On The Scent

We’re sharing some incredible (and often hilarious!) scent stories and fragrant feedback from you this week, including tales of the woman who took a perfume to lunch, a listener slowly regaining her sense of smell after losing it 25 years ago, and erotic adventures during a perfume-buying holiday…! We mention: @mcgee.onfood.onsmells Nose Dive by Harold McGee (book) @tallow_restaurant @quadywinery...

In this episode Suzy makes everyone sick with jealousy about her luxurious overnight stay in a beautiful Cotswolds hotel (filled with fragrant products!) while Nicola goes on a spree in Liberty (with cake!) and has an unusual encounter with a magician. We’ll also be catching up about even more new fragrance launches, what we’re loving, and answering listener questions with our perfume prescription...

In this episode Nicola chats about her recent fragrant adventure in Selfridges, plus Suzy and Nicola delve into some of the magnificent scents that they have encountered at recent launches and events. Nicola has also been buying samples from Les Senteurs in her ongoing quest for a new perfume and Suzy has encountered what is perhaps the sexiest and dirtiest orange blossom scent of all time. Here's...

We’ve been on a whistle-stop tour of exciting press days: exploring the scent spaces of Commodity and visiting the actual church of Sephora (and discovering some of the brands they’ll be stocking). Plus Nicola falls madly for not one but TWO fragrances and makes her own perfume, Suzy has an emotional moment when a fragrances picks her, and has her mind blown at the IFRA Fragrance Forum. All this,...

Equal parts “hedonism and humanism”, Veronique Gabai is a remarkably passionate businesswoman who grew up suffused with sunshine and orange blossom in the idyllic Côte d'Azur. In this episode we discover when her love of fragrance truly began, her time at @guerlain (and launching some of the most famous fragrances in the world). We also learn how she then worked her way up to the prestigious roll...

With Halloween approaching, we’re exploring the more mysterious fragrances that could excite your senses this month. Think: haunted forests, smoky trails, spectral presences, and perfumes that evoke telling haunted tales by candlelight… And, as well as giving out another Perfume Prescription, we have some VERY exciting news to share with you! Get your tickets for our December 8 th LIVE Event in Lo...

In this week’s episode we’re putting our heads together to answer your further fragrant queries – you keep the questions coming and we LOVE finding your perfect ‘perfume prescriptions’! We’re also chatting about a very glam event we attended, Suzy swirling about in a vintage velvet cape and asking for your help in Nicola’s desperate scent crisis… Suzy’s been wearing: @jolovesofficial Pomelo Fragra...

This is the time of year we want to snuggle up and have our homes (and ourselves) smell cosy, welcoming, calm and stunning. We’re seriously digging out our scented candles, and this week we’re chatting about some of our favourites for the season. Plus, we’re answering yet more of your incredible questions – including one listener who wonders if she’s alone in wanting to ‘smell’ colours… Home fragr...

We had SO many messages and questions from you during our season break that we couldn’t hope to answer them all in one go. This time, along with our perfume prescriptions, we’ll also be talking about the change in season (and the fragrances we’re looking forward to wearing now autumn’s here). What we’ve been / are looking forward to wearing: Nicola: @experimentalperfumeclub Neroli Cobalt @theperfu...

After a longer than expected season break, due to technical gremlins, we’re BACK for Season Two, baby! Expect an amount of grumbling that’s (hopefully!) offset by fragrant reunions, holiday tales, the heart-warming scent stories you’ve so generously shared, and some particularly intriguing perfume prescriptions… Catchup / What We’ve Been Wearing. Nicola: @experimentalperfumeclub Neroli Cobalt @san...

We’re delving into more of the incredible scent memories you’ve shared with us, answering your fragrant questions with our Perfume Prescriptions, and sharing what we’ve been wearing (including a sneaky sniff at NEW Penhaligon’s and Serges Lutens fragrances, which come out in September!) Here are all the scents we mention… What we’ve been wearing: Nicola: @glossier YOU @sanajardin Berber Blond @lil...

We’ve had an emotional outpouring of olfactory stories and questions about fragrance from you, our lovely listeners, so in this episode we’ll be sharing some of your scent memories and hoping to solve those perfume problems. (More next time in part 2 as we couldn’t get through them all in one episode, sorry!) Suzy & Nicola have both been wearing: Marlou Paris (sent samples by Brook at @sainte.cell...

Where can we begin to list the accomplishments and describe the extraordinary life of our guest this week? Jo Fairley is one of the UK's leading female entrepreneurs, became the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor (at the age of 23!) has been slapped by Bette Davis and partied with rock stars, co-founded Green & Black’s Chocolate in 1991, launched @beautybibleofficial with Sarah Stacey in 1996, own...

Recorded on the hottest day of the year (and despite technical hitches) in this episode we get excited over some of the newness we’ve seen (and sniffed). @fragrantmaven discusses new launches and scented showcases, including an interview with @constantsoniaperfumer (perfumer and founder of the incredible @ella_k_parfums_paris house) recorded at the @harveynichols event earlier this week, hosted by...

What happens if you lose your sense of smell - through Covid or any other reason? Why does it happen, what can you do to improve it, and where can you get help? As @outspokenbeautynicola knows, it can be scary, completely debilitating and even trigger depression and anxiety. But don’t panic - you are NOT alone, and help IS out there. We’ll explain all (with links to organisations and resources in...

We regularly get sent the most incredible & emotionally revealing messages from you, our lovely listeners, and sharing them in our first ‘scented stories’ episode (number 56) provoked a huge outpouring of support and admiration. Well, grab the tissues again because we’ve got more for you, plus of course our perfume prescriptions for your fragrance dilemmas! Here are the fragrances we mention… Nico...

In this episode we're exploring the world of hair fragrances. Suzy starts by delving into the history of perfuming one's hair and chats about the fashion for powdering wigs with beautiful scents and a beautiful smelling woman who was heralded as a witch and very sadly burnt at the stake. (You can smell like her today!) We then go on to chat about our favourite scented products and perfumes for hai...

Settle in, because in this episode we’re sharing just some of the incredibly personal and utterly wonderful stories from you, our listeners, on how fragrance has truly helped enhance your lives. From some who never realised scent could be so moving, to others who’ve reconnected to their perfume passion, we’ll also be answering questions with our prescriptions. So, grab a cuppa (or a cold glass of...

This episode is in partnership with @Penhaligons In this quintessentially British adventure we explore Penhaligon's royal connections, scandalous Portraits and Sports Car Club launch. Prepare for scented snippets throughout history, the Bridgerton like characters who make up the dazzling Portrait collection and rev your engine for the most sublime (limited edition) fragrance and its regal launch a...

In this extra special episode we’re joining Suzy (and @aliceduparcq!) on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the rose harvest in Grasse. Matière Premiere are an incredible fragrance house, who showcase in their scents the raw materials that are the cornerstones of perfumery. Rose has particular meaning for Aurélien Guichard, as we’ll discover, being the only perfumer in the world to own his own rose fiel...

This week we’re looking ahead to men’s fragrance gift ideas for Father’s Day - and beyond. If you’re buying for a dad, a father figure, your partner or a special man in your life, or perhaps a treat for yourself, our special (recent award-winning!) guest, Haydn Williams, has ideas for everyone. Although Haydn’s full time career is in the music business, his second passion is scent. The men’s fragr...

In this episode Suzy and Nicola explore the refreshing and uplifting world of citrus scents. These are scents that bring instant joy and energy and feel perfect as we enter the summer months although as you'll find out, some of them have a deeper and more sultry side too. Nicola’s List: @matierepremiere Neroli Oranger @floralstreet_ Grapefruit Candle Suzy’s List: @lancomeofficial O de Lancôme @roc...

In this episode we’re having a good old catch up, chatting about the glitz & glam of the recent Jasmine Awards (and what people were wearing on the red carpet), plus we’ll be delving into the world of celebrity fragrances. With new launches from Billie Eilish, Rihanna & Kylie, are celebrity fragrances ‘cool’ again…? Nicola’s been wearing: @fugazzifragrances In Love With the Cocos @matierepremierep...

In this episode Suzy and Nicola delve into the wondrous world of Sandalwood. After a brief chat about its captivating history and how incredibly precious it is, Suzy leads us on a journey of discovery, exploring a true smorgasbord of Sandalwood fragrances that are all very different but equally amazing. Fragrances mentioned: Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple DS&Durga Radio Bombay Guerlain Samsara Serg...

In this episode we talk about some of the fragrances that we have been wearing and loving this month, from an oil that is perfect for evenings to a rose fragrance that literally explodes on the skin. Then we delve into some of your fabulous prescription questions. Nicola’s List: @rochasofficial Rochas Femme @e11even_fragrance E11even @matierepremiereparfums Radical Rose / Neroli Oranger @sofragran...