Paperback Perfumes

In this episode we explore the House of James, a fragrance house that treats scent as a form of storytelling.

Founded by Justin James, a graphic designer from Somers, Victoria, House of James is all about pushing boundaries. What started as a quiet curiosity in department store fragrance aisles has grown into a bold, creative rebellion against the formulaic trends of mainstream perfumery.

Their first collection, Euroflections, was inspired by a European adventure — with scents like Sun King, Berlin NYE, and Rambla Del Mar capturing moments and memories in olfactory form. Since then, Justin has created deeply personal pieces like Tomorrow and La’Rita, and even a limited edition companion to Sun King called Athénaïs.

In this episode, we explore Justin’s journey from design to scent, and keeping perfumery alive as an art form — original, emotional, and deeply human.

Fragrances mentioned (all House of James):

Retrograde

Santoflor

Tomorrow

Rambla Del Mar

Tantomonta

Book mentioned:

The Perfume Garden - Kate Lord Brown

Find House of James on

Instagram: @houseofjamesau

Website: houseofjames.com.au

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode’s guest is Dr. Adelle Stripe — a Sunday Times best-selling author whose remarkable work dives deep into the rich heart of Northern England’s complex cultural and working-class history. Her impressive body of works includes Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile, a powerful and evocative novel inspired by the renowned playwright Andrea Dunbar; this standout piece was shortlisted for the prestigious Gordon Burn and Portico Prizes. Additionally, she is the co-author of the bestselling Ten Thousand Apologies, which chronicles the wild and unpredictable rise of the music group Fat White Family.

Adelle’s writing seamlessly blends elements of biography, memoir, and social commentary, garnering her features in notable publications such as The Sunday Times, New Statesman, and The Quietus. Her latest work, Base Notes: The Scents of a Life, presents a memoir told through the lens of scent — a truly unique and innovative take on themes of memory and identity, which will be the central focus of this episode

Fragrance mentioned:

River Gauche - YSL

Giorgio - Giorgio Beverly Hills

Cologne - 4711

Red Door - Elizabeth Arden

Dewberry - The Body Shop

L’eau D’Issey - Issey Miyake

CK One - Calvin Klein

Maja - Myrurgia

Another 13 - Le Labo

Thé Matcha 26 - Le Labo

Lune Rose - Self made

Book mentioned:

Base Notes - the Scents of a Life - Adelle Stripe

Find Adelle Stripe on

Instagram: @adellestripe

Website: adellestripe.co.uk

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode’s guests are Juliette Fournier and Richard Adamson from NSW-based Hart + Hedi. Juliette, a former fashion designer, and Richard, a brewer and part owner of Young Henry's, share their journey into the art of scent creation. They discuss how their backgrounds have influenced their approach to making fragrances, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and creativity.

We delve into their personal connections to their fragrances, exploring how their artistic vision and passions shape their work. They reflect on how memories influence perceptions and relationships, making each scent a unique story.

Hart + Hedi, founded by Juliette and Richard, is a modern, independent Australian fragrance house known for producing high-quality, unique scents. Using Australian native flora and carefully selected ingredients from around the world, their signature scents are the result of years of research, dedication, and numerous iterations.

Hart + Hedi is also a purpose-driven project, committed to supporting vulnerable women in Australia by donating a percentage of profits to organizations that provide essential services to this community. Join us for an insightful conversation about the intersection of fragrance, creativity, and social impact.

Fragrance mentioned (all Hart + Hedi):

Cocktail Hour

Some Velvet Morning

House of Heart

Rock’n’Roll Circus

Coastal Fever

Book mentioned:

The Lamplighters - Emma Stonex

Find Hart + Hedi on

Instagram: @hartandhedi

Website: hartandhedi.com

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode’s guest is Aysha Hansen, a passionate perfumer with a fascinating story. Aysha shares her unique journey from being a fragrance lover to becoming a professional perfumer. She discusses her early memories of scent, recounting how these experiences shaped her career in the cosmetics industry. A pivotal moment in her life led her to pursue perfumery, a decision that has since defined her professional path.

Aysha also discusses her passion for teaching, which she channels through her popular perfume workshops and the upcoming launch of her own fragrance line, giving listeners a sneak peek into what to expect.

The discussion shifts to resilience and finding beauty in tough times, exploring human behavior and relationships. It emphasizes nature's ecosystem, parallels between human and animal behaviour, and the complex issues of trust and isolation in communities.

Fragrance mentioned:

Golden Thread - Aysha Hansen

Ambrosia - Aysha Hansen

Ghost Lover - Aysha Hansen

Norne - Slumberland

A Girl in Capri - Lanvin

Volutes -Diptyque

Tyrannosaurus Rex - Zoologist

Book mentioned:

Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens

Find Aysha Hansen on

Instagram: @ayshahansenfinefragrance

Website: ayshahansen.com

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we have a slightly different focus, thanks to the fascinating work of our guest, Erin Adams. Erin is behind Smell Art, a unique blend of art and science that explores the power of scent. Her journey into olfactory art began in 2007 at a Secret Chiefs 3 concert in Melbourne, where a captivating scent from the stage sparked her fascination with the sense of smell.

In this episode, we delve into the science behind smell and discuss ways to make exploring this sense playful and fun. We also talk about the book "The Forgotten Sense" by Jonas Olofsson, which provides further insights into the importance and impact of our sense of smell.

Join us as we explore how smells and scents enrich our life experiences and discover the stories and science behind people’s olfactory experience.

Fragrance mentioned:

Go outside and smell consciously. Let us know what you find!

Book mentioned:

The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell—and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose - Jonas Olofsson

Find Smell Art on

Instagram: @_smell_art_

Website: smellart.com.au

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Caroline McMillan is a researcher, designer, speaker, olfactory art expert, and smell tech founder and we discuss science fiction and possible futures of olfactive design.

Dr McMillan’s work has been featured at SXSW, Cannes Lions, CTM Festival Berlin, Holitopia Festival, the BR41N.io residency at Ars Electronica, the Digital Olfaction Society and the ACM International Conference on Tangible Embedded & Embodied Interaction (TEI), and for clients Tubi, Amplify, Soho House, Deutsche Telekom, WGSN London, H&M and Zalando. She now helps organisations design and implement scent experiences in a way that enhances connection. She’s studied the art of haute couture techniques in the métiers of Paris and won awards for her technology innovations. Her podcast, Sensuous Peripheries, explores the aesthetics of creativity, culture, and technology, described as an “audio delight” by Yosh Han, the pioneer of decolonising American Perfumery.

Fragrance mentioned:

Honey Blossom - Mandy Aftel

Autumn 25 - Liminus

Aurelius - Siuno

Book mentioned:

The Word for World is Forest - Ursula K. Le Guin

Find Dr Caroline McMillan on

Instagram: @__carolinemcmillian__

Sensuous Periphery Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fliss Walton returns to the podcast to engage in a thoughtful discussion about Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited,' a novel that stands out as one of her all-time favourite books. Waugh’s has a beautifully light touch when it comes to the intricate themes of love, profound loss, and the weight of social expectations, examining how these elements intertwine with the experiences of the novel's characters. This enlightening conversation also touches on the bittersweet notion of nostalgia, the complexities of relationships, and the multifaceted nature of love, with a particular focus on the dynamics between Charles, Julia, and Sebastian.

Fragrance mentioned:

Figment - Amouage

Fate Woman - Amouage

Jicky - Guerlain

Shalimar - Guerlain

Habanita - Molinard

Edimbourg - Chanel

Le Pavilion D’or - Dusita

Deux - Trudon

Wander Through the Park - Miller Harris

Once Upon a Garden - La Perla

Invasion Barbare - MDCI Parfums

Original - Eight & Bob

Incense Avignon - Comme de Garcon

Bois d'Encens - Armani Prive

Book mentioned:

Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder - Evelyn Waugh

Find Fliss on

Instagram: @fliss_sniffs_stuff

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conversation features Diane Risopoulos, a perfumery apprentice in Rome and a graduate of the 5eme Sens school in Grasse. She also is the author of the blog Pixidis Perfumes. We talk about how literature and perfume connect, focusing on how scents trigger memories and emotions. Diane collaborates with the Aromata Prize, a new perfume competition in Rome that celebrates perfume as an art and explores its ties to literature. We also discuss the philosophical ideas of choices and fate in both stories and fragrances. The speakers share personal stories about their perfume journeys, the challenges of training in perfumery during the COVID pandemic, and how scent enriches storytelling.

Fragrance mentioned:

White Whale - Christian Alori for Masque Milano

Comedia Di Mezza Estate - Edoardo Tacconi for Ateneo dell'Olfatto

Jasmin et Cigarette - Etat Libre d’Orange

La Rose Jacqueminot - Coty

Shalimar - Guerlain

No.5 - Chanel 

Apres l'Ondee (After the Rain Shower) - Guerlain

The Nightingale’s Cup - Cult of Scent 

No. 19 - Chanel 

Infusion d'Iris - Prada

Book mentioned:

Life After Life - Kate Atkinson

Poem mentioned:

Demain dès l'aube (Tomorrow At Dawn) - Victor Hugo 

Find Diane on

Instagram: @pixidisperfumes 

Website: www.pixidisperfumes.com

Find Aromata on

Instagram: @aromata2024

Website: liberostile.org/en/aromata/

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, I explore with Yosh Han the profound connections between scent, literature, and cultural identity, particularly through the lens of Octavia Butler's 'Kindred'. We discuss the serendipitous journey of discovering the book, the complexities of decolonizing scent, and the spiritual and physical connections that fragrance evokes. The dialogue delves into the impact of colonialism on scent, the role of fragrance in healing, and the power of literature to foster empathy and understanding. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the intricate relationship between personal experiences, cultural contexts, and the sensory world.

Fragrance mentioned:

Le Demimonde - Studio Scent

More on the perfumer Candice Windrow Weekly

Books mentioned:

Kindred - Octavia Butler

Find Yosh Han on

Instagram: @scent_festival , @eaudeyosh , @scenttrunk (creative director)

Website: eaudeyosh.com , scenttruck.com ,

Youtube: Scent Festival

Netflix: Human: the World Within

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.