Episode 57- Confessions

Written By Paperback Perfumes

"We don't just travel on roads and seas. We travel in stories and in dreams."
― Joanne Harris, Vianne

 

Photo credit: Luca Sage & British Library BIPC

 

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.

We talk about the process of creating Vianne’s Confession, a perfume inspired by the character Vianne Rocher from Chocolat and, more recently, Vianne by Joanne Harris, and . We explore how how literature can spark the imagination in scent-making, as well as evoke powerful nostalgia, the role of human chemistry in how we experience perfume, and how scent weaves into the rituals and rhythms of everyday life.

Paperback Perfumes
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Episode 56- Optimism