“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man's-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh.”

Storytelling is key in creating fragrances and how scents connect to our emotions. Using Pema Chodron’s ideas on change and fear, Karen Gilbert helps examine how these themes relate to personal growth and perfume-making. Karen is a teacher of perfumery, hosting in person and online masterclass and is the host of the Perfume Making podcast. She has also studying meditation and incorporates these learnings into her workshops on brain training and personal rituals.

We highlighted the intricate nature of scent memories—how one smell can trigger strong emotions and take us back in time. Karen shared her path to self-discovery, the difficulties she faced in staying true to herself in business, and the importance of accepting change.

We also discussed how emotions and self-compassion can enrich our experiences with scents, highlighting the value of supporting artisanal fragrance creators and the joy that well-made scents can bring, especially in tough times.

Fragrance mentioned:

Poison - Dior

No. 5 - Chanel

Lipstick Rose - Frederic Malle

Homme - Dior

O’de Lancome - Lancome

Original Cologne - 4711

Gilay - L.A Couch

Book mentioned:

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times - Pema Chodron

Find Karen Gilbert on

Instagram: @karengilbert

Website: karengilbert.co.uk

If you are interested in the Scent Shift workshops : https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/the-scent-shift

Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records

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