When was the last time you thought about how public spaces smell? Or what scent palate you are culturally comfortable with? What is the scent of work and of play? Jayanthan (Jay) Sriram is a PhD student at Concordia University in Montreal and a member of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. He is in the Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD Program and coordinates the Exploration in Sensory Design research team. His research aims to highlight the importance of smell in aesthetics through funct...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Sometimes you need to pivot to find your joy. Sometimes you have to lose something important in order to gain so much more. However, change is always a certainty. Liminus owner and perfumer, Hilary, is creating natural perfumes involves using sustainable practices, sourcing local materials, and capturing the essence of a place. Liminal spaces, both physical and metaphorical, play a significant role in personal growth and transformation. Scent has the power to evoke memories and enhance experienc...
Aug 20, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Life is journey - you made find yourself on a bus in the middle of nowhere, or wind up making perfume. Corey Newcombe is perfumer and owner of Australian artisanal fragrance house, Criminal Elements. The brand has bee making fragrance for around 10 years and we discuss how Criminal Elements came about, the training of your nose, what it takes to run a small business, being in community not competition and what it’s like to make a fragrance from a dream you had that one time… Fragrances mentioned...
Aug 13, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 21
And just because alliteration is a beautiful thing- please also add Broadswords into the mix. Choose your weapon wisely. Fliss Walton is one quarter of the UK based fragrance podcast ‘Les Oderants’ - emphasis on the work ‘rant’. Fliss has work as a professional actor, as a facilitator and has, by all accounts, an extensive perfume collection. She may also be a self proclaimed lover of a ‘pretty bottle’, but we do our best to remain focussed on the juice. In this conversation we deep dive into th...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 20
When the world’s of DIY, identity and fragrance come together in a lovely mixtape of experiences Diffractive Studio is an independent fragrance house in Newcastle, UK. Owner and perfumer Alessandra started out as an academic, but branched out into the fragrance space creating fragrant art installations, as well as commercial product. Recently Alessandra had an article, “Beyond the Scent of Blood and Gardenias” published in the fragrance journal, Alabastron. This first issue of the journal focuss...
Jul 30, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 19
How about a take two, where staying on track came a little more easily - and that’s healing. As we had barely touched on any of the extensive Filigree & Shadow’s range of fragrances, this week is a return conversation with James Elliott from Filigree & Shadow. This time. staying on track came a little more easily and we touch on community, dug a little deeper into the DIY punk ethos and breeze past self diagnosis. Filigree & Shadow is an artisanal perfume house based in Seattle, Wash...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 18
When the guest warns you that they are unlikely to stay on topic, you should probably listen… Sometimes there are people that you really want to interview just because they seem like the type of person incredibly good conversation would happen with - James Elliott from Filigree & Shadow is absolutely one of these people. Filigree & Shadow is an artisanal perfume house based in Seattle, Washington State. James has seamlessly blended a DIY political punk ethos into the world in a way that ...
Jul 16, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 17
When making your way in life - what does it look like to be brave and go with your heart? Map of the Heart is an Australian fragrance brand founded by Sarah Blair. The brand was started by Sarah and Jeffrey Darling, who were both working in film and became fascinated with fragrance. The fragrances are known for their unique bottle designs and the scents are crafted with a focus on authenticity and emotion. The conversation also touches on themes of body image, racism, and the power dynamics with...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Marching to the beat of your own drum is so much harder when other have expectations about what you do and how you do it. It’s time to flip everything on it’s head… In this episode I am talking with Justine Hanna, Operations Manager at the Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation. In multiple episodes I have mentioned that other Librarians maybe stronger in the realms of Reader’s Advisory than myself, so we are putting this theory to the test! Justine has paired books with all manner of food and b...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 15
When it’s more about how things make you feel than performing a function that meet societal expectations? What is the importance and impact of giving space for a fully realised artistic experience? Australian perfume brand Metascent is reaching out into the fragrance community in a variety of different ways. From creating their own compounds, allowing people to explore making their own perfume, bring scent into art to create a fully immerse experience and taking the Australian fragrance profile ...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 14
How can we bring out the inherent and intrinsic qualities of each other. What Spaces can we make to come together and offer support to elevate from the mundane? This episode we are doing something a little bit different. The guest is Guy Vincent - CEO of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils, an Western Australian supplier of Santalum spicatum. Dutjahn are a 50% traditionally owned company that sustainably farm Sandalwood for international distribution. Guy is a self proclaim ‘Aussie scrapper’ in the world of...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Sometimes it takes two episodes to get to the heart of a topic. Sometimes people just really enjoy literary critique and fragrant tangents This is part two of what started off as a simple idea that unfurled into a three hour long discussion of scent, grief, love longing - all woven into the discussion of Annihilation. The guest is the wonderful Nuri Mc Bride who explores the intersection of olfaction and death rituals at the Death/Scent project, as well as being co-editor of the community-focus ...
Jun 11, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The topic of grief is huge. As is love. Intertwining both is a sense of longing. Tackling these topics requires many experiences and expressions of self exploration. There is no one that I would like to embark on this topic more than Nuri McBride - perfumer, community educator, and writer. Nuri explores the intersection of olfaction and death rituals at the Death/Scent project, writes about fragrance history in her monthly newsletter, Aromatica de Profundis . As well as being co-editor of the co...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Sometimes the act of placing a perfume affords a little moment of intimacy with one’s self and celebration of memories. In talking with Sondrine Kehoe, perfumer and founder of the independent artisanal fragrance house Cygnet Perfumery, the Podcast explores intimacies - how they can enrich one’s life, how a celebration of these moments can take many forms and what it can look like when we miss the mark for these moments of connection. Through out the podcast we discuss and pair with Cygnet’s heir...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Part 2: when the pairing process is finally complete. Uncovering classic literature with a twist and thinking a little outside the box. Following on from our deep dive into Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, Suzy and Clare discuss a multitude of text and olfactory experience. From literary cannon to fantasy that makes you view the world a little differently, an array of experiences are covered. Suzy is a multi-award winning fragrance writer, currently writing for The Perfume Society’s magazine ‘The Scen...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 9
A deep dive into a single and singular novel. Float away on the tide of interpretations of scent and story. Trying to describe what it’s like to have such an in depth conversation with Suzy Nightingale, is a little like nailing jelly to a tree. Suzy is a multi-award winning fragrance writer, currently writing for The Perfume Society’s magazine ‘The Scented Letter’, co-host of one of my favourite fragrance podcast ‘On the Scent’ and the ultimate perfume prescription giver. Apart from being hugely...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 8
An episode that delves into robotic companions, empowering scents, comfort, inner diva connections, and romantic allure. There is a multitude of diverse topics that are covered in this in-depth conversation with Cherie, a multifaceted fragrance reviewer, blogger, and vlogger. Whilst we start with existential crises, we wander through a captivating exploration of scents interwoven with literature, cultivating a safe haven where one can discover companionship during life's adversities. Our convers...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Throwing fragrances into the mix whilst exploring that age old discussion about whether the book is indeed better than the film This episode delves into the captivating world of pairing fragrances with books that have been brought to life on the silver screen. Suzy from ScentnSensibility, known for her expertise in pairing films and fragrances on Instagram and TikTok, joins us as we combine our powers of pairing to explore the intersection of literature, cinema, and scent. Together, we meticulou...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The processes of reconnecting with self, self-actualization through scent and archetypal tropes in texts In this episode, we are joined by Pep, also known as The Scentinel, a prominent figure in the Australian fragrance community. Since 2017, Pep has captivated audiences with his deep-seated love for perfumes, particularly those crafted by niche and independent perfumers. Through the lens of archetypes, personal odysseys, and folklore, we are set to uncover the layers of meaning embedded within ...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Shining Light in Dark Places: simplicity, pathways, healing and connection In this episode of Paperback Perfumes episode, Clare engages in a fascinating discussion with Vanessa Lindemann, widely recognized as @vanessasskins, delving into the distinctions between the perfume sectors in Europe and New Zealand. Our conversation delves deep into the profound impact of narratives on scents, underscoring the immense significance of even the most minute intricacies. Fragrances discussed: Lovely - Al-Re...
Apr 16, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 4
The world of magic will ensure that your life is never the same again. Laura Bass, the Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Lore Perfumery, recently embarked on a wonderful pairing event for Library Lover’s Day to team up with Clare. The duo planned to co-host a special event centered around the intriguing connection between scents and the diverse dimensions of relationships. Although they encountered a minor setback due to technical glitches, Laura graciously took on the challenge of reprising he...
Apr 10, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Where incense filled churches meets sapphic socialites with fortitude Dr. Tamsin Paige, a distinguished Senior Lecturer at Deakin Law School, is renowned for her work on dissecting legal practice in popular fiction through her academic papers. Apart from her scholarly pursuits, she is also known as a DJ, a former french pâtissier, and intriguingly, has potentially been involved in apprehending Somalian pirates at some point, only to later document the experience in writing. During the episode, h...
Apr 10, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 2
The world of femme fatales and murder: uniqueness, heroes and colloquialisms In the debut episode of Paperback Perfumes, Clare and her guest, Elissa, a musician, fashion designer, and self-proclaimed lover of all things vintage, reflect on their recent olfactory expedition to a nearby perfumery, also known as a 'Sniffari'. Engaging in a lively conversation, they delve into the realm of signature scents while reminiscing about vintage fragrances and sharing anecdotes about working behind perfume ...
Apr 10, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Welcome to Paperback Perfumes! Hosted by Clare Presser, a fragrance-loving librarian, this podcast explores the fascinating connection between scent and storytelling. Join us weekly as Clare chats with other fragrance enthusiasts, discussing their scent memories, personal narratives, and pairing perfumes with literary texts for engaging conversations. Whether you're a fragrance lover or looking for a new book to read, join us on this olfactory adventure into the world of Paperback Perfumes! Host...
Apr 05, 2024•1 min
