On The Scent – Details, episodes & analysis

Our guest this week is none other than Team USA’s Olympic medal-winning gymnast @asher_hong04! 
Now, amidst the Olympic glory, a video of Asher discussing his love of fragrance went viral on social media. In an interview during the games, Asher revealed he uses specific fragrances for competitions, AND revealed a super-sniffer ability to detect which scent the interviewer was wearing. Clearly… he’s one of us! So, we were thrilled to welcome Asher to On the Scent…
Asher has also posted videos on his Instagram, where a roommate challenged him to smell randomly picked fragrances from his collection, while blindfolded. 
Asher completely nailed the world’s most difficult vault during the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, then went on and WON a bronze medal for Team USA during the Paris Olympics! 
From a Reuters news report on Asher:
“Most gymnasts would prioritise packing items such as uniforms, tape and hand grips when preparing to compete on the world's biggest stage but inspirational fragrances were on top of American Asher Hong's mind heading to Paris. The 20-year-old has over 70 bottles of perfume in his collection and has brought seven with him to the Games, reflecting the recent social-media-driven rise in fragrance enthusiasm among young adults…”
Asher’s dedication to his sport *and* to somehow finding time for his love of fragrance is quite remarkable, and we can’t wait to hear what fragrances he discovers next. Plus, who else thinks a fragrance brand needs to sponsor Asher?! 
During this episode, Asher talks about…
@givenchybeauty Gentleman 
@sospirointernational Vibrato
@mancera Instant Crush 
@yslbeauty Y eau de parfum 
@mancera Cedrat Boise
@bvlgari Man in Black 
@bvlgari Le Gemme Tygar
@montale Intense Café
@louisvuitton Ombre Nomade 
(We also mention these fragrances we think Asher would love…)
@diptyque Eau de Sens
@marcanotinebarrois Ganymede
@akrofragrances Infuse 
Thank you for being such a great guest, Asher! 

Welcome back for the FIFTH season of our award-winning podcast! What a bumper catch-up we have in store, with Suzy & Nicola reminiscing over some standout showcases and launches, a mini Sniffari (for Nicola’s little ones), what we’ve been wearing, and a wander into the woods for some forest-y fragrances, in answer to a #listenerprescription 
We discuss…
@sanajardin Incense Water 
@bdkparfumsparis Tabac Rose Ambre Saffrano
@ojarofficial Encens Cuivre Wood WhisperRed Redemption 
@boadiceathevictoriousTobacco SapphireAqua Sapphire Valiant 
Atelier @versace Figue Blanche:
@jomalonelondon Blossom Collection fragrances (from earlier this year):Sunlit Cherimoya CologneYellow Hibiscus Cologne
Listener Prescription:
@maisonmargiela Soul of the Forest edp
@walesperfumery Forest
Sonoma Scent Studio Fireside Intense

Suzy is on a fabulous fragrant adventure in Paris so this week we're doing a minipod where we catch up on our joint experience of the opening of the amazing new Trudon store on Monmouth Street in Covent Garden and why we're both swooning over The Experimental Perfume Club's surprising summer scent.

We mention:

@trudon Aphelie
@experimentalperfume club Pistachio Haiku

What happens if you lose your sense of smell - through Covid or any other reason? Why does it happen, what can you do to improve it, and where can you get help? As @outspokenbeautynicola knows, it can be scary, completely debilitating and even trigger depression and anxiety. But don’t panic - you are NOT alone, and help IS out there. We’ll explain all (with links to organisations and resources in our notes, below) in this episode…

Fragrances that make us feel better:

Nicola:
@clarinsuk Eau Dynamisante
@tothefairestlondon Cécile

Suzy:
@skinalchemists Equilibrium Pulse Point Oil
@lilanurparfums Tubereuse Attar Absolu
@sanajardin Venus of Verbena
@honore.payan Vetyver Eau de Toilette


Article on why some people lose their sense of smell with Covid, by @gavialliance

https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/why-covid-19-makes-you-lose-your-sense-smell-and-how-get-it-back

Improving your sense of smell / Further help

Not only for people who’ve lost their sense of smell through Covid - for anyone with an impaired sense of smell or taste

AbScent: https://abscent.org

Step 1: ‘Find out where your sense of smell is today. Use the AbScent self-assessment form, here. You won’t know if you are improving if you don’t know where you’ve started.’

Step 2: Smell Train. There are full instructions for making your own Smell Training Kit, here. Or, if you prefer, you can purchase a pre-assembled Smell Training Kit.

Step 3: Take note of your experiences. AbScent provide a guide for keeping notes and a downloadable diary.

You can also now use the online Snif App – to ‘guide and instruct users so that each smell training session is consistent and productive.’

Fifth Sense https://www.fifthsense.org.uk are another excellent resource for anyone who has an impaired sense of smell, through Covid, other illness or trauma, or from birth.

They also have a whole section of their website dedicated to smell training, using things you have around your home, along with excellent resources on further advice and gaining medical help.

https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/smell-training/

Losing your sense of taste
A FREE cookbook by @lifekitchencookery, called Taste & Flavour, has been written to help those who’ve lost their sense of smell - following Covid, or for any other reason your taste & smell is impaired.

You can download a copy, here:

https://lifekitchen.co.uk/product/taste-flavour-digital-book/

Don’t suffer in silence - losing your sense of smell or having it change is scary and debilitating. Try not to panic, contact the organisations above and medical professionals, if it’s not getting any better, and seek help & support. It is out there, and you’re not alone. X

We regularly get sent the most incredible & emotionally revealing messages from you, our lovely listeners, and sharing them in our first ‘scented stories’ episode (number 56) provoked a huge outpouring of support and admiration. Well, grab the tissues again because we’ve got more for you, plus of course our perfume prescriptions for your fragrance dilemmas!

Here are the fragrances we mention…

Nicola’s perfumed pairing: @sergeslutens Fleur d’Oranger + @matierepremiereparfums Neroli Oranger

@kingdomscotland Portal
£25 per Sample Set (4 x 2ml)
www.kingdomscotland.com

@ateliercologne Atelier Cologne Lemon Island

@profumumroma Dulcis in Fundo

@jeroboamperfumes Insulo

@shayandbluelondon Blood Oranges

@erisparfums Green Spell

@czechandspeake Villa Ausonia

(PS: We think Ana meant Serges Lutens Fleurs D’Oranger as Histoire D’Orangers is a L’Artisan Parfumeur fragrance)

@arquiste Architect’s Club

Etat Libre d’Orange Fils de Dieu du riz et des agrumes

@jovoyparis Fire At Will - samples available in U.K. @jovoymayfair & online: jovoyparis.uk

@tothefairestlondon Cécile

@guerlains Shalimar Philtre & Shalimar Soufflé

In this episode we're exploring the world of hair fragrances. Suzy starts by delving into the history of perfuming one's hair and chats about the fashion for powdering wigs with beautiful scents and a beautiful smelling woman who was heralded as a witch and very sadly burnt at the stake. (You can smell like her today!)
We then go on to chat about our favourite scented products and perfumes for hair.

Here's what we mention:

Suzy’s Favourites:

@officialbyredo Byredo Blanche Hair Perfume

@penhaligons_london Penhaligon’s Halfeti Hair Perfume

@diptyque Diptyque Hair Mist Eau de Sens

@hairbysammcknight Sam McNight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo

@arkiveheadcare Arkive by Adam Reed
The New Form Blow Dry Spray

@jvnhair JVN Complete Air Dry Cream

@shewolfhaircare SheWolf
Inca Oil Hydrating Shampoo / Conditioner
Tsubaki Smoothing Hair Oil

@weareparadoxx Paradoxx Repair 3-in-1 Conditioner

Nicola's Favourites:

@fredericmalle Portrait of A Lady Hair Mist

@millerharris Scherzo Hair Mist

@fableandmane shampoo and conditioner

@kerastase_official Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo

@Davines_uk Dry Texture Spray

Settle in, because in this episode we’re sharing just some of the incredibly personal and utterly wonderful stories from you, our listeners, on how fragrance has truly helped enhance your lives. From some who never realised scent could be so moving, to others who’ve reconnected to their perfume passion, we’ll also be answering questions with our prescriptions.

So, grab a cuppa (or a cold glass of Rosé!) and some tissues, because this one is something of an emotional rollercoaster ride…

What we’ve been wearing:

Nicola’s been wearing
@tothefairestlondon Cécile
@penhaligons_london Orange Blossom

Suzy’s been wearing
@tothefairestlondon Aubine


Listener Prescriptions:

@matierepremiereparfums Radical Rose & Neroli Oranger
@sergeslutens Fleur d’Oranger
@guerlain Mitsouko
@chanel.beauty Le Lion
@erisparfums Scorpio Rising (available in U.K. from @sainte.cellier)
@papillon_artisan_perfumes Hera
@ormondejayne Woman
@maisonalaia Alaïa (the original in black bottle)
@escentric_molecules Escentric 05
@vilhelm_parfumerie A Lilac a Day
@aerinbeauty Lilac Path
@lalique Perles de Lalique
@cleanbeauty_collective Clean Reserve Warm Cotton
@acquadiparma_official Essenza

This episode is in partnership with @Penhaligons
In this quintessentially British adventure we explore Penhaligon's royal connections, scandalous Portraits and Sports Car Club launch. Prepare for scented snippets throughout history, the Bridgerton like characters who make up the dazzling Portrait collection and rev your engine for the most sublime (limited edition) fragrance and its regal launch at Blenheim Palace.
As we explore these fragrances with tantalising stories, we'll be accompanied by a thoroughly regal and atmospheric soundtrack. So prepare to dive into a collection of fragrances whose historic influences never detract from their thrilling modernity.

Here's what we mention:

Blenheim Bouquet
Hammam Bouquet
Bluebell
Elizabethan Rose
The Favourite
The Coveted Duchess Rose
The Tragedy of Lord George
Revenge of Lady Blanche
Much Ado About the Duke
Sports Car Club

In this extra special episode we’re joining Suzy (and @aliceduparcq!) on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the rose harvest in Grasse. Matière Premiere are an incredible fragrance house, who showcase in their scents the raw materials that are the cornerstones of perfumery. Rose has particular meaning for Aurélien Guichard, as we’ll discover, being the only perfumer in the world to own his own rose fields. So join us we journey (literally) from field to flaçon, in search of Radical Rose…

PS: We’ll be putting up some stories & images on Instagram @onthescentpodcast when this episode goes out, so you can see exactly what Suzy got to experience.

…And to smell-along, why not purchase a little bottle of the scent the petals they picked actually go in to?!

Radical Rose 6ml bottle (which lasts really well) is €30 matiere-premiere.com

Of course, if you’ve swooned and are fully seduced, you can dive into the whole rose field with a full-size 100ml bottle - also available @theofficialselfridges & @harrodsbeauty

#notsponsored #notanad #justsharingtheexperience

This week we’re looking ahead to men’s fragrance gift ideas for Father’s Day - and beyond. If you’re buying for a dad, a father figure, your partner or a special man in your life, or perhaps a treat for yourself, our special (recent award-winning!) guest, Haydn Williams, has ideas for everyone.

Although Haydn’s full time career is in the music business, his second passion is scent. The men’s fragrance and grooming writer for Grazia, and fragrance blogger on Instagram as @yousmellgreatwhatisit, Haydn recently won Newcomer Award at this year’s Jasmine Awards!

What our fathers’ wore:

Nicola:
@ncp_layering NCP Olfactives
@penhaligons_london Sports Car Club
@davidoffparfums Cool Water


Suzy:
Birth father - @oldspice Old Spice
Stepdad - @bentleymotors Bentley Momentum

Listener Prescription…

Haydn’s suggestions:
@latelierparfum L’Atelier Parfum Verte Euphorie
@sunspelclothing Sunspel Neroli Sun

Suzy’s / Nicola’s suggestions:
@escentricmolecules Escentric Molecule 01 + Mandarin
@czechandspeake Czech & Speake Villa Ausonia

Haydn’s Father’s Day Gift Guide:
@jomalonelondon Jo Malone Forest Moss

@jusboxpetfumes Jusbox Good Morning

@acquadiparma_official Acqua di Parma C.L.U.B.

@horace.co Horace Soap Bar Trio

@millerharris Miller Harris Mandarin Candle

(Suzy also loves @neomorganics Happiness candle!)