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…
Sumptuously Stroke-able Scents (how can a fragrance *feel*?)
From desert velvet, cake-soft warmth and (not too) sweetness to mineral stillness, crisp air and even the smooth touch of Prada’s iconic nylon, these scents offer six very different ways to experience texture and touchable, strokable sensations in fragrant form.
For this episode, Suzy & Nicola ask you to re-imagine what the way you experience your perfumes. So close your eyes as you listen to the descriptions, and imagine how they’d feel if you could reach out and touch them…
Issue #3 of ‘On The Scent’ magazine is HERE – so order your print copy (or read online)
We’re thrilled to unveil Issue #3 of On The Scent, the acclaimed fragrance magazine. In ‘The Art of Glass’ edition, explore how humble sand is transformed into exquisite bottles, read about the creative inspirations of Marc-Antoine Barrois, and learn all about iris’s renaissance. Available in PRINT and online…
On The Scent… of NEWS: fragrance becomes an art form (in more ways than one)
We’re the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ of scent this week, with a collectible art vibe running through our newshound Amanda Carr’s report, which spans Dior’s restoration of its fragrance heritage to perfumer Sarah McCartney’s suggestion that the rules of art collecting could apply to perfume. (And we also bring you some actual art involving antique Yardley packaging…)
What’s Up Down Under? A report from Australia’s Geelong Fragrance Fair
Gosh, it’s a busy time for fragrance shows. And while Italy’s a hop, skip and a jump from our London HQ, we were sadly unable to pop over to the recent Geelong Fragrance Fair, in Melbourne. Happily, Anthony Gardiner – materials producer and writer – made it to the over from New Zealand. He now shares with On The Scent his discoveries and observations of the fast-growing Antipodean fragrance market…
These are the fragrances that stopped Suzy in her tracks…
Suzy & Nicola are back for part two of the Pitti Fragranze roundup, continuing their deep-dive into the perfume launches, houses and ideas that made this year’s Florence fair feel so full of possibility…
From a Chinese-French house capturing the transient scent of sun-dried osmanthus, to Korean brands evoking fire-charred ingredients, graceful calligraphy and fine-dining balances of flavour, this episode travels widely through fragrance’s newest creative terrain.
5 Fragrances for the Cusp of Autumn
As the last days of summer give way to autumn’s earliest whispers, the perfumes we reach for can be a lovely way to embrace this in-between feeling. Before we button-up and The temperature and humidity are subtly shifting, and this can dramatically alter the way fragrance behaves on skin, lending even tried-and-true favourites a newly compelling character. But what do we feel like wearing when even the weather can’t quite make up its mind…?
Suzy Nightingale has smelled the future of fragrance at Pitti Fragranze (and there’s much to be excited by…!)
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a fragrance trade fair, get ready for all the news as Suzy reviews this year’s Pitti Fragranze in Florence. There are some some thrilling new launches and brands to get excited by, and she reveals some of the trends we can expect to see filtering their way through to the wider fragrance world over the coming months.
Suzy has been attending the Pitti Fragranze trade fair for thirteen years, and genuinely felt this was one of the best ever years. The overall vibe seemed to be a return to beauty - classical perfumery elements woven in new and intriguing ways, and with greater cultural diversity from brands showcasing their heritage and aromas they grew up with.
We’ll be focussing more in this aspect - as well as talking about the trends Suzy saw emerging this year - in next week’s episode. But until then, enjoy this whistle-stop rundown of some of Suzy’s scented highlights of the show this year…
On The Scent… of NEWS: poetic perfume pop-ups, Givaudan’s message in a bottle – and Giorgio Armani harnesses the ‘phwoar’ factor
There are more pop-up perfume adventures to be had in London this week, if you’re quick. And very encouragingly, there’s a distinct drive towards fragrance helping us all to become more sociably connected. Our newshound Amanda Carr – writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder – keeps your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant…
There’s posh: Penhaligon’s Portraits take up (temporary) residence at The Royal Academy of Arts. (And we went to the preview.)
A decade after the launch of Penhaligon’s wonderfully eccentric Portraits collection, the fragrance family takes over the Royal Academy of Arts in a joyous, beautifully realised, multi-sensory exhibition. (And we also meet perfumer Daphné Bugey, creator of the latest to join the family…)
Sainte Cellier offers us a new way to shop for fragrance. It’s a breath of fresh air…
Are you ready to snuggle yet? Suzy & Nicola reveal their must-sniff roundup of cosy new launches…
Are you feeling the need for snuggly scents yet? Suzy and Nicola are leaning into the cosiness in this week’s episode and have been gathering together some of new launches and favourite fragrances they’ve been wearing as autumn approaches…
Take 5 Olive Fragrances
Gourmands have taken a twist into more savoury scents, we’ve noticed, and olive has emerged as a new note in this ever-emerging category. Utilising the fruit itself, the olive tree (wood, leaf, blossom) and even olive oil, olive naysayers will be shocked at how surprisingly wearable these scents can be, writes Suzy Nightingale.
A classic iris revived after 114 years (!) PLUS a plethora of other new launches = a definite new trend. Suzy & Nicola explore…
Presaging one of Suzy’s lead features in the the soon-to-be-published autumn edition of On The Scent magazine, this podcast episode finds Nicola and Suzy nose-deep in new iris launches. You cannot have failed to notice this note is enjoying a perfumed renaissance of late, and together they explore one of the most traditional (and costly) notes in perfumery – now made modern by perfumers exploring it in surprising ways.
From one of the all-time classic iris perfumes launching a new version after 114 years, to another historic house who’s just launched a dashingly debonair iris scent; and a brilliantly affordable iris from a high street shop that’s one of their star buys sofar this year… There’s a lot to love!
On The Scent… of NEWS: whisper it softly, but Christmas is coming
We’ve got ‘Back To School’ vibes this week, as we return from an extraordinary UK summer – but it seems that it’s never too early start thinking about the festive season, reports our newshound Amanda Carr, the writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder
What are the ‘Glimmers’ (little moments of joy) that get you through the day? & how can you capture a scent memory forever…?
In this episode our podcast duo are partnering with Estée Lauder for the first in a new series: Fragrant Focus. This is a sponsored segment where they take their time exploring a single scent - smelling it together and sharing their thoughts. And they have an exciting GIVEAWAY for you to enter! Listen and read on to find out how to enter, hear Suzy & Nicola’s reviews of Glimmer, and the beautiful inspiration behind its launch.
But that’s not all, of course – in this week’s epsiode they have a plethora of exciting new launches to tell you about, from niche names, designer and heritage houses alike. But we begin the show this time with an emotional journey to capture the scent of something very special to Suzy… the smell of her late dad’s rose (which he planted for her when she was a little girl).
Who managed to bottle this scent memory for Suzy, and how was it done? You’ll need to listen to this episode to find out…
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...