It’s easy to idealize a place, when you’re just passing through. Having said that, Chile is a remarkable country, full of remarkable perfumers, making remarkable smells. 

Perfume on the Radio is back after a long hiatus, and we are resurfacing with a field report about the indie perfume scene in the delightful South American country. It’s the indies, in the Andes! 

With

Alejandro Soto Rodríguez (Segundo Secretario y Cónsul de Chile en San Salvador)

Claudia Escobar Reyes (perfume evaluator)

David Muggioli (President, Fundación Chilena del Perfume | Andes Aromas)

David Santiago (Perfumer, Santiago David Parfums)

Eduardo Alonzo (Jefe técnico y de integración regional CENPROMYPE/SICA) 

Osvaldo Cruz (co-founder Cruz y Valencia)

Andrés Gonzales and Raúl Toval (Santiago Perfumes)

Host: Saskia Wilson-Brown (The Institute for Art and Olfaction)

This is the first episode in a 2-part series. The second episode will air in October, 2025.

Indulge in a bit of armchair travel as Perfume on the Radio visits Doha, in Qatar. This episode explores the culture and smells that a group of people encountered while on a trip to the country with the Qatar America Institute for Culture. There's incense, there's perfume, there's art, and, yes, there are cats. 

In order of appearance: Fatima Al-Dosari (Qatar America Institute for Culture),  Razwan Ul-Haq (Calligrapher),  Micah Anderson (Oudimentary),  Rubia Chaudri (Perfumer), Regina Mamou (Artist), and hosted by Saskia Wilson-Brown

Episode thanks: Qatar America Institute for Culture, Jawad Khawaja (Oudimentary)
Credits: Muhammad Abdul-Salam, Qalbak Sakhar, courtesy of Qatar Digital Library; Sallām, Najāḥ: Yā Rīm Wādī Thaqīf, courtesy of Qatar Digital Library; Freska by KA, on Premiumbeat.com; A 1950s Romance by Jonathan Boyle on Premiumbeat.com; Qatar airlines - landing and announcements from inside aircraft.mp3 by evsecrets on freesound.com; DubaiDepartures.mp3, by acclivity on freesound.com; Emmitt James, music composition; Eau (Maxwell Williams), sound composition. 

Perfume on the Radio is produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction, a non-profit devoted to experimentation and access in the field of perfumery.

Have you ever met a person who had a strange and uncanny sort of magic about them? So it is with John Steele. LIfelong learner and seeker, John is also a purveyor of the strange and the rare, the oddball beauties that our world produces. We’re talking, here, about aromatics. 

Perform on the Radio returns with a long overdue episode, which we’re calling The Quiet Magic of John Steele. 

With: John Steele, Lifetree Aromatix
Hosted by Saskia Wilson-Brown

Perfume in the Radio is produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction.

Credits: Jake Brady (editor), Emmitt James (music composition), Maxwell Williams (sound composition), Music: Paradise Lagoon (Premium Beat)

Veteran perfumer and all around brilliant human Christopher Brosius (Demeter, CB I Hate Perfume) joins us to answer our most pressing question: does he, in fact, hate perfume? Well... yes. But also, not at all.

With: Christopher Brosius (CB I Hate Perfume)
Hosted by Saskia Wilson-Brown.

This episode premiered on Lookout FM, Los Angeles. Lookout FM can be heard on KGAP 96.7  FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood,  and online at lookout.fm.

Perfume in the Radio is produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction.

CREDITS

BIRDSong_Sparrow chicks by newlocknew on Freesound.com; Neon Hearts by Immersive Music on PremiumBeat.com; Arabesque No. 1, Andantino con Moto, by Claude Debussy; 80s Synth Pop by Young Presidents on PremiumBeat.com; Perfume on the Radio Identity by the great Emmitt James; 1kHz by kwahmah_02 on Freesound.com; 2016-10-11-DR-05-Ocean Waves-EDITED.wav by kingsrow on Freesound.com; Beeble Bobble POTR ID by Eau (Maxwell Williams)

The vroom-vroom of the engine, the honk-honk of the horn. Cars come with a lot of sounds. They also come with a lot of smells. In this episode, we lean into the gassy side of things and explore the aromatics of these beautiful, belching metal beasts.

With:
David Moltz (DS & Durga)
Daniel Krasofski (labDK)
Killian Wells (Xyrena)
Nick Kurczewski (Automotive Reporter)
Pia Long (Olfiction)
Pedro Nuñez and Micah Hahn (Highland Park Car Club)
Hosted by Saskia WIlson-Brown.

Episode premieres Thu. August 11, 5pm PT on Lookout FM (KGAP 96.7 FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood, and online at lookout.fm ) and at 6pm PT on a podcast provider near you.

MUSIC + SOUND

Introduction by Emmitt James
Wabash Blues by Harpo Marks on PremiumBeat.com
Car Honking by MicktheMicGuy on Freesound.com
Caveman of Los Angeles, by Party Store Music on PremiumBeat
Positive Attitude, by Nesterouk on Premium Beat
Pretty Baby by Harpo Marks on PremiumBeat.com
Moonrise by Darian Zahedi

There is an anecdotal correlation between perfume-making and cat ownership. Perhaps it's the solitary nature of the work that lends itself to humanity's least co-dependent relationship. In this episode we explore the catty side of perfumery.

With:
Perfumer Ashley Eden Kessler sharing cat smells and cat accords
Cat expert Jackson Galaxy exploring how cats use smell to relate to the world
Art historian and museum professional Jessica Murphy sharing feline perfume advertising
Perfumer Laurie Stern discussing how her cats have impacted her practice
Designer Micah Hahn sharing anecdotal insights into the smell lives of two small house-cats, Egyptologist Robyn Price exploring the wonder of cats in Ancient Egypt. 
Hosted by Saskia Wilson-Brown.

Episode premiered on Thu. March 24, 5pm PT on Lookout FM (KGAP 96.7 FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood, and online at lookout.fm ) and at 6pm PT on a podcast provider near you.

RESEARCH
https://www.mimimatthews.com/2016/11/10/a-scientific-justification-for-spinsters-old-maids-and-cats-in-the-victorian-era/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/16/claws-pop-culture-crazy-cat-lady-lonely-sexless-eccentric-stereotype-millennial-ailurophiles
http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/

MUSIC

Sneaky Samba, by Jack Pierce (PremiumBeat.com); The Lonely Road by Cool Cat Music (PremiumBeat.com); Ships in the Night (1950s Mix) by Cool Cat Music (PremiumBeat.com); Cumbia Caliente by Daniel Belardinelli (PremiumBeat.com); Good Morning Havana by Jonathan Boyle (PremiumBeat.com); 'Perfume on the Radio' theme song, by Emmitt James; 'Moonrise' by Darian Zahedi; Perfume on the Radio Interstitials by Maxwell Williams

Mmmm… Donuts. Mmmm… Limburger Cheese? In this episode we quote Camus and Hemingway and their Moveable Feasts to explore retronasal olfaction. Specifically, how smell enhances our favorite activity: feasting on delicious things, whenever and wherever we bloody well like. 

With:
Maite Gomez-Rejón (ArtBites) sharing historical research into chocolate,
Jude Stewart (author) exploring truffles
LaVay Ullie (Ol Skool BBQ) exploring smoke, wood and BBQ
Betty Hallock (author) connecting food and smell through language
Miss Layla (Fum Fragrance) exploring the gourmand category
Sean Raspet (artist) discussing his work with flavoring. 

Episode premieres on Thu. Feb. 24, 5pm PT on Lookout FM (KGAP 96.7 FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood, and online at lookout.fm ) and at 6pm PT on a podcast provider near you.

SONGS:
Bosnian Swing, by Igor (PremiumBeat.com); Restaurant Sound, inestadeu49 (freesound.org); Ethiopiques by Eshi Era (PremiumBeat.com); Lazy & Drunk by RimskyMusic (PremiumBeat.com); Araguaia Samba  Brazil by Richard Canavan (PremiumBeat.com); 'Perfume on the Radio' theme song, by Emmitt James; 'Moonrise' by Darian Zahedi; Perfume on the Radio Interstitials by Maxwell Williams

It’s January and as we all recover from our New Year's Eve hangovers, we can't help but cast our thoughts towards just what, exactly, we imbibed. Do we even remember?  In our first episode of season 2, Perfume on the Radio explores the aromatic liquids that vex and sustain us.

With:
Gina Zupsich (August Uncommon) covering the aromatics and geopolitics of tea
Maite Gomez-Rejón (Art Bites) exploring a historic drink from pre-conquest Mexico
Spyros Drosopoulos (Baruti) explaining the genesis and smells of gin
Chris Raba (Bolita) explaining the tastes of cocktails with a Cuban twist
Rachel Dean Binder (Pomare's Stolen Perfume) sharing her work with perfume and wine

Perfume in the Radio is a periodic radio show and podcast produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction for lookout.fm.

SONGS:
Watering Place by Yanis S. Sousa, Licensed through Premium Beat, Blood Red Roses by Harpo Marks, Licensed through Premium Beat; Amo a Los Perros, by Harpo Marks, Licensed through Premium Beat; Lagrima Negra, by  Soul Driver, Licensed through Premium Beat; 'Perfume on the Radio' theme song, by Emmitt James; 'Moonrise' by Darian Zahedi; Perfume on the Radio Interstitials by Maxwell Williams

This episode premieres on Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 at 5pm PT on Lookout FM (KGAP 96.7 FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood, and online at lookout.fm )

This episode explores language and scent - more specifically, the potential relationship between the spoken word, the written word and smell in Arabic. We are joined by two people who deeply engage with the language. Oakland-based educator Dr. Gaye Walton-Price provides a brief primer on the Arabic language (and its various dialects). Dr. Walton-Price is followed by Bradford-based artist Razwan Ul-Haq, sharing his work and exploring how scent interfaces with meaning through calligraphy.

Perfume in the Radio is a periodic radio show and podcast produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction for lookout.fm.  

SONGS:
‘The Simple Things in life’ and Paradise Lagoon licensed through PremiumBeats; 'Perfume on the Radio' theme song, by Emmitt James; 'Moonrise' by Darian Zahedi; Perfume on the Radio Interstitials by Maxwell Williams

This episode premiered on Thu. Nov. 25, 5pm PT on Lookout FM (KGAP 96.7 FM Burbank, KFQM 101.5 FM Pacific Palisades, KLDB 99.1 FM Hollywood, and online at lookout.fm )

The pleasures of the chase. The joy of the discovering. Humans LOVE a challenge - especially one with a treasure at the end of it. Good news for perfume lovers: aromatic materials can be the most challenging and enticing treasures of all. For episode 16 of Perfume on the Radio we are joined by experts in the chasing, and the uncovering, of magical botanicals, aromatics, and landscapes.

Chris Kemp (writer, 'Floating Gold', among others) talks about ambergris, what it is, how people find it. Mason Hainey (Mizu) talks about orris root, how it's processed and what it brings to perfumery. Carlos Morera and Nina Mross (Cactus Store) talk about two very VERY sought after plants, and the impact of human desire on the environment. Matthew Teutimez (Environmental Director Kizh Nation / Gabrieleno) talks about the relationship to the land, and botany, from the Kizh Nation perspective.

Premiered Nov. 4, 2021, 5pm PT on Lookout FM

Songs by Emmitt James
Hosted by Saskia Wilson-Brown

Perfume in the Radio is produced by The Institute for Art and Olfaction for lookout.fm. Our theme music was composed by Emmitt James, Maxwell Williams and Darian Zahedi.

SONGS:
Back in 80s, by Denis, Licensed through premiumbeat.com; Street sounds in Montmartre, Paris, France  by Mxsmanic on freesound.org; 55 by Beatrice Dillon on openmusicarchive.org / (cc) by-sa 4.0; tvilgiat sounds-from-the-atlantic-rainforest (CC0) Courtesy of Freesound.org; Northsea.wav, by inchadney on freesound.org

And!
'Perfume on the Radio' theme song, by Emmitt James'Moonrise', by Darian Zahedi Interstital Music, by Maxwell Williams