Season 7, Episode 18: New Year's Day Special!

Happy New Year one and all.We wanted to start 2026 with a chat about our favourite and most worn fragrances of 2025 (the ones we didn't have space to talk about during On The Scent Live!)We hope you enjoy this first episode of the year.Loads of loveNicola and Suzy (both wearing Marc Antoine Barrois Tilia today naturally)

In this, the second part of our look back at On The Scent Live, we're reading out (and playing live) some of your AMAZING perfume prescriptions from the two events. As ever they were fantastically creative, emotional and in some cases utterly bonkers (which is what we love!)Here are the fragrances that we mention:@beaufortlondon Terror & Magnificence@sergeslutens L’orpheline@tombstone_fragrances Sweet Coffin@nealsyardremedies Remedies to Roll Relaxation fragrance oilLavender & frankincenseLayered with either…@rubini_profumi Nuvolari@mschf MSCHF Smells Like WD-40@fischersund ÚtilyktNo. 101 FragranceNo. 8 Fragrance(All 3 found in their Langdegi (Light) Discovery Set@bdkparfumsparis Rouge SmokingOrmonde Jayne Sybarite@thameen Centre Stage@jorumstudio Firewater@kajalperfumes Lamar Noir@jorumstudio Unspoken Gesture@vallense Source@ellakparfumsparis Rose de Pushkar@infiniment Coty Ambre Antique@millerharris L’Air de Rien@hunq_amsterdam 006 Boxer@andy_tauer L'Air du Desert Marocain@jouissanceparfums Les Cahiers Secrets@dsanddurga Portable Xmas Tree Candle@trudon Enchanted Night Holiday Collection 2025 - Fir 'Christmas Tree' Luxury Scented Candle.@edeniste Wellbeing layered with their Energy fragrance:@juliettehasagun Powder Love@adscenture Turkish DelightGri Gri Moko Mauri (available / sample @shymimosa)@fischersund 101@ostens Rose Oil Isparta@fredericmalles Portrait of a Lady@matierepremiere Radical Rose eau de parfum@officine_universelle_buly Eau Triple Damask Rose@xerjoff Rose Gold & Amber Gold layering duo

Come and join us one and all for On The Scent Live. Whether you were there and want to relive the fun or you didn't manage to get a ticket and want to be part of it, we really hope you enjoy this bumper episode. You'll hear a combination of live recordings from both events and us reflecting on the scents we chose.Onto the events:Our wonderful helpers over both daysOn the Scent-ers Little Helpers:(Friday)William Borrell @vallensefragrancesAmanda Carr @wewearperfumeSharon Whiting @scentinelcomms(Saturday)Thomas @makingscentsmakesenseHester @peacock.vintageFRIDAY:****Nicola’s fragrances:1. Clive Christian E Cashmere MuskTop notes: Baies Rose, Sichuan Pepper, and Fresh Ginger. Heart notes: Fleuriste Fusion, Egyptian Jasmin, and Cashmeran. Base: Guaiacwood, Ambroxan, and Musks.2. Perfumer H Flower No.1A bouquet of white flowers to turn heads and capture the imagination. Tuberose (India), jasmine (Egypt), orange flower (Tunisia) and rose oil (Turkey) rest on a silken base of sandalwood, vanilla bourbon and white musk.3. Nest Hypnotic Ambergolden amber, Indian cardamom, dark woods, patchouli, incense, vanilla, and rose, Mirabelle plum oil.4. Frederic Malle Acne StudiosAldehydes, Rose, Peach, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Musk.5. Ormonde Jayne SybariteTop: Hazelnut, Timur, Pink Pepper and Pepper; middle notes are Vanilla, Butter, Orris, Jasmine and Rose; base notes are Vanilla Absolute, Woody Notes, Labdanum and Musk.****Suzy’s fragrances:1.Acqua di Parma BuongiornoTop notes: Lemon Essence, Spearmint Essence , Rosemary Essence , Codistillation Basil & Petitgrain essencesHeart notes: Lavandin Essence , Mandarin Leaves Accord. Base notes: Cedarwood Leaves Essence, Amber Accord, White Musks2.ANFORH KistTop: Sandalwood, Blonde Woods, Havanalite (pressed-linen polish)Heart: Sandalwood, Laotian Benzoin Resinoid (aged 24 months; smoky and resinous), Vintage Paperback AccordBase: Texan Cedarwood (fresh-sawn timber warmth), Cypriol, Cashmeran3.Amouage LustreTop Notes: Cardamom, OrrisHeart Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, CedarwoodBase Notes: Benzoin, Labdanum, Vanilla, Cypriol, Styrax, Tonka Bean, Myrrh4.Guerlain Shalimar L’Essence“Delphine Jelk has added the precious Madagascan vanilla tincture stemming from Guerlain's ancestral know-how to the ethylvanillin found in Jacques Guerlain’s original formula, giving Shalimar a new intensity.Discreet and subtle, bergamot illuminates the floral heart which blends rose absolute with the powdery elegance of iris. Little by little, Shalimar’s amber note unfolds. Used in abundance, vanilla infuses it with new facets – smooth and woody with a hint of leather.”5.Jeroboam Kun AmoEsperanto to English - kun amo. with love.A luminous and sensual perfume extract in which pear reigns supreme. Sun-drenched, luscious and seductive, the fruit mingles with a generous dose of sweetness and captivating aromas, underpinned by modern, ambery woods and the house’s emblematic musks.SATURDAY:****Nicola’s fragrances:1. Ormonde Jayne X’ian‘Nutmeg, rhubarb, musk and sandalwoodHEAD Black...

It's finally here...our On The Scent Live bumper episode.For those of you who couldn't make our 2 events, we hope you feel like you're there with us as you listen to this and for those who were there, we hope it brings back all the memories.On the Scent-ers Little Helpers:(Friday)William Borrell @vallensefragrancesAmanda Carr @wewearperfumeSharon Whiting @scentinelcomms(Saturday)Thomas @makingscentsmakesenseHester @peacock.vintageFRIDAY:****Nicola’s fragrances:1. Clive Christian E Cashmere MuskTop notes: Baies Rose, Sichuan Pepper, and Fresh Ginger. Heart notes: Fleuriste Fusion, Egyptian Jasmin, and Cashmeran. Base: Guaiacwood, Ambroxan, and Musks.2. Perfumer H Flower No.1A bouquet of white flowers to turn heads and capture the imagination. Tuberose (India), jasmine (Egypt), orange flower (Tunisia) and rose oil (Turkey) rest on a silken base of sandalwood, vanilla bourbon and white musk.3. Nest Hypnotic Ambergolden amber, Indian cardamom, dark woods, patchouli, incense, vanilla, and rose, Mirabelle plum oil.4. Frederic Malle Acne StudiosAldehydes, Rose, Peach, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Musk.5. Ormonde Jayne SybariteTop: Hazelnut, Timur, Pink Pepper and Pepper; middle notes are Vanilla, Butter, Orris, Jasmine and Rose; base notes are Vanilla Absolute, Woody Notes, Labdanum and Musk.****Suzy’s fragrances:1.Acqua di Parma BuongiornoTop notes: Lemon Essence, Spearmint Essence , Rosemary Essence , Codistillation Basil & Petitgrain essencesHeart notes: Lavandin Essence , Mandarin Leaves Accord. Base notes: Cedarwood Leaves Essence, Amber Accord, White Musks2.ANFORH KistTop: Sandalwood, Blonde Woods, Havanalite (pressed-linen polish)Heart: Sandalwood, Laotian Benzoin Resinoid (aged 24 months; smoky and resinous), Vintage Paperback AccordBase: Texan Cedarwood (fresh-sawn timber warmth), Cypriol, Cashmeran3.Amouage LustreTop Notes: Cardamom, OrrisHeart Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, CedarwoodBase Notes: Benzoin, Labdanum, Vanilla, Cypriol, Styrax, Tonka Bean, Myrrh4.Guerlain Shalimar L’Essence“Delphine Jelk has added the precious Madagascan vanilla tincture stemming from Guerlain's ancestral know-how to the ethylvanillin found in Jacques Guerlain’s original formula, giving Shalimar a new intensity.Discreet and subtle, bergamot illuminates the floral heart which blends rose absolute with the powdery elegance of iris. Little by little, Shalimar’s amber note unfolds. Used in abundance, vanilla infuses it with new facets – smooth and woody with a hint of leather.”5.Jeroboam Kun AmoEsperanto to English - kun amo. with love.A luminous and sensual perfume extract in which pear reigns supreme. Sun-drenched, luscious and seductive, the fruit mingles with a generous dose of sweetness and captivating aromas, underpinned by modern, ambery woods and the house’s emblematic musks.Saturday:****Nicola’s fragrances:1. Ormonde Jayne X’ian‘Nutmeg, rhubarb, musk and sandalwoodHEAD Black Pepper, NutmegHEART Cedarwood, RhubarbSOUL Musk, Indian...

Incense is having a real moment and in this episode we're exploring why and also talking through some of our favourite incense scents.Why is incense so popular again? Incense has moved from temples and churches into living rooms,studios and perfume wardrobes; it’s become a chic, modern ritual asmuch as a smell.Trend reports link the boom to the hunger for spiritual and holisticpractices – incense is an easy way to pause, “set an intention” andcreate a little ceremony around everyday life.Incense vs frankincense “Incense” is the whole blend you burn – it might be on a stick, cone, coilor rope – and can contain resins, woods, herbs, spices and florals. “Frankincense” (also called olibanum) is one particular resin, tappedfrom Boswellia sacra trees in Oman, Yemen and parts of the Horn ofAfrica. Etymology you can play with: “frankincense” comes from Old French“franc encens” – high quality or “pure” incense – while “incense” itselfgoes back to Latin for “to burn.” When a perfume lists “incense” as a note, it may mean a full accord ofresins (frankincense, myrrh, opoponax, labdanum, elemi, woods,flowers) or a composition that highlights frankincense alone.What incense actually smells like Frankincense: resinous yet airy; earthy, piney, slightly smoky with asurprising citrus brightness. Myrrh: darker, spicier, slightly medicinal and very “churchy”, oftenassociated with ritual and antiquity. Opoponax: honeyed, vanillic, balsamic and comforting – it softens theharsher edges of smoke. Labdanum: rich, ambery, leathery and almost animalic; gives incenseperfumes that plush, warm body. Elemi: sharp, lemony, peppery resin that brings sparkle and lift to thesmoke. Woods (sandalwood, cedar etc.): add dryness, creaminess orpencilshaving smokiness and form the backbone of many incenseheavyfragrances.Quotes from perfumers: Francis Kurkdjian on why he loves Japanese incense at home: partlypracticality, because “it fills the room in five minutes, whereas candlestake ages.” Yasmin Sewell on the moodshift: “Where a candle may take twentyminutes to resonate in your space, when you light incense there is animmediate scent that fills the room.” Sewell again on why incense made more sense than candles for herbrand’s next step: “I felt that incense really connected with our values,since it’s been used in spiritual rituals for so long,” and “what I reallylove about incense is that it shifts the mood instantly.” Lyn Harris on her daily ritual: “It sets a spiritual tone to my day,” andincense is “an ethereal veil that lingers in the air.” She burns it in themorning to set her mood, sometimes midday to reinvigorate her senses,and even before bed so “there is a sensual haze passing over mynostrils before I sleep.” Chris Rusak on the psychology of burning it: incense is “a great vehiclefor empowerment or catharsis via controlled destruction” and “incenseuse is intentional. It requires fire or directed heat for full expression,which we must effect, contain, and control, in order to destroy it but notourselves.” How it’s harvested: frankincense resin oozes from cuts in theBoswellia sacra tree and dries into golden “tears”, sometimes called“frankincense tears” or “olibanum tears”. The jinn love story: a girl from the jinn falls in love with a human boy –forbidden, of course. As punishment she’s turned into a tree; her griefbecomes crystal tears that people burn on coal for healing smoke with abitter taste that mourns lost love. Ecology: frankincense forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat asthey’re...

Nicola:Penhaligon's Festive Mini Sethttps://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/p/festive-mini-set-for-her-5x5-ml--000000000065224079Jo Malone London Festive Cologne Duohttps://www.jomalone.co.uk/product/26322/127599/gift-sets/festive-cologne-duoBamford Geranium Candlehttps://shop.claridges.co.uk/products/bamford-geranium-candle?srsltid=AfmBOopvh-fHP_E4r3friAxcOw4J40HInA0W1PQfVTCUGf2Ym_wb9mHMNeal's Yard Orange and Geranium Hand Soaphttps://www.nealsyardremedies.com/products/geranium-orange-hand-wash?_pos=2&amp;_psq=orange+and+geranium&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0Granado Gift Setshttps://www.granado.uk/uk/amazonico-scented-suitcaseSuzy:Meadowfarm Smoked Honey &amp; Orange 1 Wick Candle £25‘This stunning new candle is inspired by my love of bee keeping. It’s a unique blend of bergamot, orange flowers and ylang ylang, with added honey notes and just a hint of smokiness from the amber. It’s summery and bright, yet has an intricate depth to it. This is guaranteed to be one of your new favourites, it’s perfect for summer but will work equally well allyear round.’https://meadowfarmlifestyle.co.uk/shop/candles/smoked-honey-orange/Lords Fragrance House Cotswold Scented Hand Dipped Taper Candles £30‘Inspired by days spent with my best friend in the serene beauty of the English country side. This fragrance captures cottage gardens, surrounded by rolling hills, on sunny days spent laughing in the sunshine. A delicate blend of bergamot, lemon and orange, with heart notes of rosemary, lavender and mint, with a cedar and vetiver base. The perfect scent for those seeking a moment of calm.’https://lordsfragrancehouse.com/products/monteverde-scented-hand-dipped-tapered-candles-copyBoujee Bougies Candles (now 50% off RRP!) £30Tart: ‘What comes to mind when you think of tartness? We wanted to capture that delicious, mouth-watering, and life-affirming taste sensation. Tart is our vivid homage to fresh tarts and invigorating teas&nbsp;- a feel good tonic with irreverent and unexpected twists. Tart is lush with greenery – cool, refreshing herbal notes of mint and basil - and fizzing with fruitiness – the juicy flesh of green plum and blackcurrant. To make sure it’s zesty, we played with the crisp zing of lemon, rhubarb, and ginger, and served it all over ice with the sweet apricot facets of osmanthus. Tart is vibrant, fun, and uplifting AF.Scent impressionsMouthwatering, moreish, green-hued tartnessNotes listMint, Lemon, Blue Ginger, Cassis, Green Plum, Rhubarb, Basil, Osmanthus, Moss, Musk’<a href="https://eaudeboujee.com/collections/boujee-bougies/products/tart-candle" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In the podcast this week, Suzy &amp; Nicola talk fragrances they’ve been obsessed with wearing lately (&amp; some are quite unexpected…) Plus, there’s an absolutely BRILLIANT #listenerprescription from ballet costume designer Isabelle, who asked for recommendations to scent her way through working on costumes for a 2026 tour of Don Quixote - dreaming of Spanish sunshine in the depths of a chilly English winter!Fragrances we can’t stop wearing…Nicola:@nosuparfum Been Trying to Meet You - wistful, hay &amp; meadow-infused memories@nosuparfum Sain No More - Smoked herbaceous rituals welcome a fresh start@merit Retrospect - Nostalgia meets newness via juicy sparkles &amp; second-skin@floraiku Sand &amp; Skin - Amber-glazed skin, vanilla horizons &amp; gilded dreams@bamford Geranium Candle – Instantly-uplifting botanical blissSuzy:@angelaflanders Rose Sauvage – Dew-bright, berried wild rose bursts with sheer joy@headspaceparfum Rose - A rose frozen in glass, awoken by a silver bullet@bdkparfumsparis 312 Saint-Honoré - Couture chalky floral drifts chic clouds of comfort@memoizeperfume Imber - Succulent cherry, cassis &amp; rhubarb spiced to a musky trail@juliettehasagun Powder Love - Marshmallow, sugared almond &amp; a gentle hug#listenerprescription for Isabelle / Don Quixote ballet:Principal Lady@monegalperfumes Flamenco extrait – Raspberries, roses &amp; sizzling saffron woodiness. Passion personified@lartisanparfumeur Histoire d’Oranger – Orange trees, dappled sunlight &amp; tendrils of incense@parfumsmicallef Ylang in Gold – A solar shimmer of ylang-ylang, orange, fluffy vanilla &amp; coconut for a glimmering finaléThe Rascals@jusboxperfumes Studio 54 – Cocktails, cardamom-studded vanilla &amp; naughty patchouli – for hedonists: flamboyant &amp; ready for [email protected] Together – Bergamot &amp; mandarin, irresistible vanilla praline &amp; a spicy trail of suede – the scent of friendship &amp; assurance for scene-stealersThe scent of Spain@lamontagnacandles Winter Oranges – The scent of a Valencian orange harvest, warmly spiced, evoking citrus-soaked sunsets &amp; festive cheer@alvarez_gomez_perfumes Agua de Colonia Concentrada – Mediterranean lemons &amp; aromatic herbs, bottled Spanish sunshine with historic soul

Listener @somestarrynight messaged us from Paris about the @maisonfranciskurkdjian installation at @palaisdetokyo (on until 23 November - so hurry if you want to see it!)As it happens, Laurent from @ostens_official shared smelling strips from the expo at a recent dinner, a reminder of scent’s communal, artful side. So although we can’t get to see it, we *have* smelled the scents created for it)Perfume: Sculpture of the Invisible (celebrating 20 years of MFK &amp; @franciskurkdjian_official’s olfactive artistry - scenting galleries, theatrical performances, music, &amp; places) “has opened up perfume to new forms and destinations, taking it out of the bottle.” - Jérôme Neutres, Exhibition Curator#perfumeprescriptions17-year old listener Sadbh asks for starting points in perfume shopping, balancing jasmine, fresh ginger, roses, amber, and not-too-sweet vanillaOur guidance:@marksandspencerstyle Spiced Amber EDT: powdery depths, amber heart, cedar and geranium@marksandspencerstyle Apothecary Warmth EDP: cardamom, cinnamon, cedarwood, sandalwood for warming comfortNicola notes that niche shop @bloomperfumery’s site suggests related scents when you search a name, and well-trained staff at perfume departments can be invaluable - don’t be afraid to ask them for help.@tocca Wonders Collection (stocked @theperfumeshop) – £55 for 6 x 5ml EDP:Florence Eau de Parfum: green garden bouquet of gardenia, tuberose, iris; Parisian romance.Cleopatra EDP: grapefruit, jasmine, patchouli—seductive and regal.Stella EDP: citrus and florals with Italian sunshine; breezy, radiant.Lucia EDP: sunlit lemon, vetiver, fig; slow living, luminous.Laila EDP: luxurious indulgence, confident sensuality.Colette EDP: citrus, floral, woods; Parisian literary spirit with daring edge.New fragrances @oliverbonasFig &amp; Tonka, Pomelo &amp; Basil EDPs (£12.50 each)Mandarin &amp; Jasmine, Warm Oud &amp; Saffron EDTs (£20 full size, £9.50 rollers)Also at Oliver Bonas:@floralstreet_: Wild Vanilla Orchid (£28/10ml); vanilla, jasmine, cassis with bamboo and sandalwood.@ghostfragrances Orb of Night (£24/30ml EDP): Dark fruit, jasmine, roasted tonka—sundown to sunrise.We’re plotting a full episode on this topic of helping those who feel overwhelmed by choice / want affordable starting points, &amp; will also crowd-source tips from friends of the pod!Nicola talks about the new scent from @granadobrazil AmazonicaThe wonderful Claire @paperbackperfumes asks for a green / woodland-like, non-powdery violet scent…Our picks:@murphyanddaughters Violet Perfume Oil (Melbourne): violet leaf heart, violet flower high note; green and sparkling@orizalegrand Violettes du Czar: violet-forward with green citrus undertones, smoky woods, iris in the background@molinardparfums Violette: violet with black currant, bergamot, lemon; layered floral notes@olfactivestudio Violet Shot: green grass, violet leaf, leather, patchouli; violet with edge

In this week’s episode we’re talking about atmospheric fragrances we love, which helped set the scene for our Halloween Scented Story. Because we believe just as reading a book can be an escape route; so too can perfume be a portal…&nbsp;You can watch the whole story from the start by clicking on the Halloween highlight circle beneath our Instagram bio @onthescentpodcastUsing those fragrances and describing them as part of our Scented Story, we infused the spooky tale with scents you can go and smell for yourselves (or perhaps have already experienced).&nbsp;We so hope you enjoy this deep-dive into fragrance, mood, memory and scented scene-setting.&nbsp;Meanwhile, we’d LOVE it if you were inspired to smell along with us by either collecting samples of the following scents or (as we’ know it’s not always possible), to imagine which fragrances you’d have used for each section.&nbsp;We chose:&nbsp;Chapter 1: Suzy@marcantoinebarrois - Ganymede Extrait@thesocietyofalchemists - Familiars2: Nicola@erisparfums - Green Spell@pinewardperfume - Funerie3: Suzy@millerharris - WANDER through the parks@headspaceparfums - Styrax@diptyque - L’Eau Papier4: Nicola@perfumerhlondon- Dust&nbsp;@naomigoodsir - Bois d’Ascèse@sergeslutens - Lait du Dent&nbsp;5: Suzy@diptyque - Feu du Bois candle&nbsp;@lorenzovilloresi - Teint de Neige&nbsp;6: Nicola&nbsp;@bienaime_1935 - Vermeil@the_virtue - Holy Smoke7: Suzy@beaufortlondon - Sirenide@thesocietyofalchemists - ’Til Death@shopforas - Mushroom [email protected]&nbsp;- Soul Notes@marksandspencerstyle - Apothecary Reassure

In this week’s&nbsp;On the Scent&nbsp;Podcast we’re back with your #perfumeprescription postbag – finding perfect matches for every mood &amp; memory. You write in with such gorgeous questions &amp; we love nothing more than playing fragrant matchmakers!Sharon asked for a bright, zesty replacement for her mum’s beloved Bahoma Pomelo Grapefruit. We suggested&nbsp;&nbsp;these citrus stunners:@boadicea_the_victorious Energizer – glowing grapefruit, vetiver &amp; soft musks.@sana_jardin Air of Aquarius – lemon &amp; rosemary serenity.@jamesheeley Pomelo Crush – crisp grapefruit &amp; white florals.@hermeticaofficial Pomeloflow – radiant pomelo, rhubarb &amp; jasmine.@ruthmastenbroek Signature – sparkling mandarin &amp; soft woods.Susan asked about wellbeing fragrances following our discussion of the @ifra Fragrance Forum. Curious about how scent truly lifts our mood? Brands like @edenisteofficial, @esteelauder, @yslbeauty, @native, @pacorabanne &amp; many more are exploring neuro-perfume science – using aroma to boost happiness, calm &amp; focus.Finally, Robyn’s craving a sexy, cool yet cosy leather perfume. Try:@chanelofficial Cuir de Russie – smoky jasmine &amp; birch.@tomford Tuscan Leather – supple leather &amp; amberwood.@marcantoinebarrois B683 – saffron &amp; soft woods.@millerharris Soufflot – hazelnut-tobacco leather cocoon.@beaufortlondon Coeur de Noir – inky leather, rum &amp; pipe smoke.@headspaceperfums Styrax – amber, labdanum &amp; animalic skin warmth.Listen to the full questions then let us know which scents would YOU pick for their prescriptions?&nbsp;&nbsp;#OnTheScentPodcast