Louise Farina represents the ninth generation of the remarkable family behind Farina 1709, the Cologne fragrance house widely recognised as the world’s oldest. She’s the first woman to lead the brand.

Founded by Johann Maria Farina in 1709, its original Eau de Cologne became an international sensation, admired for its light, sparkling freshness. The house has remained in family hands for more than three centuries, continuing to produce its celebrated citrus-aromatic composition in Cologne, where its museum and historic premises are a portal to perfume history.

From latest launches helping us all hang on to summer to those that feel like a wisp of autumn in the air, Suzy and Nicola have so many scented suggestions for you to try – including a new niche house by a young perfumer who has both of our hosts incredibly excited.

This week they also have answers for two listeners who wrote in with perfume prescriptions – one seeking a cold plunge into icy incense and swimming pool perfumes, and another so-moving request from a listener searching for a scent to memorialise memories of a book-loving best friend.

Petrichor is the evocative smell of raindrops hitting parched earth, a magical moment when the earth seems to sigh with relief alongside us, releasing its cool, earthily verdant and calming scent. Here’s 5 petrichor perfumes to enjoy whenever your nose needs…

For Nelly Hachem-Ruiz, ‘happiness is perfume.’ (And can’t we all identify with that?) Paris-born Nelly’s family was originally from Syria, before they settled in the French capital, with her grandparents becoming ‘the very embodiment of Parisian art de vivre.’ Today, she is Senior Perfumer at IFF, and marks the launch of her latest fragrance – Contes des Parfums Marrakesh – by sharing her inspirations and the secrets of her working day with On The Scent.

From a listener seeking a clean iris vibe replacement for a much-loved (and now discontinued) Armani Privé, to another searching for an emboldening scent to help her win a fight (literally!) there’s nothing Suzy and Nicola love more than receiving your questions and requests for ‘Perfume Prescriptions’.

It’s something they’ve always specialised in at On the Scent Podcast – it brings them such joy being able to match people to perfumes they’d perhaps never tried or even heard of). And my word, they get a LOT of DMs @onthescentpodcast on Instagram, and messages on the On the Scent Podcast Facebook group, and so it made sense they dedicate an entire episode to do a deep dive on these two fascinating fragrant conundrums...

London’s perfume hot-spot right now is the Ultra Lounge, at Selfridges, where four of fragrance’s hottest brands are offering immersive experiences, through to 24th August. And where you can find a sublimely scented product that looks set to banish the washday blues forever more…

All the feels at Gap and Elizabeth Taylor as fragrance gets nostalgic for the 90s, alongside arty florals at dsm–firmenich and a long-awaited launch from Estée Lauder. Also, have we finally got a scientific excuse for our excess fragrance purchasing? Our newshound Amanda Carr – writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder – keeps your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant…

Think you hate vanilla, or that you’ve tried every type? Think again! This week the award-winning perfume podcast host Suzy and Nicola rate and review five of their favourite vanilla fragrances (five each, that is. Obvs). Encompassing hip-swivelling seduction, a stunning high street body butter, hugely powerful fragrant talismans, and summery every-day wearability, there’s also a truly affordable modern classic vanilla – created by a Master Perfumer who trained at Chanel, created scents for Frederic Malle, Guerlain, Gucci, Amouage and Atkinsons; but THIS one can be snapped up for under £32! From delicious to depraved: dive on in…

Reckon nothing exciting happens in perfumery during August? Well, at Harrods, on the afternoon of 19th August 2026, renowned scent-lovers Thomas Dunckley and founder Dimitri Weber will unveil the latest shimmering Goldfield & Banks creation, Sunset Dark Hour Peach. And you could join them for this ‘Golden Hour’…

Ginger is a majorly-trending note we’re seeing popping up in all manner of perfumes right now, with its fizzing freshness and gently simmering heat a welcome wake-up to the senses. Here’s our edit of five ginger fragrances to set your nose a-tingle.

Olivier Cresp is one of the world’s most renowned perfumers, and each time we meet, we learn so much. Recently Olivier was back in London to talk us through his own, expanding AKRO fragrance brand – the name means ‘addiction’, in French – which he creates for, alongside his role as Master Perfumer at global fragrance house dsm-firmenich.

This week, hosts Suzy and Nicola welcome back dear perfume pal and friend of the pod (star of two previous episodes), the multi-award-winning fragrance writer, presenter, content creator and now AUTHOR, Alice du Parcq!

Alice has always been ‘on a mission to decode perfume in a fun, relatable and objective way.’ Now, added to her perfumed portfolio will be an incredibly gift-able (to self or scent-loving friends) book, created in collaboration with none other than The British Library, called The Philosophy of Perfume.

Out in October, we’re sure, like us, you cannot WAIT to read it, and in this episode, Alice gives a sneak peek at what you expect to find inside, plus the entire story of how the book came to be, and why she burst into tears in a library…

To bring you ‘On The Scent’s regular round-up of events, campaigns, pop-ups and other excitement, we’re pleased to introduce as our newshound Amanda Carr, writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder, who’ll keep your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant.

This week’s On The Scent Podcast is a truly madcap sniffathon encompassing [*takes a deep breath*] wild seascapes, fragrant ghosts and a notorious rake; a thrillingly spicy summer scent to set your senses tingling; a fruity treat based on a perfumer’s favourite breakfast; a splendiferous peacock strutting its scented stuff; a stunning sueded rose; perfumes pulled straight from the vegetable patch; Harrods exclusives to swoon over; a seriously affordable new niche house; a mesmerising myrrh, and a sneak peek into Alice du Parcq’s forthcoming book… AND there’s a Listener Prescription answered. Phew!

Who knew? We didn’t. (And, um, it’s our job.) But rather quietly, without a great fanfare, CHANEL have been releasing extrait formulations of some of their most famed and beloved fragrances. And they want to introduce you to them, via an exceptional ‘Grand Parfumeur’ experience…

This week’s episode of the podcast has a particularly intriguing guest, as Suzy Nightingale and Nicola Bonn sit down with BeauFort London founder, Leo Crabtree, to trace a fascinating journey. From the formative fragrances he wore as a teenager to the moment he realised scent could become a storytelling medium for his fascinations with maritime might, Shakespearean drama, and the awe-inspiring power of nature. 

Travel-size scents are having their moment in the sun, as an ultra-glam yet practical way to have portable perfume, but also as an affordable way to try a fragrance over several days (and weeks), writes Suzy Nightingale

Our regular round-up of events, campaigns, pop-ups and other excitement, to keep your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant – this week, with a full run-down of the Marie Claire Awards 2026.

It isn’t every day that CHANEL appoints a new ‘égerié’, as they put it. But we’re set to see (and hear) a lot more of singer-songwriter Gracie Adams, ambassador for COCO MADEMOISELLECRUSH ABSOLU, by Olivier Polge, which launches on 19th August

Embracing the heat, and leaning into the ‘Sunscreen Scent’ perfume profile this week, the fragrant duo are following on from the BONUS episode available to Patreon subscribers in which they explored their favourite scented sunscreens. Flipping that fragrant theme on its head, this time it’s all about those solar, ‘holiday in a bottle’ type perfumes, and they find themselves particularly drawn to those with a vintage vibe.

Later in the episode, Nicola answers a listener question from someone who had fallen head over heels for spicy tonka / vanilla fragrances way out of her budget, and seeks affordable scents to satiate this new olfactory obsession…

The Perfumed Pavilions at the first RHS Badminton Flower Show celebrate the rich fragrant garden heritage of this stately home, showcasing in particular the myriad aromas of scented geraniums in a collaboration between specialists Fibrex Nurseries and C. Atherley, Cath Kidston Padgham’s geranium-centric bath, body and skincare range.

In a quintessentially English collaboration, Floris London has partnered with Cowdray Park, who’ve created a bespoke Afternoon Tea experience that runs throughout Summer 2026, based around the notes in this heritage fragrance house’s latest launch, Celest.

Talk about varied - this week’s episode goes from a ‘posh banana’ Brazilian carnival in a bottle Nicola experienced at a vibrantly fun perfume pop-up in Liberty, to an extraordinary, burning, bloodied rose Suzy’s entranced by (don’t worry - it’s not as scary as it sounds!)

The show also features two incredibly inspirational women - one who’s created her own fragrance brand to reflect a life lived in scent and adventure, and another who’s bringing the playfulness back into perfumery by allowing you (and your friends) to attend a blending workshop via Zoom - to create your own fragrance with her stunning and easy-to-use accords.

PLUS there’s all the new fragrances Suzy & Nicola are wearing, and a listener looking for the perfect (affordable) iris perfume…

Kicking off a regular round-up of events, campaigns, pop-ups and other excitement, to keep your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant.

Looking for some truly outstanding and very affordable fragrances? Have Suzy & Nicola got an episode for you! This week, as challenged by the podcast’s Instagram followers, they went on a scent safari sniffing their way around the new fragrances in one of the U.K’s most beloved high street shops. The results? Well, they were rather awe-struck with how wonderful they were, to be honest…

We’re thrilled to unveil Issue #2 of On The Scent, the acclaimed fragrance magazine. Discover how perfumers cleverly capture forests, beaches, meadows and mountains in scent; read about the creative inspirations of BDK Parfums founder David Benedek – and get up to date on all the latest launches, news and all the perfume world buzz. Available in PRINT and online…

It’s a bold move to give over half of a fragrance boutique to an art exhibition, but Penhaligon’s has partnered with the Queen Elizabeth Trust to showcase a triptych of artists, in their newly refurbed King’s Road boutique. And it is worth sniffing out, writes Jo Fairley…