Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke memories and spark emotional connections. And it's increasingly big business. In this programme, we lift the lid on the multi-billion dollar fragrance industry; finding out how scent can influence customer behaviour, build teams, and even help to sell houses. We hear from a perfume-maker who crowdsources some of the world's most expensive fragrance ingredients, and visit a 15 million dollar house on the market in London, to find out how the right aroma in a property can entice a potential buyer.  And we hear why a major drinks brand has created a fragrance for its company headquarters. (Picture: A woman smelling perfume. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson

The business of scent

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Meet Sharvari, Belinda and Brenna, three female bike mechanics from different corners of the world. From setting up a female run workshop in India, teaching skills to other women, or working within elite sport: these three are all making a living in the male dominated world of bike mechanics. Hear their stories and find out what happened when we got them all talking to each other. Presenter/producer: Lexy O'Connor (Photo: Bicycle mechanic Belinda Everett, Credit: Ryan Goff, #rygoff)

Meet the trailblazers: The female bike mechanics

Over its long history women have been mostly excluded from the Tour de France. Until recently. In 2022, after a long campaign by some of female cycling's biggest names, the Tour de France Femmes was introduced. So how is it doing? And will it ever be on a level footing with the much older and long-established men's race? We hear from competitors, sponsors, broadcasters and race director Marion Rousse. Produced and presented by Lexy O'Connor (Team Jumbo Visma rider Marianne Vos wears the yellow jersey during 3rd stage of the first Tour de France Femmes in 2022: Getty Images)

Can the Tour de France Femmes deliver?

The 'pink pound' or 'pink dollar' is believed to be worth billions of dollars, and tourism is one sector looking to benefit. We find out how the industry is trying to attract LGBT travellers, with countries like Nepal taking steps to be a more appealing destination.  Plus, we head to the coastal town of Sitges in Spain, where gay people have been holidaying for more than 100 years. Producer/presenter: Daniel Rosney (Photo: The Nomadic Boys in New Zealand. Credit: The Nomadic Boys)

Tourism cashing in on the ‘pink dollar’

Ireland has just launched a scheme to charge a deposit on bottles and cans which is refunded when consumers return them to recycling machines in supermarkets.  The Irish have set up a non profit making company to manage the scheme, funded by the drinks making firms, which should avoid the financial problems that have dogged the industry in the United States.  Many privately owned American recycling companies are in danger of going out of business because the fee they get from state governments, under the Bottle Bill, has not been increased for years, even though their costs have soared. Produced and presented by Russell Padmore (Picture: Reverse vending machines for Ireland’s new deposit return recycling scheme)

How can recycling be profitable?

We speak to the Armenian entrepreneur behind the popular photo editing app used by millions on Instagram, and by businesses too.  Mr Avoyan tells us about his childhood, growing up in a country which only gained independence when he was in his 20s. He tells us how this liberation set free his entrepreneurial spirit, and why he relocated his company from Armenia to the US. Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw (Image: Hovhannes Avoyan)

The business of scent

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