Episode 55- Aesthetics

Written By Paperback Perfumes

“Absence is the figure of privation; simultaneously, I desire and I need. Desire is squashed against need: that is the obsessive phenomenon of all amorous sentiment.”
― Roland Barthes, A Lover's Discourse: Fragments

 
 

In this episode, Dr. 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.

Liam shares his personal fragrance journey, the evolution of perfume blogging, and the intersection of philosophy, aesthetics, and olfaction. The conversation also covers the cultural and historical roles of perfume and its connection to literature.

Advocating for “olfactory culture,” Liam emphasises sensory literacy and meaningful dialogue about smell, reflecting on how scent, memory, and imagination shape our understanding of ourselves and the world.

Paperback Perfumes
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Episode 54- Kings and Heroes