIS FRIDAY ON SUBSTACK!FRAGS MENTIONED:Astier de Villattes Ambre Liqu
191. AMÉLIE HUYNH [D'ORSAY] ~ reviving a 200-year-old perfume brand
Amélie Huynh does it all: she’s a jewelry designer, art collector, historian, mother, and the visionary who revived the 200-year-old fragrance brand, D’ORSAY. Guided by a mission to honor its romantic and scandal-tinged legacy through a modern lens, Amélie’s era of D’ORSAY balances its storied past with modern perfumery. Today, we discuss why she chose to revive the brand, its evolution, her jewel
190. MANUEL MATHIEU ~ What Lingers: Haiti, Memory, and Home
Manuel Mathieu is a Haitian multidisciplinary artist known worldwide for his emotionally-charged, indefinite-form paintings, drawings, ceramics, and installations. His work is held in major collections, and just last year, he was named a Companion of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres du Québec.Three years ago, during a residency in Paris, Mathieu turned to a new medium: scent. What began as curios
189. GARY MCNATTON ~ THE CREATOR OF 90s GAP PERFUMES!
Wait wait, Gap Dream was inspired by what? The initial concept for the collection began as... soaps? All this, and so many more amazing insider stories on the making of THE ICONIC 90s GAP SCENTS (Dream, Heaven, Om & Grass), with the visionary behind it all: Creative Exec and Entrepreneur, Gary McNatton! FRAGS MENTIONED:Diptyque Lazulio (SOTD), Jorum Studio Pony Boy, Diptyque Corail Oscuro, Chr
188. JOY MILNE ~ The Nose That Can Smell Parkinson's
Born with a rare hereditary condition called hyperosmia, Joy Milne possesses a superhuman sense of smell—one so acute it led her to make a groundbreaking medical discovery: Parkinson's Disease has a smell. How did she do it? What might it mean for the future of diagnostic testing? And what other diseases and human conditions have scents?(SPOILER ALERT: romantic compatibility is one of them!)FO
187. OLIVIER CRESP ~ How to Create a Blockbuster Fragrance (over, and over, and over again).
Olivier Cresp, DSM-Firmenich Master Perfumer, Founder of Akro by Oliver Cresp, and literal inventor of the gourmand (!) is BACK in the Perfume Room! (AN HONOR!) Today, he reflects on his oeuvre including his signature, palette, and unique approach to perfumery. We discuss how new advances in technology will impact past and future creations, AI and its role in perfumery, how his creative approach d
186. A SOLO ~ PerfumeRoomGPT, My Collection Revealed(!), & My Full Bottle Wishlist!
AI content creators, my perfume collection (!), and the bottles I am eyeing right now all ahead in today's quick solo catch-up! SOTD: Commodity Milk Orchid :) FRAGS MENTIONED:Commodity Milk Orchid, Le Labo Santal 33, Diptyque Orpheon, Le Labo Gaiac 10, Byredo Mojave Ghost, Diptyque: Orphéon, Vetyverio (EDT); Fzotic Vetiverissimo, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Iris, Naomi Goodsir Iris Cend
185. VIRGINIA BONOFIGLIO ~ So You Want a Degree in Fragrance!
PSA: You Don’t Have to Go to France to Study Fragrance!!In fact, there’s an educational, state-of-the-art fragrance lab right in NYC—at FIT, home to the country’s only collegiate Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing program. Today’s guest, Virginia Bonofiglio, is the Associate Chairperson (and professor) leading it all. Having held roles in just about every position in this industry over the span o
184. MICHAEL NORDSTRAND (perfumer) ~ Is perfume just a bunch of fucus pocus?
Award-winning independent perfumer, multidisciplinary artist, teacher, and Perfume Papa Michael Nordstrand is in the Perfume Room this week. Today, we discuss the 3 perfumes he thinks everyone should smell, his favorite perfumer, finding peace and harmony with malodorous materials, fragrance concentration and other lies we tell ourselves, learning and then teaching the craft of perfumery, his burg
183. AGUSTINE ZEGERS (AGAR OLFACTORY) ~ Perfuming the Apocalypse, Unscented Perfumes, and Fragrant Time Portals.
agustine zegers, Chilean olfactive artist and creator of agar olfactory and speculative scent lab, directs experimental scent spaces focused on expanding our sensorial tools to navigate a planet in transition.With perfumes that boast notes like hot fax machine, Mac carcass, mushroom gills, and yeasting dough, their work begs the bigger question: what is perfume and what are its functions?FOLLOW: @
182. RODRIGO FLORES-ROUX ~ What Does 2025 Smell Like? (According to a World-Renowned Perfumer.)
Givaudan VP Perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux generously returns to the Perfume Room to offer a definitive roadmap to the past, present, and future of perfume. Bookmark this ep. You'll come back to it. Rodrigo is a fragrance genealogist of sorts, tracing your favorite perfumes’ parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. He offers a rare perfumer's POV on the current landscape: What’s trending? Why?
181. CÉCILE ZAROKIAN ~ Do Epic (Woman) Shit.
Cécile Zarokian is one of the greatest independent perfumers of all time, but she wasn’t always independent, and she hadn’t always planned on becoming a perfumer, either. Today, she’s in the Perfume Room sharing how she’s redefined the rules of the game, turned her greatest challenges into strengths, and found the CZP edge—her proverbial captive if you will—that helps her compete with (and win aga
180. CRAIG ANDRADE (The Raconteur) ~ The Law Firm Partner Who Became a Perfumer
IMAGINE THIS: You're a partner at one of the world's top law firms. It's what you've worked towards your entire career. Would you walk away from it all for the chance to chase your true creative calling? Craig Andrade, founder of Aussie niche fragrance brand, The Raconteur, did. This is his story.10% LISTENER DISCOUNT! stele.nyc | code: emma10(valid (on The Raconteur full bottles
179. THE ALLOY STUDIO ~ A Perfume with a 'Trashy Perfume' Accord?!
The Alloy Studio is an experimental, Black, queer-owned fragrance brand blending glamour with grit. Created by romantic and business partners Bryson Ammons (the perfumer) and Eddie Hodges (the creative director), their fragrances dare and delight with notes like pineapple popsicle, sativa, and 'trashy perfume.' This week, we get the inside scoop on the brand's silver/gold aesthetic, Br
178. JAKE LEVY & MATT BELANGER ~ How did Stéle Become a Household Name?
A lot can happen in a year. Since opening its Williamsburg doors last summer, Stéle has added a second location, dropped 100(!) fragrances in a single day, and moonlights as Nolita's hottest millennial nightclub (stay tuned for pt. 2: the Pacha-to-Stéle Fri night pipeline).Despite the (well-deserved) buzz, founders Jake Levy and Matt Belanger remain steadfast in their commitment to artisanal,
177. SOLO, INTERVIEW & HOTLINE EPISODE! ~ 3-in-1
My perfume hot takes, a catch-up with Principal Perfumer Sabine de Tscharner about her newest creation for Laundry Sauce, Mojave Peach, and your hotline Qs answered, ALL IN ONE EP!Thank you to our sponsor Laundry Sauce!Use code perfumeroom15 to get 15% off any Laundry Sauce order! (valid through Aug 9, 2025)FRAGS MENTIONED:Amouage Existence*, L’Artisan Passage D’Enfer, CdG Incense Zagorsk, Kyoto;
176. CHARLOTTE ERCOLI ~ Perfuming the Silver Screen
WATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE ON SUBSTACK!A film about one man's obsessive quest to track down an orris perfume—starring Tim Heidecker, Marta Pozzan, Julia Fox, Kevin Kline, Fisher Stevens, and Gina Gershon (!!)—premieres next week at Tribeca.This week, I sit down with the visionary behind it all: filmmaker Charlotte "Charlie" Ercoli.Charlie is no newcomer to the world of perfume. She come
175. ELIZABETH RENSTROM ~ (Perfume) Room Raiders, Let's Go!
Two perfumeheads walk into a bar and... Liz Renstrom—Perfume Room regular, photographer of our generation, and the genius behind @basenote_bitch (the ultimate fragrance nostalgia account)—dropped by my apartment last week with some shiny new gems in her collection and then naturally, raided my (newly organized!) perfume wardrobe. Be a fly on the wall for our chaotic good nez-à-nez.FOLLOW: @basenot
174. THE LIPSTICK LESBIANS ~ Shop Like A Beauty Product Developer!
In December 2022, Christina Basias-Androulakis (a PhD in digital education) filmed and posted a Tiktok of her wife Alexis Androulakis (a beauty product developer) in Sephora, evaluating the new Make Up By Mario Skin Foundation.That video went viral, and @thelipsticklesbians were off.1.7M followers later, today the duo continues to challenge and shape the way consumers, influencers, marketers, and
173. SISSI FREEMAN (GRANADO) ~ Brazil's Beauty Legacy (the ~other~ BBL)
A 150-year-old beauty brand with over 1,000 SKUs, Granado might be new to US market, but in Brazil, it's a household name. This week, I chat with CMO Sissi Freeman about the brand’s uniquely Brazilian identity, its recent global fragrance boom, what it’s like running this legacy brand in lock step with her father (CEO Christopher Freeman), and the smells most special to Brazilians.SOTD: The Body S
172. [GOLDFIELD & BANKS' DIMITRI WEBER] I Smell Like A Land Down Under 🎵
Did you know that almost all Mysore sandalwood used in perfumery today is actually grown in Australia? Or that Australia has its own native sandalwood species—one that smells completely different from its creamy Indian counterpart? Goldfield & Banks Founder Dimitri Weber did. This is why he built a luxury fragrance brand entirely dedicated to showcasing Australia's rich native botanicals.
171. [NOMAD NOÉ] A Sense (& Scents) of Home
Meet the duo behind the narrative-driven candle and fragrance brand, Nomad Noé! As life and business partners, Corentin Hamon and Arash Yomtobian open up about how their cross-continental paths (and a Tinder Super Like ;)) brought them together, how they craft smells inspired by people and places across time, finding their niche within 'niche', and how they preserve scent memories and trad
REVISITING EP 47 [ALBERTO MORILLAS]: A 'Perfect' Perfume is Boring
*RE-AIR (recorded almost 3 years ago to the date!)*World-renowned, award-winning Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas is in the Perfume Room! Alberto is the visionary (and nose) behind blockbuster fragrances you know and love like Estee Lauder Pleasures, Gucci Bloom, CK One, Versace Bright Crystal, Kenzo Flower, Lancome Miracle, Thierry Mugler Cologne, Marc Jacobs Daisy and Armani Acqua Di Gio… and th
170. BEST OF 2024 (in 2Q25)!!! (w/ special guest! ;))
A *FASHIONABLY* late best-of 2024 ep. A SMELL-ALONG OF 25 PERFUMES I LOVED MOST IN 2024 INCLUDING:my fav affordable discoveriesmy fav (not new) discoveriesmy fav 2024 launchesPlus, enjoy...my motha!!Part 2 of our quest will air on Substack, this Friday :)SHOP THESE PERFUMES (shopmy.us/collections/1086522) and check out my even more of favorites from 2024!FRAGS MENTIONED:Mango Le Silence, Granado
169. Do Not Perceive Anna Dorn's Perfume plz.
Perfume & Pain author Anna Dorn is in the Perfume Room this week (and 2nd*** author - oops)! How did Anna weave perfume into both plot and character development of the story? What perfumes is she wearing IRL? Why does each character smell like they do? All this and more ahead in today's ep :)FOLLOW ANNA: @___adornENJOY more from Anna this Fri on SubstackSOTD: Penhaligon's Fortuitous Fi
168. VICKEN ARSLANIAN (COMMODITY) ~ Niche is a Mindset, oh and, ORRIS IS BACK!
HAPPY FRAGRANCE WEEK! Enjoy a catch-up with past guest, Vicken Arslanian. As CEO of three flourishing fragrance companies—Europerfumes (the leading US niche perfume distributor), Twisted Lily, and Commodity—Vicken is, bar none, one of the most interesting, successful, and busiest(!) leaders in the industry. Today, he's back with brand-new pipin' hot takes, personal family stories, and of course, t
167. ROBIN MASON (dsm-firmenich President of Fine Fragrance) ~ So You Want a Corporate Fragrance Career!
Robin Mason, dsm-firmenich's President of Fine Fragrance NAM, is in the Perfume Room this week! A lifelong beauty executive whose corporate background spans across retail, marketing, and sales on both the brand and supplier of the biz, Robin is not only an esteemed leader of the industry, she's a wealth of knowledge. Today, we are lucky to reap the benefits. Robin explains what it means to be the
166. PERFUMERISM ~ From PerfumeTok to Perfumery School!
Perfume content creator Emma (Perfumerism) has traded in her Toronto address for a Paris one to attend perfumery school! Today we chat about her new Parisian life, learning the lingo of perfume, how to actually memorize smells, and navigating the duality of being BOTH a highly successful content creator AND student of the industry simultaneously.FOLLOW EMMA: @perfumerismNOW-APR 8, buy Commodity Or
165. [PERFUMER JOEY ROSIN] Do You Have Bad Mouilletiquette??
Are you practicing correct mouilettiquette?? Find out today with Hoax Parfum Co-Founder and Perfumer Joey Rosin! Hoax is a bespoke fragrance design and consultancy boutique, and Joey is its resident nose. In his short time as an independent perfumer, Joey has made waves in the industry landing notable projects like Sable Yong's Die Hot with A Vengeance, Tsu Lange Yor’s Sala, and many fun fragr
164. [Odette Parfum Co.] Ballet and Patisserie Fantasy Perfumes
Kitten fur, Chantilly cream, and Île Flottante are just some of the magical fantasy accords you'll experience in Odette Parfum Co. fragrances. This week, Founder/Perfumer Odette Fontaine jetés into the Perfume Room to tell us all about it.
A baker by day, Odette knows gourmands--which makes nailing them in her compositions even more important. She shares how she's learned this olfactive a
163. [SOLO!] 2025: Year of the Grandma Perfume, Post-Modern Gourmand, and…?????
What did I get right in my 2024 predictions & what's coming in 2025???
What is the lifecycle of a trend?
Plus: my ins-and-outs for the new year.
GE T TIX ~ SMELLS LIKE LOVE
DATER APPLICATION (!!!)
FRAGS MENTIONED:
SOTD: Chris Collins Danse Sauvage*, Arquiste Little Paws, Jorum Studio Pentimento, MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir, Thameen Bravi*, Maison D’Etto Verdades*, Regime des Fleurs Nitesurf N
162. [MABELLE O'RAMA] Smells of Sumac, Stardust, and Secret Gardens!
Perfumer Mabelle O'Rama is in the Perfume Room this week! Mabelle is a Lebanese-British perfumer based in London, and founder of the eponymous perfume line, Mabelle O’Rama. In a just a few years Mabelle has already made a name for herself, with accolades from both the UK Fragrance Foundation Awards and IAO Awards. Today, we chat about how she learned perfumery, the process of starting a brand,
161. Dave 1 and I Exchange Perfumes (a belated holiday treasure)!
Perfume Room darling (oh, and Grammy-nominated artist) Dave 1, of electro-funk duo Chromeo, graces us with his presence yet again!
In 2025's most tender game of show-and-tell to date, Dave brings me five scents he thinks I’ll enjoy, and I do the same for him. Then, WE SMELL THEM. This one's fun.
Smells Like Love tix: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/perfume-room-presents-smells-like-love-2-15-2025
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160. RENAUD SALMON ~ If Not Amouage, Then Who?
Amouage Chief Creative Officer Renaud Salmon joins me in the Perfume Room this week. When he took the post in 2019, his mission was clear: make Amouage the best, most iconic fragrance brand in the world. (You know, easy.) We discuss how he’s endeavored to do just that; the rich fragrance culture in Oman; what daily life there looks like for him and his family; and the memories, people, and inspira
159. *The* 2024 Perfume Room Holiday Gift Guide
Month 12 of 12 is finally upon us which means it's time to flex ye olde gift-giving muscle. Let Perfume Room help you do it with ease and aplomb!
Enjoy my official 2024 gifting recs for candles, discovery sets, fragrance-adjacent gifts, non-fragrance gifts, and of course, the highly-anticipated LuckyScent x Perfume Room holiday 10-piece pack (a pack full of my fav LuckyScent discoveries (that you
158. [FISCHERSUND] A (Nordic) Journey for the Senses
PERFUME ROOM CANON ALERT. This week, join me on a one-of-a-kind auditory journey with Icelandic Art Collective, Fischersund. This episode was recorded in Seattle at the opening of Fischersund’s brand new multi-sensory exhibit: Faux Flora (which is happening now through Jan. 26 at the National Nordic Museum). You’ll hear all about this special family, the magical olfactive experiences they create,
[HILDE SOLIANI] Gourmands Aren't All a Piece of Cake! [RE-RUN]
*TBT* Bringing back this Perfume Room gem:
Perfume Royality Hilde Soliani, La Regina dei Gourmand//the Queen of Gourmands, is in the Perfume Room today! At first glance, you might say dessert scents are her bread and butter, but Hilde would be quick to tell you that *bread and butter scents* are also her bread and butter. And for that matter, so are her fish, oyster, and cheese fragrances. Her tit
157. [ANTOINE LIE - PT. 2] The Free-Spirited Perfumer
This week, enjoy the second half of my conversation with Free-Spirit Perfumer Antoine Lie.
What is the Antoine Lie Olfactive experience? What excites Antoine? What frustrates him? How does he feel about the corporate industry he left behind? And yes, yes, of course, we discuss Secretions Magnifiques.
FRAGS MENTIONED:
ELdO: Clean Suede, Rien; Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Armani: Code, Mania; ERIS, Les
156. [PERFUMER ANTOINE LIE - PT. 1] Market Testing Killed The Perfume Star
Legendary perfumer Antoine Lie is in the Perfume Room this week! Having created blockbusters that range in style from Armani Code to Secretions Magnifiques, Antoine has done it all. Though he spent the first few decades of his career working in the corporate fragrance world, today, Antoine is independent (though he prefers the term 'free-spirited') and runs his own company, Antoine Lie Olfactive E
155. Rachel Syme Wants to Earn Your Perfume Compliments
New Yorker Staff Writer (and lifelong fraghead!) Rachel Syme is in the Perfume Room this week! Creator of the now-defunct, infamous Perfume Genie Twitter threads, and newsletter-turned-Substack, The Dry Down, Rachel's on the *perfume beat* on and off the clock.
Today we chat all about her recent work trip to Paris, where she spent several days with Master Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and then wrote
154. [FLAVORIST(!) JOAN HARVEY] A Journey to Flavortown!
Finally, a flavorist has entered the Perfume Room! Joan Harvey, Bell Flavors & Fragrances General Manager and R+D Senior Vice President, is this week's guest!
Why do certain flavor profiles become gold standards and who are these alleged flavor canons (think: the Chanel No. 5s or Santal 33s of the flavor world)? How is flavor made? How do flavorists train? Did flavorists have anything to do w
153. [PERFUME ROOM HOTLINE] Ring Ring, hello? It's YOU!
This week, I am helping three special callers on three special perfume quests. ~It's the Perfume Room hotline.~
Want to hear more listener consults? Stick around for part 2, only on Substack, coming out this Friday!
SUBSCRIBE: perfumeroom.substack.com
FRAGS MENTIONED:
Maison d’ETTO Noisette, Binaurale Supersolid, Gabar No, IV Rise (Nolita), Celine Rimbaud, Ex Nihilo Santal Calling, Parle Moi de
152. [JOUISSANCE] Perfume to Smell like a 'Naughty Grandma'
Jouissance Parfums is a new niche brand whose fragrances are inspired by erotic texts and the women who penned them. Al fresco sex, sacred submission, and naughty grandmas are just some of the themes explored within the first 3 releases. (And more are on the way!)
Founder Cherry Cheng joins me in the Perfume Room this week to discuss her love of erotica, translating these stories into smells, lear
151. [PERFUMER MATTEO SANCHEZ] Horchata Accords, Perfume Apprenticeships, & Serendipitous Dentist Appointments
Indie Perfumer & Founder Matteo Sanchez (creator of Matteo Parfums) is in the Perfume Room this week! Matteo shares the story of how an article he read in a dentist's waiting room changed the entire trajectory of his career (spoiler alert: to perfumery!). We talk about the smells of his multi-cultural childhood, learning perfumery via apprenticeship and independent studies, embracing imper
150. [JACKIE AINA] FORVR Elevating the Mood
Jackie Jackie Jackie Jackie, Jackie Jackie Jackie!!
OG Beauty & Lifestyle Influencer and FORVR MOOD Co-Founder Jackie Aina is in the Perfume Room this week!!!
With over 10M followers on social media, and a fragrance brand that Sephora can’t keep in stock, Jackie Aina is forvr thriving.
Today we chat all things FORVR MOOD (her fragrance and lifestyle brand); Jackie shares stories about person
149. [US OLYMPIAN ASHER HONG] Asher's Other Vault: the fragrance one ;)
US Men's Gymanstics MEDALLED OLYMPIAN Asher Hong is in the Perfume Room this week!! Surely by now you've seen the viral clip of Asher getting interviewed at the Olympics where he smells the interviewers neck and correctly identifies the fragrance he's wearing [Givenchy Gentleman].
Asher, in addition to being a medalled olympian, is a full-time student at Stanford, NCAA athlete, and you
148. [PERFUMER AZZI GLASSER] Hollywood's Perfume Secret!
What do the Royal Family, Jude Law, Cindy Crawford, and Machine Gun Kelly all share in common? Their perfumer, Azzi Glasser.
Azzi, Founder of The Perfumer's Story, is not just a perfumer to the stars; she also perfumes the characters they play on screen. For Jude Law, she created his vetiver-forward signature scent; for his role as King Henry VIII, she created one that smelled like pus. And b
147. [PERFUMER BRUNO FAZZOLARI] Debunking your Perfume Beliefs
Vanilla is not a gourmand, perfume is not a commodity, and fragrance is not a vertical construction. This and more with visual artist-turned-perfumer (and founder of beloved niche brand, Fzotic) Bruno Fazzolari.
FRAGS MENTIONED:
Phlur Heavy Cream, Hilde Soliani, Chabaud, DSH, Giardini di Toscano Bianco Latte, Liquides Imaginaires Blanche Bete, Pierre Guillaume Corps et Ames, Dior Fahrenheit (orig
146. [SONGWRITER STEPH JONES] Smash Hits & She Perfumed Them For Ya!
She wrote the song of the summer... and she perfumed it for ya, too!
Songwriter (and fraghead!) Steph Jones is in the Perfume Room this week! We discuss the role niche fragrance plays in her songwriting ritual; manifesting smash hits via perfume; scenting sessions, songs, and artists; and why we need to let celebrities gatekeep!!
FRAGS MENTIONED:
Dusita Pelagos, Neandertal Them, Escentric Molecul
145. [A PERFUME POD CROSSOVER] SMELL YA IN THE PERFUME ROOM LATER!
It's the perfume podcast crossover you've been waiting for! Today, I am joined by Smell Ya Later Co-Hosts Sable Yong and Tynan Sinks!
What has vanilla done for you lately, why skin scents are fake news, should you get a salmon facial, and Die Hot With a Vengeance—the book AND perfume(!) created by Sable, all in this week's episode!
FRAGS MENTIONED:
Atelier Des Ors: Chouer des Anges, Bl
144. [ROBERT PIGUET PARFUMS PRESIDENT BAYLY LEDES] Preserving the Iconic Legacy of Fracas
SCROLL FOR SPECIAL PERFUME ROOM DISCOUNT!
Bayly Ledes, President of Fashion Fragrances & Cosmetics, which owns Robert Piguet Parfums, is in the the Perfume Room this week! Bayly and I discuss the making of Fracas and speculate as to why it was and has remained so seminal; she shares insider stories of Robert Piguet and of Germaine Cellier and her task and privilege of preserving their legacy;
143. [CLUE PERFUMERY] Scenting the Scentless
Clue Perfumery Perfumer & Co-Founder Laura Oberwetter is in the Perfume Room this week! In 2021, Laura DMed me asking if I knew of any good perfumery resources. Cut to 2024; she's launched her own brand, created 4 scents, and has already been nominated for an IAO Award.
Today we discuss how she did it, where she seeks inspiration, and the importance of cross-modal translation and intentio
142. [STÉLE CO-FOUNDERS] You Don't Need to Be a Fraghead to Enjoy the Deep Cuts!
A PERFECT new niche perfume store has just opened in Williamsburg. It's called Stéle, and today, I'm joined by its Co-Founders Jake Levy and Matt Belanger. Despite the fact that this store has some of the most obscure and deeply niche fragrances I've come across, neither Matt nor Jake come from fragrance backgrounds! Hear how and why they created Stéle and all the great perfumes they&#
141. Did you miss me? A SOLO. (some fave 2024 discoveries, teen boys & perfume, TFF Awards, and more!)
I've been banking so many things we need to discuss for this episode! SO HERE THEY ARE: my fave fragrant Portugal discoveries, the Givaudan Haute Parfumerie event, Firmenich Mind Nose + Matter, perfume's newest consumer segment: teenage boys(!), June Smell Club, the TFF awards, and 5 recent PR standouts! PS: we're on Substack now! Subscribe for bonus and extended Perfume Room content!
REVISITING EP 30 [SASHA SPIELBERG]: A Conversation with Fragrantica’s Srebecca
This week, we’re looking back on a 2021 Perfume Room Gem. Enjoy this special re-air with Musician and fellow fragrance lover Sasha Spielberg (AKA Buzzy Lee)! We chat everything from Fragrantica reviews (spoiler alert: we reveal our aliases), to Sasha’s strict fragrance rule, the layering combo that earned her compliments in the times of triple-masking, and so much more!
FRAGS MENTIONED:
1509 Oil
140. [THIN WILD MERCURY] A [Perfumed] Love Letter to NY (w/ Cathleen Cardinali & Anthony Polcino)
Longtime Perfume Room friends Cathleen Cardinali and Anthony Policino, aka the duo behind Thin Wild Mercury, are back in the Perfume Room this week! From episode 1 to 140, so much has changed! This week we're chatting NYC, fantasy accords, scenting history, and of course the new Thin Wild Mercury New York collection!
FRAGS MENTIONED:
Amphora Parfum: Primal Yell, Sublimate; Hilde Soliani Fraaag
139. [THE NEW SAVANT] When the Wax is Poetic: Candles That Smell like Steamed Rice and Queer Love (w/ Ingrid Nilsen and Erica Anderson)
The New Savant Co-Founders Ingrid Nilsen and Erica Anderson join me in the Perfume Room this week! The New Savant is a queer, women-owned, candle brand with handmade, small-batch candles, inspired by unique personal stories, and scented by top industry perfumers.
Erica (a Fortune’s 40 Under 40) was Twitter News employee number one, and Ingrid (a Streamy Awards recipient and former Covergirl) was i
138. [FRAGRANCE TAXONOMIST MICHAEL EDWARDS] *THE* Quintessential American Fragrances
Today’s episode is a masterclass! Fragrance legend, author, historian, taxonomist and Perfume Room fan-favorite Michael Edwards is back (!!), this time to chat about his newest book, “American Legends: The Evolution of American Fragrances.”
What makes a perfume *American* in style and who are the quintessential American perfumes? What makes them legendary? What did they inspire? What does the fut
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