Making Scents Make Sense
Making Scents Make Sense is a podcast hosted by multi-award-winning Fragrance Expert Thomas Dunckley. It aims to demystify the complex world of fragrance, making it accessible and understandable for listeners. The show covers various aspects of scent, from perfume ingredients to industry insights.
Episodes
Invisible Objects of Desire with L'Objet Brand Founder Elad Yifrach
L'Objet is an interior design brand that creates unique, beautiful objects. Created by interior designer Elad Yifrach, L'Objet isn't just a homeware brand, it's a fragrance brand too. Elad has worked with perfumers Yann Vasnier (Givaudan), Jean-Claude Ellena (independent) and Cecile Zarokian (independent) to create a distinct, rich, bold, sexy, and fun collection of fragrances quite unlike any oth
Raw Materials & Raw Talents with Ex Nihilo Co-Founder Benoît Verdier
Few fragrance brands are as innovative and have a cult-like following as Ex Nihilo. They aim to create fragrances entirely from scratch (in line with their brand name) and have paired with some of the industry's greatest perfumers to execute this vision. In this episode I speak with brand co-founder, Benoît Verdier all about the ethos of Ex Nihilo, the brand's creative process, and their exciting
Take all the Beauty and Break all the Rules with Givaudan Perfumer & French Cowboy Co-Founder Ashley Santiago
Ashley Santiago is the youngest perfumer at the fragrance house Givaudan. She's also the co-founder of the rebellious perfume brand French Cowboy. In this episode, Ashley and I talk about how summers in Mexico helped shaped her relationship with scent, her love of both Paris Hilton and Serge Lutens, her journey into perfume and training at ISIPCA / Givaudan's Perfumery School, and how she collabor
The Beautiful Intensity of the Sun with Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas
There are few perfumers in the fragrance industry more legendary than Alberto Morillas. He's the man behind olfactory hits such as Armani's Acqua di Gio, Calvin Klein's CK1, Estée Lauder's Pleasures, Mugler's Cologne, Kenzo's Flower, and many, many more. He also has his own brand, Mizensir, within which he explores the art of perfumery in beautiful ways. In this season finale, I speak with Alberto
The Role of the Evaluator with MANE Fragrance Development Managers Ashna Roy and Julie Fwok
What does an Evaluator do? The role of the Evaluator (or Fragrance Development Manager, as they are more often called) is a crucial part of the fragrance development process. They're the conduit between the brand and the perfumer, translating the brief between both parties to ensure that the client gets a fragrance that smells exactly the way they want it to. In this episode I speak to Ashna Roy (
Looking to the Past for the Future with Ninth Generation Perfumer Louise Farina
Farina 1709 is the oldest fragrance house in the world. Based in Cologne, Germany, Farina has been producing fragrance for over 300 years. In this week's episode, 9th generation family perfumer Louise Farina joins me to talk about how she is balancing heritage and innovation, respecting the past of the house, whilst building an exciting future.You can find out more about Farina on the brand's webs
New Earth with Olfactive O Brand Founder Olivia da Costa
Olfactive O is a unique niche fragrance brand that puts fragrance personalities at the centre of everything they do, even putting them on the labels found on the bottles. It's a collaboration between Creative Director Olivia da Costa (the "O") and a top secret perfumer (the "Olfactive"). In this episode, I speak with Olivia about the inspiration for the brand, how she met her perfumer and their cr
Standing the Test of Time with Ormonde Jayne Brand Founder Linda Pilkington
Linda Pilkington is one of the early pioneers of niche fragrance. Launching her brand Ormonde Jayne 25 years ago, Linda has created a beautifully luxurious range of perfumes with a number of cult classics. Ormonde Jayne perfumes are entirely free of gimmick and showcase unusual ingredients that few other brands use. In this episode I speak with Linda about her journey into perfumery, her creative
Foug-érring on the Side of Caution with Perfumer and NOSU Brand Founder Jacob Grainger
Jacob Grainger is a self-taught perfumer and co-founder of British indie brand NOSU. Alongside his wife, Lucy, Jacob has created a unique fragrance brand that blends the olfactory and visual arts. In this episode, Jacob and I talk about his background in flavours and how he has created a brand that has a distinct impact, both in terms of olfaction and visual aesthetic. We also talk about some of t
Daddy!! with Fragrance Writer, Podcaster, and Host Haydn Williams
Haydn Williams is a fragrance writer and host of the popular Man in the Mirror Podcast. He's a man of many talents, straddling the music and perfumer industries, and occasionally bringing the two together. Through his work on his podcast and through various panel discussions he has hosted, Haydn has found himself a bit of a niche: speaking to men about their grooming and fragrance habits, which me
Fertile Ground with Perfumer & Brand Founder Nancy Meiland
Nancy Meiland is a perfumer and the founder of an eponymous fragrance brand. She started her career as an actress but found her way into perfumery through her work with perfumers such as Anastasia Brozler and Lyn Harris. She has crafted a unique and beautiful brand that feels rooted in the natural world, telling emotional olfactory stories through her work with some of the industry's top perfumers
Simplicity is Absolute Sophistication with Essential Parfums Founder Géraldine Archambault
Géraldine Archambault is the founder of the innovative and disruptive niche brand Essential Parfums. For Essential Parfums, simplicity is key and they achieve something many brands do not (or at least, seem unwilling to do): they work with the greatest perfumers to make beautiful fragrances at an affordable price, all packaged up sustainably. It's a fantastic proposition and in this episode I talk
Sweaty Ballsacks with Perfumer and Papillon Artisan Perfumes Founder Liz Moores
Liz Moores is a perfumer unlike any other. She creates deeply personal, rich, and complex perfumes that tell beautiful stories, transporting the wearer to world's unknown. Her brand, Papillon Artisan Perfumes, consists of a collection of scents that feel inspired by classic perfumes of the past, presented in a modern context. In this episode I ask Liz about her creative process and some of the per
Invisible Accessories with Content Creator and Anforh Brand Founder Robin James
Robin James is best known for his website, YouTube channel, and Instagram/TikTok presence as Man For Himself. He writes/speaks about grooming, hair care, skin care, body care, and fragrance. You might know him from his street interviews, where he asks men about the clothes and fragrances they are wearing. He's also the founder of Anforh, a hair care and fragrance brand, which boasts a collection o
Demo Accords with Perfumer and Author Pia Long
Pia Long is the perfumer at and co-founder of independent British fragrance house Olfiction. She is known for her unique and expressive style of perfumery, pulling from nature, history, and popular culture to create unique, evocative, complex, and most importantly, fun fragrances. She has created for her own brand Eau de Boujee (co-founded with Nick Gilbert) as well as Zoologist, Beaufort London,
Respect the Nature of the Absolute with Perfumer and Matiere Premiere Brand Founder Aurelien Guichard
Aurelien Guichard grew up right in the heart of perfumery: in Grasse. His father (Jean Guichard) was a famous perfumer and his mother a sculptor. His family grew roses. He did not have your typical upbringing - his was uniquely scented. In this episode I speak with Aurélien about his work as a perfumer and a grower of materials, and how he has turned his hand to create a unique fragrance brand, wh
Smell as a First Language with Master Perfumer Sonia Constant
Sonia Constant is a Master Perfumer working at Givaudan and is the nose behind bestselling fragrances for brands such as Thierry Mugler, Tom Ford, and Narciso Rodriguez. She's also the only female Master Perfumer to have her own fragrance brand - the remarkable Ella K. Ella K puts travel at the centre of its storytelling, with a fictional heroin traversing the globe to capture olfactory landscapes
Olfactory Troublemaking with ERIS Parfums Brand Founder Barbara Herman
Barbara Herman is a perfume lover turned author turned perfume brand founder. Her adoration for vintage fragrances has really informed the style of fragrances she creates alongside perfumer Antoine Lie for her brand ERIS Parfums. Named after the goddess of mischief and troublemaking, ERIS is a brand that subverts expectations of what a fragrance can be, pushing the boundaries and leading to olfact
Custodians of Heritage with Floris London Perfume Director Edward Bodenham
Very few fragrance houses can say they've been in business for almost 300 years, but Floris London can. Dating back to 1730, Floris London has been a fixture at 89 Jermyn Street in London for 9 generations. For almost three centuries they've been making fragrances and scented luxuries for a customer base that includes kings, queens, prime minsters, actors and musicians. In this episode, I speak wi
Bringing Technology Into the Consumer Conversation with KAORIUM CEO Ben Janoušek
With 8,000+ fragrance launches per year, consumers have never had so much choice. Whilst choice is great, it can be tricky to cut through all that olfactory noise and know where to start when discovering new fragrances. Enter KAORIUM and The Scent Sommelier™, whose aim it is to make fragrance discovery easier using AI technology. In this episode I speak with KAORIUM CEO, Ben Janoušek all about the
Fragrances With Main Character Energy with SOKI LONDON Brand Founder Sophie King
Sophie King went from being a fragrance creator on YouTube to starting her own fragrance brand, SOKI LONDON. She is a fragrance lover who turned her passion for perfume into a career. Her fragrances have "main character energy" (her words, not mine) and she's worked with British perfumers to create a unique fragrance brand that caters to people who love scents with bold personalities. In this epis
Dive Deep Into the Olfactive Imagination with Goldfield & Banks Australia Brand Founder Dimitri Weber
Dimitri Weber is not your typical fragrance brand founder. Born in Belgium, he worked in the fragrance industry at brands like Cartier and YSL before finding himself making a home all the way down under in Australia. For his brand, the unique Goldfield & Banks, it's the natural botanicals of the Australian continent that form his inspiration. In this episode Dimitri and I chat all about his ad
Creating Community Through Content With Fragrance Creator Lucy Sun
Lucy Sun is a fragrance content creator who has formed a community of scent lovers online through their popular Nosevember series. It's their aim to make fragrance accessible and relatable simply by talking about it. In this episode we talk about how to create community on social media, how their Nosevember series has changed over time, and how queer history and fragrance overlap.Follow Lucy on in
Born in an Opium Bottle with Roos & Roos Co-Founder Alexandra Roos
Alexandra Roos co-founded the unique fragrance brand Roos & Roos with her mother, Chantal Roos. Chantal is an industry legend who is responsible for the creation of iconic, blockbuster scents such as YSL's Opium, Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey and Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Mâle. Alexandra is a trained musician, songwriter and composer and alongside Chantal, she has crafted a really special brand t
Concepts From the Here and Now with 27 87 Brand Founder Romy Kowalewski
Romy Kowalewski is the founder of Barcelona-based niche fragrance brand 27 87 and she approaches perfume creation in a way that is unfussy and without gimmick. She presents her fragrances in a clean, simple aesthetic that allows the scents to speak for themselves, and boy, do they have interesting things to say. In this episode we talk all about Romy's journey into starting the brand, how she was
Perfume and Packaging in Parallel with Product Designer Vincent Villéger
How important is a perfume's packaging? Is it all really about the juice? In this episode I'm joined by Vincent Villéger, an independent product, retail and packaging designer who has worked with a number of fragrance brands (Givenchy, YSL, Issey Miyake, Ataratma, Lili Bermuda) to create their perfume bottles and packaging. He also worked in house at Burberry for 8 years as Director of Packing Des
Rebel with Accords with BORNTOSTANDOUT Brand Founder Jun Lim
Is niche really niche anymore? Jun Lim, founder of Korean fragrance brand BORNTOSTANDOUT, wants to shake the industry up with bold and creative scents that challenge the status quo. In this interview we discuss Jun's origins as a fragrance lover/troll, the fragrance scene in Korea, and how he went from working in finance to starting his own brand. His approach to perfumery is unique. He pushes the
Fragrance is an Emotional Product with Fragrance Industry Legend Veronique Gabai
Veronique Gabai has one of the most impressive fragrance industry CVs you'll ever come across. Throughout her career she has worked with a number of huge fragrance brands (Estée Lauder, Guerlain, Armani, to name just a few) to launch some hugely iconic products, including Armani's Acqua di Gio, Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria collection and DKNY Be Delicious. Not only that, but she has created her own e
A Creative Model with Couturier and Fragrance Brand Founder Marc-Antoine Barrois
Marc-Antoine Barrois is the man behind one of the most groundbreaking niche fragrance brands on the market today. Coming from a background in couture, Marc-Antoine has worked exclusively with Givaudan perfumer Quentin Bisch to create a collection of fascinating, bold, and novel fragrances that are unlike any others - fragrances like Ganymede and Tilia. In this episode Marc-Antoine discusses his ro
Putting Fragrance Into Function with AKT London Founders Ed Currie & Andy Coxon
Historically there has been an entire gulf between the world's of fine fragrance and functional fragrance. This is no longer true. Consumers are wanting luxury olfactory experiences in all their scented products, whether those be body care products or laundry detergents. For this reason we've seen a number of brands put high quality fragrances into functional products. AKT London is perhaps the on
Head, Heart, Body, and Bones Notes with Singer Songwriter Låpsley
On this week's episode I'm exploring the relationship between scent and music with British singer, songwriter, musician and producer Låpsley. We discuss the fragrances that she is obsessed with, how she has always loved the smell of leathers, and what inspired her to create 6 Hands, a scented candle to be burned whilst listening to her new album 'I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman in Love'.Follow Låpsle
Fragrant Journeys with Perfumer Gurpal Singh Sahota
"Kushbu" is a Punjabi words that means "the enjoyment of smell". It's also the name of Perfumer Gurpal Singh Sahota's fragrance brand. In this episode I talk with Gurpal about how a snowboarding accident kick-started his journey to becoming a Perfumer and how he brings his East African, North Indian and British cultural background into his work. It's a fascinating insight into many different fragr
Live from Barnes Fragrance Fair with Founder Amanda Carr & more
In this week's episode I'm reporting live from Barnes Fragrance Fair. This annual fair shines a spotlight on independent British fragrance brands with an exhibition hall packed to the brim with brands and an impressive roster of talks and workshops. Barnes' founder Amanda Carr joins me pre-fair to talk about what inspired her to start such a unique event and I speak with a number of exhibitors on
The Power of PR in Perfume with PR Legend Nicola de Burlet
Communicating scent is difficult. Fragrance is a complex message and brands need PR professionals to get their messages and stories across to consumers effectively. This week I'm joined by PR guru Nicola de Burlet to talk all about the power of PR in perfume. Nicola has worked for a veritable who's who of luxury fragrance brands (Chanel, Givenchy, Gaultier, Alaïa, Elie Saab, BDK Parfums, Escentric
From Blogging to Boutique to Brand with Founders Arielle Weinberg & Katri Haas
In this episode I'm chatting with Arielle Weinberg and Katri Haas, co-owners of Washington-based fragrance boutique and brand Arielle Shoshana. Their journey is a unique one, with Ari being one of the OG fragrance bloggers before starting the boutique and brand, with Katri joining the company after having been a loyal customer. We talk about that journey but also how they've crafted a special spac
Creative Collaboration with Perfumers Julien Rasquinet & Paul Guerlain
Have you ever wondered how two perfumers work together to create a fragrance? In this episode I interview perfumers Julien Rasquinet (of CPL Aromas) and Paul Guerlain (of IFF) about their creative collaboration for the fragrance Lustre, which is part of Omani perfume house Amouage's Essence Collection. This is a fragrance with a unique brief, created in a unique way. Julien and Paul tell me all ab
Making Scents Make Sense with Scentfluencer Alice du Parcq
On this inaugural episode of Making Scents Make Sense I wanted to speak with someone who knows all about demystifying the world of fragrance and who better to speak to than iconic "scentfluencer" Alice du Parcq? Alice is a fragrance and beauty expert, writer, and event host who has created a community of fragrance lovers all through her evocative, accessible, and no-nonsense way of speaking about
