Olfactive Melbourne

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne we sit down with Purvi Joshi — the founder and creative director behind PEOSYM. We dive deep into the origins, philosophy, and inspiration that shape her Australian-made niche perfumery. PEOSYM was born from a desire for self-expression and storytelling: each scent is more than a fragrance, it’s a personal narrative rooted in memory, culture, and emotional resonance.  

In this master-class style conversation we turn our focus to Gullal — a soon-to-be-released fragrance inspired by Holi, the vibrant Indian festival of colours. We explore how Purvi channels the spirit of Holi — its joy, colour, energy, and cultural significance — into olfactory form. What does it mean to translate festival exuberance into scent? How do raw materials, notes, and structure come together to evoke an experience of celebration, colour, and memory?

Gullal opens with grapefruit, pink pepper, and mineral salt before transitioning into a heart of fennel, orris, damp earth, and scattered wild florals. The dry down arrives in threads of incense, dry woods, and soft ambergris, echoing Holika Dahan and the quiet stillness after joy.

We also touch on PEOSYM’s broader work and philosophy, from slow, intentional formulation to ethical sourcing and social impact, including support for education initiatives in India.

Watch as we explore a perfume house where story, emotion, and purpose guide every creation, and where fragrance becomes a way to honour heritage, reflection, and love.

PEOSYM

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Trung Vu, the self-taught perfumer and creative force behind Grimoire Parfums—an independent house built entirely by hand and shaped by myth, memory, and the darker edges of beauty.

Trung’s journey from dancer and makeup artist to perfumer reveals a life lived through movement, transformation, and expression. His work transcends genre and gender, blending classical perfume structure with an instinctive, emotive style that feels at once ancient and avant-garde. Each creation is an exploration of the unseen, the symbolic, and the psychological, inviting the wearer into a world both intimate and otherworldly.

In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Nephilim (Volume I – Mesopotamia), a fragrance that opens Grimoire’s mythology with red wine, ivy, rose, and resins—a scent that bridges the sacred and the profane. Built around ritual, duality, and human nature, Nephilim sets the tone for the entire collection.

We then journey through the broader Grimoire Parfums library, from the Balkan warmth of Todorac, to the forested chill of Nøkken, the tropical folklore of Penanggal, and the resinous mysticism of Catoblepas. Each Volume draws from a different mythology or geography, revealing the way scent can act as both story and spell.

Rooted in freedom and resistance to convention, Trung’s practice reflects a reverence for perfumery’s golden age and a curiosity for its future. Every label, every blend, every formula passes through his hands—a modern artisan working in solitude, building a world steeped in ritual, tension, and quiet beauty.
Watch as we unravel the process, philosophy, and patience behind one of Australia’s most distinctive and evocative fragrance houses. From materials and compliance to myth and meaning, this conversation opens the pages of a Grimoire that feels truly alive.

https://www.grimoireparfums.com.au
Socials: Instagram: @troyperfumes; @grimoireparfums1

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we’re joined by Maryka and Masey, the passionate duo behind Malano, a Tasmanian perfume house crafting emotionally resonant fragrances that draw from memory, nature, and long-form creativity.

From the original L’Scents collection to the bold and textured Cigar Spice line, Malano’s approach is rooted in story, material, and time. Each composition reflects their commitment to high quality Tasmania ingredients, innovative structure, and a deep emotional connection to the natural world.

In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Cigar Whisky, a smoky, spiced composition chosen to anchor the episode, before turning to the heart of their original collection with L’Mase, a scent developed for co-founder Masey. We also preview their upcoming limited release L’Nero, an exciting launch set for late November, and discuss how the evolving Cigar range continues to unfold with creations like Cigar Vert and Cigar Fleur.

We also learn how Maryka and Masey’s deep connection to Tasmania’s landscape and their long-view planning are shaping new fragrances through to 2028—while recent collaborations, like their interior scent for Hobart’s Economic Development Council, reveal how Malano is helping define the olfactory identity of place.

https://shop.malano.au/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Katrina Cochrane, the founder and perfumer behind Archer Farrar Perfume Atelier, a botanical fragrance house that celebrates the raw beauty, complexity, and craftsmanship of natural perfumery.

Working exclusively with plant-derived materials, Katrina’s creations explore the intersection of art, chemistry, and the natural world—each composition a study in patience, precision, and place. Her process is deeply rooted in the French method of perfumery, where every botanical is carefully diluted, documented, and evaluated to reveal its full nuance.

In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Mona Farm, a fragrance inspired by the autumn gardens of Mona Farm in Braidwood, New South Wales. Built around jonquil in full bloom and layered with agrestic, earthy tones, Mona Farm captures the delicate balance between floral refinement and pastoral warmth—where rose leaf, chamomile, hay, and amber evoke misty mornings, cool sunshine, and the richness of the land itself.

We then journey through the wider Archer Farrar collection: from Dark Cedar, a rose-spiked martini in a whisky bar of wood, leather, and smoke; to Green Vetiver Oil, an award-winning study in vetiver as raw and storm-charged as summer rain on dry earth; and Embrace Oil, a narcotic floral-spice blend that wraps the wearer in coffee, tuberose, and sandalwood. Each fragrance reveals a new dimension of natural perfumery—where emotion, material, and method intertwine.

https://archerfarrar.com.au/
https://monafarm.com.au/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Kevin Truong and Marcelo Oillataguerre—the creative duo behind Olfactive Traveller, a niche fragrance house inspired by journeys, landscapes, and the emotional imprint of place.
Born from a shared love of scent and travel, Olfactive Traveller captures the stories, textures, and moods of destinations around the world—beginning with their debut Italy Collection, an olfactory homage to the country’s vibrant cities, rich history, and sensory traditions.
In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Roma 271, a fragrance that evokes a  journey through a day in Rome, with its bold dark coffee, bright lemon zest, spiced pink pepper, elegant orris, incense, and a warm base of amber, patchouly, and vanilla.
 We then journey through the rest of the Italian chapter: Dolce Milano, a festive gourmand recalling panettone with Italian bergamot, candied orange zest, caramelized almond, dried fruits, and creamy sandalwood; and Pelle Viola, a floral-leathery scent woven with ginger, cardamom, Italian iris butter, smoky leather, saffron, and oud—each fragrance offering a unique facet of Italy’s culture and atmosphere.
Watch or listen as we trace the heart of Italy through scent and storytelling, discovering how travel-inspired fragrances can carry us back to the memories, flavours, and emotions of a place—wherever we are in the world.

https://www.olfactivetraveller.com

Marcelo's You Tube Channel @thenichefragrancecollector

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, Trent and Robyn are joined by Zackariya Ibn Hossain—founder, perfumer, and the creative force behind Anomalous Parfums, an Australian fragrance house known for its emotionally charged, unconventional olfactory narratives.

Anomalous is rooted in introspection and intensity, weaving grief, love, memory, and transformation into each scent. Zackariya’s path—from collector and researcher to perfumer—is anything but traditional. His work embraces rare materials, emotional vulnerability, and symbolic layering to create fragrances that feel deeply personal.

This episode’s masterclass explores Marble’s Tear, a scent that begins in love and ends in sorrow. Opening with cocoa, chocolate, and amber; unfolding into vintage rose and bourbon vanilla; and settling into agarwood, musks, and animalic resins—it’s a fragrance built like a narrative arc. As we trace its composition, Zackariya shares the intimate philosophy behind it and how it embodies the Anomalous ethos.

We also journey through the broader collection, including the incense-drenched Belly of the Whale, the raw magnetism of Devil’s Deceit, the lush floral mysticism of Blood of River Nile, and the sunlit nostalgia of Standing in a Mango Field. Limited editions like The Last Light in Thebes highlight Zackariya’s reverence for legacy and ritual—crafting perfumes that feel more like sacred ceremonies than scented products.

https://www.anomalousparfum.com

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we’re joined by Corey Veigel — founder, perfumer, and the creative heart behind Veigel Perfumes, a boutique Australian fragrance house crafting olfactory stories with soul.  

Veigel Perfumes is rooted in nostalgia and personal connection, weaving memory, music, and family legacy into each composition. From humble beginnings as a fragrance collector to launching his own line, Corey’s journey is one of curiosity turned craftsmanship — where every bottle reflects a facet of his lived experience. Inspired by the people closest to him — his wife Natasha, son Leo, and the quiet moments of beauty in everyday life — Corey approaches perfumery as both art and artifact.  

In this episode’s masterclass, we explore Amore Del Fico, a fig‑forward fragrance inspired by Corey’s wife’s nonno and his beloved backyard garden. Bursting with ripe fruit and layered with green, lactonic, and woody textures, it captures the warmth of memory and the intimacy of place.  

We also explore the broader Veigel collection, including The Gambler, a tribute to his father steeped in whiskey, leather, and smoke; Natasha, an amber‑fruity‑floral named after his wife; and the radiant minimalism of Crystalline.  

Watch or listen now as we uncover the layers of memory, emotion, and storytelling that define Corey’s creative ethos — and why for Veigel Perfumes, scent is never just scent. It’s biography in a bottle.  

www.veigelperfume.com

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Yassin Ahmed—the founder and creative force behind AAWED, an Australian luxury perfume house where scent becomes a vessel for memory, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling.
Rooted in the Arabic word “Aawed”, meaning “Come Back,” the brand is a heartfelt homage to the defining moments, places, and feelings that shape our essence. From the wild coasts of Lorne to the lush tranquility of Melbourne’s botanical gardens, AAWED fragrances invite you to revisit the landscapes and emotions etched into your soul.

In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Great Ocean Road—a breathtaking olfactory portrait of Australia’s rugged southern coastline. It opens with lush fig, golden honey, rose, cardamom, pimento, and cananga, evoking verdant ridges cradling the sea. The heart unfurls with violet, caramel, cypriol, geranium, and a briny seaweed accord—melding wild botanical beauty with untamed pelagic allure. It settles into a powerful base of oud, musk, ambergris, oakmoss, and civet, grounding the fragrance in sensual warmth and earthy mystery.
https://aawed.com

In this spellbinding episode of Olfactive Melbourne, Rhiannon Mapstone, the artisan behind Cosmic Witch Society, guides us through an intimate exploration of a fragrance that embodies the archetypal witch.

We learn Midnight Grove is more than a scent—it’s an invocation. Conjured within Rhiannon’s Melbourne apothecary, each “Parfum Potion” is handcrafted using absolutes, wild-foraged tinctures, natural isolates, and essential oils—each infused with an activated sigil designed to amplify intention and connection. 

Discover the artistry behind each botanical note with us in this beautiful perfume masterclass, and learn more about CWS. https://www.cosmicwitchsociety.com

 We’re officially halfway through Season One—and what a journey it’s been! In this special mid-season recap, we pause to reflect on the unforgettable moments, insights, and masterclasses that have defined our olfactory adventure so far. It’s been a privilege (and a whole lot of fun) to sit down with some of Australia’s most inspiring perfumers, founders, and creative minds. From thought-provoking conversations to scent discoveries that stopped us in our tracks, each episode has deepened our understanding and appreciation of the art of perfumery. 

 Join us as we revisit standout lessons, memorable quotes, and the fragrances that have shaped our journey to date. Whether you’ve been with us from the start or are just tuning in, this episode is the perfect way to catch up on everything we’ve explored so far.