Paperback Perfumes

When making your way in life - what does it look like to be brave and go with your heart? Map of the Heart is an Australian fragrance brand founded by Sarah Blair. The brand was started by Sarah and Jeffrey Darling, who were both working in film and became fascinated with fragrance. The fragrances are known for their unique bottle designs and the scents are crafted with a focus on authenticity and...

Marching to the beat of your own drum is so much harder when other have expectations about what you do and how you do it. It’s time to flip everything on it’s head… In this episode I am talking with Justine Hanna, Operations Manager at the Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation. In multiple episodes I have mentioned that other Librarians maybe stronger in the realms of Reader’s Advisory than mysel...

When it’s more about how things make you feel than performing a function that meet societal expectations? What is the importance and impact of giving space for a fully realised artistic experience? Australian perfume brand Metascent is reaching out into the fragrance community in a variety of different ways. From creating their own compounds, allowing people to explore making their own perfume, br...

How can we bring out the inherent and intrinsic qualities of each other. What Spaces can we make to come together and offer support to elevate from the mundane? This episode we are doing something a little bit different. The guest is Guy Vincent - CEO of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils, an Western Australian supplier of Santalum spicatum. Dutjahn are a 50% traditionally owned company that sustainably farm...

Sometimes it takes two episodes to get to the heart of a topic. Sometimes people just really enjoy literary critique and fragrant tangents This is part two of what started off as a simple idea that unfurled into a three hour long discussion of scent, grief, love longing - all woven into the discussion of Annihilation. The guest is the wonderful Nuri Mc Bride who explores the intersection of olfact...

The topic of grief is huge. As is love. Intertwining both is a sense of longing. Tackling these topics requires many experiences and expressions of self exploration. There is no one that I would like to embark on this topic more than Nuri McBride - perfumer, community educator, and writer. Nuri explores the intersection of olfaction and death rituals at the  Death/Scent  project, writes...

Sometimes the act of placing a perfume affords a little moment of intimacy with one’s self and celebration of memories. In talking with Sondrine Kehoe, perfumer and founder of the independent artisanal fragrance house Cygnet Perfumery, the Podcast explores intimacies - how they can enrich one’s life, how a celebration of these moments can take many forms and what it can look like when we miss the...

Part 2: when the pairing process is finally complete. Uncovering classic literature with a twist and thinking a little outside the box. Following on from our deep dive into Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, Suzy and Clare discuss a multitude of text and olfactory experience. From literary cannon to fantasy that makes you view the world a little differently, an array of experiences are covered. Suzy is a...

A deep dive into a single and singular novel. Float away on the tide of interpretations of scent and story. Trying to describe what it’s like to have such an in depth conversation with Suzy Nightingale, is a little like nailing jelly to a tree. Suzy is a multi-award winning fragrance writer, currently writing for The Perfume Society’s magazine ‘The Scented Letter’, co-host of one of my favourite f...

An episode that delves into robotic companions, empowering scents, comfort, inner diva connections, and romantic allure. There is a multitude of diverse topics that are covered in this in-depth conversation with Cherie, a multifaceted fragrance reviewer, blogger, and vlogger. Whilst we start with existential crises, we wander through a captivating exploration of scents interwoven with literature,...

Throwing fragrances into the mix whilst exploring that age old discussion about whether the book is indeed better than the film This episode delves into the captivating world of pairing fragrances with books that have been brought to life on the silver screen. Suzy from ScentnSensibility, known for her expertise in pairing films and fragrances on Instagram and TikTok, joins us as we combine our po...

The processes of reconnecting with self, self-actualization through scent and archetypal tropes in texts In this episode, we are joined by Pep, also known as The Scentinel, a prominent figure in the Australian fragrance community. Since 2017, Pep has captivated audiences with his deep-seated love for perfumes, particularly those crafted by niche and independent perfumers. Through the lens of arche...

Shining Light in Dark Places: simplicity, pathways, healing and connection In this episode of Paperback Perfumes episode, Clare engages in a fascinating discussion with Vanessa Lindemann, widely recognized as @vanessasskins, delving into the distinctions between the perfume sectors in Europe and New Zealand. Our conversation delves deep into the profound impact of narratives on scents, underscorin...

The world of magic will ensure that your life is never the same again. Laura Bass, the Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Lore Perfumery, recently embarked on a wonderful pairing event for Library Lover’s Day to team up with Clare. The duo planned to co-host a special event centered around the intriguing connection between scents and the diverse dimensions of relationships. Although they encounter...

Where incense filled churches meets sapphic socialites with fortitude Dr. Tamsin Paige, a distinguished Senior Lecturer at Deakin Law School, is renowned for her work on dissecting legal practice in popular fiction through her academic papers. Apart from her scholarly pursuits, she is also known as a DJ, a former french pâtissier, and intriguingly, has potentially been involved in apprehending Som...

The world of femme fatales and murder: uniqueness, heroes and colloquialisms In the debut episode of Paperback Perfumes, Clare and her guest, Elissa, a musician, fashion designer, and self-proclaimed lover of all things vintage, reflect on their recent olfactory expedition to a nearby perfumery, also known as a 'Sniffari'. Engaging in a lively conversation, they delve into the realm of signature s...

Welcome to Paperback Perfumes! Hosted by Clare Presser, a fragrance-loving librarian, this podcast explores the fascinating connection between scent and storytelling. Join us weekly as Clare chats with other fragrance enthusiasts, discussing their scent memories, personal narratives, and pairing perfumes with literary texts for engaging conversations. Whether you're a fragrance lover or looking fo...