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.
They’ve even managed to wangle a must-sniff list of perfumes Alice has been wowed by so far this year (not in the book, just a little scented extra to get you scurrying to smell them). Suzy and Nicola loved recording this warm, emotive, wide-ranging conversation and, as ever, could have talked to Alice for hours longer.
We so hope you enjoy this deep dive into one of the most hotly anticipated books for some time...
Read along as you listen, and find the pre-order link…
Suzy Nightingale
Are you a regular listener? We know we’re biased, but any perfume-lover who isn’t tuning in on a regular basis is missing out. On The Scent podcast was part of the inspiration for this website (and our magazine): a podcast destination for anyone fascinated by fragrance, or keen to learn more. A place where perfume snobbery is stripped away, and fragrance is accessible to all.
What began as a monthly sniff-in on the Outspoken Beauty podcast soon became so popular in its own right (and with so many listeners sending in questions and asking for more), that On The Scent just had to go weekly – this time on its own perfumed platform! Today, the podcast regularly attracts over 40,000 listeners per show.
Encompassing everything from icons and all-time classics to what’s new on the high street via the more niche indie brands, beauty broadcaster and columnist Nicola Bonn and award-winning fragrance journalist and expert Suzy Nightingale give personalised perfume prescriptions, describing fragrances in such an intoxicating way you can almsot smell them and help navigate the thousands of scents out there to find the truly incredible ones. Also, expect interviews with well-known figures, delving into their favourite scents of all time, and opportunities to get to know some of the most exciting perfumers in the world.
Nicola Bonn
Whether you’ve a collection of 500+ fragrances on your dressing table or are just starting on your scent journey, olfactory obsessives Nicola and Suzy are on a mission to find you fragrances that don’t simply smell good, but will reconnect you to long-forgotten memories, engage your emotions and very likely blow your mind…
Find On The Scent podcast on Apple podcasts here or wherever you download your podcasts – or listen to it and read the show notes on our website, via PODCAST on our menu.
