What book would you choose?
Experience a blend of storytelling and scent on the Paperback Perfumes Podcast! Discover a unique literary adventure where guests share their own perspectives and stories, sparking new book recommendations or future scent experiences. Hopefully these episodes evoke memories of your own and open a window into a world of something new.
Episode 68- Characterisation
Craig Andrade, founder and perfumer of The Raconteur, has built an Australian fragrance house celebrated for its refined, story-driven scents.
Episode 67- The Hive
I had the pleasure of speaking with Saskia Wilson-Brown, founder of the Institute for Art and Olfaction, to discuss the evolution of her ground breaking organization and the role storytelling plays in the world of scent.
Episode 66- Politics of Pleasure
This week, I sit down with self-taught perfumer Marie-Pierre Blanchette, whose creations blend art, emotion, and storytelling through scent. We explore her Rococo collection—a celebration of joy, pleasure, and the subtle politics of beauty.
Episode 65- Sacred Scent
In this episode, I’m joined by Gamilaroi woman and founder of LA COUCH, Lee Couch. Lee shares her journey of cultural understanding and the powerful role scent plays in healing, memory, and connection to Country.
Episode 64- Smell-O-Vision
In this episode, I’m joined by Tammy Burnstock, whose work explores the rich intersections between scent, cinema, and storytelling. Tammy describes her practice as scent archaeology—unearthing and reviving perfumes that carry cultural memory and creative possibility.
Episode 63- Legends
In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Edwards, one of the most influential voices in the fragrance world. Known as the creator of Fragrances of the World and the fragrance wheel, Michael has transformed the way we talk about, understand, and choose perfumes.
Episode 62- Demo Accords
In this episode, I’m joined by Finnish-born, UK-based perfumer and author Pia Long, co-founder of Olfiction and Eau de Boujee. With a career spanning four decades, Pia sees scent as a form of communication and perfume as bottled stories, shaped by her background in languages, writing, and translation.
Episode 61- Community Of Sparkles
In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Carr, founder of Barnes Fragrance Fair and co-founder of We Wear Perfume. Amanda has been instrumental in creating spaces where fragrance lovers can come together to celebrate independent perfumers, discover new scents, and share in the stories behind them.
Episode 60- More Than a Dandy
In this episode I’m joined by Katrina Cochrane, founder of Archer Farrar Perfume Atelier. Katrina’s journey into natural perfumery began with her love for plants and aromatherapy, and today, she creates stunning perfumes using only the finest sustainably sourced botanicals. We discuss her personal journey from aromatherapy to the wine industry, and how she built Archer Farrar.
Episode 59- The Barbershop
In this episode of Paperback Perfumes, I’m joined by UK-based writer and podcaster Haydn, whose work explores fragrance, male grooming, and gifting. He writes for publications like Grazia, Rakes Sense, and The Perfume Society.
Episode 58- All Systems
This episode’s guest is Anjali Vandemark, an artisanal perfumer and writer based on Bainbridge Island, WA. Born and raised in India, Anjali’s early life was steeped in the rich aromas of tropical flowers, attars, incense, and spices—experiences that now shape her handcrafted, small-batch perfumes.
Episode 57- Confessions
This episode’s guest is Sarah McCartney, owner and perfumer of the artisan fragrance house, 4160 Tuesdays. Sarah is a self-taught perfumer with a background in writing, and her work is known for blending playfulness with complexity—often drawing on personal memories, cultural touchstones, and storytelling. She’s passionate about sharing knowledge, teaching fragrance workshops, and helping others connect to scent in meaningful, personal ways.
Episode 56- Optimism
In this episode I talk with Helida Dodd, founder of Marabella Perfumes. Helida shares her unexpected journey from a career in industrial engineering and supply chain management to becoming a perfumer dedicated to crafting sustainable, high-quality scents..
Episode 55- Aesthetics
In this episode, Liam Sardea, philosopher of aesthetics and Brand Experience Manager at NOAH, discusses the transformative power of creativity and imagination in everyday life. Drawing on his PhD research and Roland Barthes' ideas, he explores how meaning, emotion, and narrative arise through sensory encounters, especially scent.
Episode 54- Kings and Heroes
Ashek Zubayer, the talented perfumer behind the innovative Byermia fragrances, shares his fascinating and unique journey into the captivating world of perfumery in this episode.
Episode 53- Smelling Trees
This episode explores the rich, invisible world of smell — and I use that word very deliberately — with my guest Frauke Galia, host of An Aromatic Life, a podcast that elevates the sense of smell in a world dominated by sight and sound.
Episode 52- Electric Sheep
In this episode I’m joined by content creator, photographer, and fellow sci-fi geek LC James to explore the fragrant and philosophical depths of Philip K. Dick’s literary work
Together, we dive into the ethical implications of empathy in distinguishing humans from androids, and how scent plays a subtle but powerful role in the narrative.
Episode 51- Fairy Tales
In this episode, I sit down with Michael Nordstrand, a renowned perfumer and the visionary founder of Mythologist Studio. Michael takes us on an aromatic journey into the world of perfumery, where he reveals the profound importance of mythology and storytelling in the creation of fragrances.
Episode 50- Two Different Types
This episode’s guest is Thomas Dunckley — fragrance expert, six-time Jasmine Award winner, and the voice behind the much-loved blog The Candy Perfume Boy. Thomas has made it his mission to make perfume accessible, joyful, and free from snobbery through his podcast Making Scents Make Sense.
Episode 49- The Land of Flowers
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.