NEWS & FEATURES
We share all the stories from fragrance’s front line – bringing the world of perfume alive for you through interviews, events, openings and our award-winning podcast. Discover more about the passionate perfume brands and creatives behind the scents you love – and find out what you need to smell next…
A Day in the (Perfumer’s) Life: Louise Farina
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.
Are these the last of the Summer Scents? Exciting new launches PLUS two incredible #PerfumePrescriptions
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.
Take 5 Petrichor Perfumes to Bring the Rain
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…
A Day in the (Perfumer’s) Life: Nelly Hachem-Ruiz
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 soapy iris to an emboldening scent for a medal-winning fighter? All in a day’s work for ‘Perfume Prescriptions’
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...
Pop in to Selfridges for a scent-sational pop-up. (Oh, and the poshest laundry liquid on the planet.)
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…
On The Scent… of NEWS: did you know that Flowers Are Watching Us? (And some surprising news about Andy Warhol.)
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…
Delicious to Depraved – Suzy & Nicola review favourite vanilla fragrances
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…
Join Goldfield & Banks founder Dimitri Weber and Thomas Dunckley in a peach of a conversation
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’…
Take 5 Glorious Gingers
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.
A Day in the (Perfumer’s) Life: Olivier Cresp talks to On The Scent
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.
On The Scent Podcast exclusive: Alice du Parcq reveals all about her book ‘The Philosophy of Perfume’ (and why she burst into tears in a library while writing it)
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…
On The Scent… of NEWS: our round-up of fragrant excitement. (And trust us: getting lost never smelled so good.)
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.
Ready for a madcap sniffathon of new launches, Harrods exclusives & a spicy scent to set your senses tingling…?
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!
Take 5 Bountiful Berry Scents
Sick of sugary scents? Incredibly realistic, juicy but sharp berry notes are slicing their path through the world of perfumery right now. And – believe us – you need to get your noses on these…
Extraits, extraits: read all about CHANEL’s most intense fragrances to date, and their ‘Grand Parfumeur’ experience
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…
Through the Smoke – BeauFort London founder Leo Crabtree reflects on the passion, poetry, and evolving landscape of ‘niche’ perfumery
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 Sprays for affordable, on-the-go glam…
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
On The Scent… of NEWS: The Marie Claire Fragrance Awards, Jo Malone London’s Pinterest move, and more
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.
Set to become everyone’s Crush: meet the new ambassador for Coco Mademoiselle
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