Best Raconteur Studios Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 14: No Earthly Connection 29:23

4d ago29:23

29:23

So here we are again, happy as can be in Rick Wakeman's luxury armchairs in The Great Lounge of his home in England. In this episode, Rick talks about No Earthly Connection and the famous Funky Chateau. He also chats about the Australian tour with Sky! and we hear about his work with the great Mitch Benn and even Blue Peter! It's a feast for the ea…

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183. AGUSTINE ZEGERS (AGAR OLFACTORY) ~ Perfuming the Apocalypse, Unscented Perfumes, and Fragrant Time Portals. 1:05:09

6d ago1:05:09

1:05:09

agustine zegers, Chilean olfactive artist and creator of agar olfactory and speculative scent lab, directs experimental scent spaces focused on expanding our sensorial tools to navigate a planet in transition. With perfumes that boast notes like hot fax machine, Mac carcass, mushroom gills, and yeasting dough, their work begs the bigger question: w…

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Ep 13: Viv Stanshall, John Wetton 32:23

18d ago32:23

32:23

Welcome to another podcast from the legend that is Rick Wakeman, who this time tells us about a project that ANY prog fan ANYWHERE would have loved to be part of. Rick Wakeman, John Wetton and Bill Bruford. Would it have been called WBW.....or maybe BWW!. (Actually, it would have been called Wakeman, Wetton and Bruford..... it's all academic as Ric…

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182. RODRIGO FLORES-ROUX ~ What Does 2025 Smell Like? (According to a World-Renowned Perfumer.) 1:01:34

21d ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Givaudan VP Perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux generously returns to the Perfume Room to offer a definitive roadmap to the past, present, and future of perfume. Bookmark this ep. You'll come back to it. Rodrigo is a fragrance genealogist of sorts, tracing your favorite perfumes’ parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. He offers a rare perfumer's P…

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181. CÉCILE ZAROKIAN ~ Do Epic (Woman) Shit. 1:06:15

28d ago1:06:15

1:06:15

Cécile Zarokian is one of the greatest independent perfumers of all time, but she wasn’t always independent, and she hadn’t always planned on becoming a perfumer, either. Today, she’s in the Perfume Room sharing how she’s redefined the rules of the game, turned her greatest challenges into strengths, and found the CZP edge—her proverbial captive if…

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Ep 12: John Lennon & Rick 37:46

1M ago37:46

37:46

Welcome back to another episode of The Myths And Legends Of Rick Wakeman. In this podcast, Rick answers more of your fabulous questions on the subjects of King Arthur, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Curry! He also tells the incredible story of how he met ALL 4 of the Beatles, including being one of the last people to see John Lennon alive. Be par…

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180. CRAIG ANDRADE (The Raconteur) ~ The Law Firm Partner Who Became a Perfumer 1:08:52

1M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

IMAGINE THIS: You're a partner at one of the world's top law firms. It's what you've worked towards your entire career. Would you walk away from it all for the chance to chase your true creative calling? Craig Andrade, founder of Aussie niche fragrance brand, The Raconteur, did. This is his story. 10% LISTENER DISCOUNT! ⁠stele.nyc⁠ | code: emma10 (…

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179. THE ALLOY STUDIO ~ A Perfume with a 'Trashy Perfume' Accord?! 1:06:32

1M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

The Alloy Studio is an experimental, Black, queer-owned fragrance brand blending glamour with grit. Created by romantic and business partners Bryson Ammons (the perfumer) and Eddie Hodges (the creative director), their fragrances dare and delight with notes like pineapple popsicle, sativa, and 'trashy perfume.' This week, we get the inside scoop on…

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Ep 11: Going For The One 26:46

2M ago26:46

26:46

In this episode of The Myths & Legends Of Rick Wakeman, Rick answers a question about remixes, which leads onto the way Going For The One was recorded, which leads onto how Awaken was made, which goes onto.......well, you'll hear. For many prog rock fans, Awaken is the ultimate, the Prog Rock anthem if you will, and in this podcast, Rick goes deeee…

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178. JAKE LEVY & MATT BELANGER ~ How did Stéle Become a Household Name? 1:11:41

2M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

A lot can happen in a year. Since opening its Williamsburg doors last summer, Stéle has added a second location, dropped 100(!) fragrances in a single day, and moonlights as Nolita's hottest millennial nightclub (stay tuned for pt. 2: the Pacha-to-Stéle Fri night pipeline). Despite the (well-deserved) buzz, founders Jake Levy and Matt Belanger rema…

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177. SOLO, INTERVIEW & HOTLINE EPISODE! ~ 3-in-1 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

My perfume hot takes, a catch-up with Principal Perfumer Sabine de Tscharner about her newest creation for Laundry Sauce, Mojave Peach, and your hotline Qs answered, ALL IN ONE EP! Thank you to our sponsor Laundry Sauce! Use code perfumeroom15 to get 15% off any Laundry Sauce order! (valid through Aug 9, 2025) FRAGS MENTIONED: Amouage Existence*, L…

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Ep 10: Keith Emerson & Tour Programmes 29:16

2M ago29:16

29:16

In this episode of The Myths & Legends Of Rick Wakeman, the man himself is back answering your probing questions. You'll find out all about those FABULOUS tour programmes that Rick used to sell on tour, (Daily Error anyone?). Also, hear about Keith Emerson and how he and Rick used to pretend to be ENEMIES! There's even some archive audio of Rick an…

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176. CHARLOTTE ERCOLI ~ Perfuming the Silver Screen 56:19

2M ago56:19

56:19

WATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE ON SUBSTACK! A film about one man's obsessive quest to track down an orris perfume—starring Tim Heidecker, Marta Pozzan, Julia Fox, Kevin Kline, Fisher Stevens, and Gina Gershon (!!)—premieres next week at Tribeca. This week, I sit down with the visionary behind it all: filmmaker Charlotte "Charlie" Ercoli. Charlie is no new…

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175. ELIZABETH RENSTROM ~ (Perfume) Room Raiders, Let's Go! 51:05

2M ago51:05

51:05

Two perfumeheads walk into a bar and... Liz Renstrom—Perfume Room regular, photographer of our generation, and the genius behind @basenote_bitch (the ultimate fragrance nostalgia account)—dropped by my apartment last week with some shiny new gems in her collection and then naturally, raided my (newly organized!) perfume wardrobe. Be a fly on the wa…

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Ep 9: Trident Studios 31:38

2M ago31:38

31:38

In this episode, Rick is sat in front of his Bechstein piano, the same type as he used on MANY famous sessions at Trident Studios. He also talks about his time at Trident and how he became the go-to session keyboard player in London in the 1970s. ALSO find out why he was BANNED from recording music for adverts, hear about his mate Elton John and ev…

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174. THE LIPSTICK LESBIANS ~ Shop Like A Beauty Product Developer! 1:16:19

3M ago1:16:19

1:16:19

In December 2022, Christina Basias-Androulakis (a PhD in digital education) filmed and posted a Tiktok of her wife Alexis Androulakis (a beauty product developer) in Sephora, evaluating the new Make Up By Mario Skin Foundation. That video went viral, and @thelipsticklesbians were off. 1.7M followers later, today the duo continues to challenge and s…

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173. [SISSI FREEMAN] GRANADO: Brazil's Beauty Legacy (the ~other~ BBL) 52:56

3M ago52:56

52:56

A 150-year-old beauty brand with over 1,000 SKUs, Granado might be new to US market, but in Brazil, it's a household name. This week, I chat with CMO Sissi Freeman about the brand’s uniquely Brazilian identity, its recent global fragrance boom, what it’s like running this legacy brand in lock step with her father (CEO Christopher Freeman), and the …

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Ep 8: QUESTION TIME 21:22

3M ago21:22

21:22

He's back!! Rick Wakeman returns with a brand-new episode of his podcast, in which HE answers YOUR questions. You really can ask him anything and in this edition, hear Rick tell us all about the White Rock album, answer questions on the Yes book, touring and earthquakes. PLUS, find out what Rick REALLY THINKS of Patrick Moraz! Send in your question…

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172. [GOLDFIELD & BANKS' DIMITRI WEBER] I Smell Like A Land Down Under 🎵 51:11

3M ago51:11

51:11

Did you know that almost all Mysore sandalwood used in perfumery today is actually grown in Australia? Or that Australia has its own native sandalwood species—one that smells completely different from its creamy Indian counterpart? Goldfield & Banks Founder Dimitri Weber did. This is why he built a luxury fragrance brand entirely dedicated to showc…

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171. [NOMAD NOÉ] A Sense (& Scents) of Home 1:03:13

3M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Meet the duo behind the narrative-driven candle and fragrance brand, Nomad Noé! As life and business partners, Corentin Hamon and Arash Yomtobian open up about how their cross-continental paths (and a Tinder Super Like ;)) brought them together, how they craft smells inspired by people and places across time, finding their niche within 'niche', and…

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Ep 7: Al Stewart, Studios and Pirate Radio 32:47

3M ago32:47

32:47

He's back! The keyboard wizard that is Rick Wakeman returns with another episode of his podcast, The Myths & Legends Of Rick Wakeman. In this episode, Rick talks about Studios. You might think that one recording studio is the same as another but NO, and they especially weren't in the 1960's and 1970's when Rick was the go-to red-hot super-star sess…

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REVISITING EP 47 [ALBERTO MORILLAS]: A 'Perfect' Perfume is Boring 50:11

3M ago50:11

50:11

*RE-AIR (recorded almost 3 years ago to the date!)* World-renowned, award-winning Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas is in the Perfume Room! Alberto is the visionary (and nose) behind blockbuster fragrances you know and love like Estee Lauder Pleasures, Gucci Bloom, CK One, Versace Bright Crystal, Kenzo Flower, Lancome Miracle, Thierry Mugler Cologne…

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Ep 6: QUESTION TIME 26:04

4M ago26:04

26:04

He's back! Rick Wakeman returns with a brand new episode of The Myths & Legends Of Rick Wakeman and he's back answering your questions about all manner of stuff! In this episode, find out all about Rick's involvement on Tommy Live with The Who. ALSO hear how that show directly inspired Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. Rick also talks about his l…

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170. BEST OF 2024 (in 2Q25)!!! (w/ special guest! ;)) 55:00

4M ago55:00

55:00

A *FASHIONABLY* late best-of 2024 ep. A SMELL-ALONG OF 25 PERFUMES I LOVED MOST IN 2024 INCLUDING: my fav affordable discoveries my fav (not new) discoveries my fav 2024 launches Plus, enjoy...my motha!! Part 2 of our quest will air on Substack, this Friday :) SHOP THESE PERFUMES ⁠ (shopmy.us/collections/1086522) and check out my even more of favor…

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Ep 5: David Bowie, OGWT & Cookery 32:30

4M ago32:30

32:30

In this episode of The Myths and Legends of Rick Wakeman, hear the true story of Rick's tragic, final message from David Bowie. Rick will also be revealing the real facts about his famous drunken appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test. He'll also be answering listener questions, playing the piano extremely badly PLUS in the first of a new series o…

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169. Do Not Perceive Anna Dorn's Perfume plz. 54:12

4M ago54:12

54:12

Perfume & Pain author Anna Dorn is in the Perfume Room this week (and 2nd*** author - oops)! How did Anna weave perfume into both plot and character development of the story? What perfumes is she wearing IRL? Why does each character smell like they do? All this and more ahead in today's ep :) FOLLOW ANNA: @___adorn ENJOY more from Anna this Fri on …

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168. [COMMODITY RE-FOUNDER VICKEN ARSLANIAN] Niche is a Mindset, oh and, ORRIS IS BACK! 29:34

5M ago29:34

29:34

HAPPY FRAGRANCE WEEK! Enjoy a catch-up with past guest, Vicken Arslanian. As CEO of three flourishing fragrance companies—Europerfumes (the leading US niche perfume distributor), Twisted Lily, and Commodity—Vicken is, bar none, one of the most interesting, successful, and busiest(!) leaders in the industry. Today, he's back with brand-new pipin' ho…

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Ep 4: QUESTION TIME 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

YOU have questions........RICK has answers........well, when he can remember them that is. In this special episode, recorded backstage at Rick's final piano tour show in Rome at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, he tackles the following queries: What happened to 1984? What about that Cavalier outfit??? How did Temperent Of Mind (The Strawbs) come …

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167. [ROBIN MASON - dsm-firmenich President of Fine Fragrance] So You Want a Corporate Fragrance Career! 51:48

5M ago51:48

51:48

Robin Mason, dsm-firmenich's President of Fine Fragrance NAM, is in the Perfume Room this week! A lifelong beauty executive whose corporate background spans across retail, marketing, and sales on both the brand and supplier of the biz, Robin is not only an esteemed leader of the industry, she's a wealth of knowledge. Today, we are lucky to reap the…

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166. [PERFUMERISM] From PerfumeTok to Perfumery School! 43:28

5M ago43:28

43:28

Perfume content creator Emma (Perfumerism) has traded in her Toronto address for a Paris one to attend perfumery school! Today we chat about her new Parisian life, learning the lingo of perfume, how to actually memorize smells, and navigating the duality of being BOTH a highly successful content creator AND student of the industry simultaneously. F…

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Ep 3: Going For The One, Dogs and Salvador Dali! 29:58

5M ago29:58

29:58

Rick Wakeman, keyboard player extraordinaire, returns for another episode of his podcast, The Myths And Legends Of Rick Wakeman. Aided by his trusty servant Jeeves, Rick turns the nonsense in his head into listening gold for you and I. In this episode you'll hear him answering your questions about Going For The One, (remember to email all your thou…

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Ep 2: Keith Moon, Spike Milligan and Happy Chords! 25:54

6M ago25:54

25:54

Welcome back to all of you who are eager for more from the brain of Rick Wakeman! Yes, in Episode 2 Rick - and his collection of rescue dogs, some of whom are VERY noisy as you'll hear - returns with more stories from his incredible life. In this edition, find out just how loony Keith Moon really was and yes, Rick really was arrested in Australia a…

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165. [PERFUMER JOEY ROSIN] Do You Have Bad Mouilletiquette?? 1:00:17

6M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

Are you practicing correct mouilettiquette?? Find out today with Hoax Parfum Co-Founder and Perfumer Joey Rosin! Hoax is a bespoke fragrance design and consultancy boutique, and Joey is its resident nose. In his short time as an independent perfumer, Joey has made waves in the industry landing notable projects like Sable Yong's Die Hot with A Venge…

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164. [Odette Parfum Co.] Ballet and Patisserie Fantasy Perfumes 59:21

6M ago59:21

59:21

Kitten fur, Chantilly cream, and Île Flottante are just some of the magical fantasy accords you'll experience in Odette Parfum Co. fragrances. This week, Founder/Perfumer Odette Fontaine jetés into the Perfume Room to tell us all about it. A baker by day, Odette knows gourmands--which makes nailing them in her compositions even more important. She …

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Ep 1: Heart Of The Sunrise, And You & I, Juniors Eyes 22:58

6M ago22:58

22:58

So here it is, EPISODE 1 of Rick Wakeman's brand new podcast, recorded in Rick's music room at his home in the UK. In this opening episode, Rick and his trusty sidekick Mark Jeeves explore his library, his piano and answer your questions. This week find out about his early work with Junior's Eyes and listen as he unpicks the creation of the YES cla…

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163. [SOLO!] 2025: Year of the Grandma Perfume, Post-Modern Gourmand, and…????? 38:11

6M ago38:11

38:11

What did I get right in my 2024 predictions & what's coming in 2025??? What is the lifecycle of a trend? Plus: my ins-and-outs for the new year. GE T TIX ~ SMELLS LIKE LOVE DATER APPLICATION (!!!) FRAGS MENTIONED: SOTD: Chris Collins Danse Sauvage*, Arquiste Little Paws, Jorum Studio Pentimento, MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir, Thameen Bravi*, Maison D’Et…

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162. [MABELLE O'RAMA] Smells of Sumac, Stardust, and Secret Gardens! 58:28

7M ago58:28

58:28

Perfumer Mabelle O'Rama is in the Perfume Room this week! Mabelle is a Lebanese-British perfumer based in London, and founder of the eponymous perfume line, Mabelle O’Rama. In a just a few years Mabelle has already made a name for herself, with accolades from both the UK Fragrance Foundation Awards and IAO Awards. Today, we chat about how she learn…

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THE TRAILER 1:11

7M ago1:11

1:11

Whilst Rick Wakeman has appeared on about twenty trillion podcasts for other people, he's never had his own. So now he has. it's coming soon........(Jan 31st to be precise)...... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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161. Dave 1 and I Exchange Perfumes (a belated holiday treasure)! 1:04:37

7M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Perfume Room darling (oh, and Grammy-nominated artist) Dave 1, of electro-funk duo Chromeo, graces us with his presence yet again! In 2025's most tender game of show-and-tell to date, Dave brings me five scents he thinks I’ll enjoy, and I do the same for him. Then, WE SMELL THEM. This one's fun. Smells Like Love tix: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/p…

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160. [RENAUD SALMON] If Not Amouage, Then Who? 1:18:42

8M ago1:18:42

1:18:42

Amouage Chief Creative Officer Renaud Salmon joins me in the Perfume Room this week. When he took the post in 2019, his mission was clear: make Amouage the best, most iconic fragrance brand in the world. (You know, easy.) We discuss how he’s endeavored to do just that; the rich fragrance culture in Oman; what daily life there looks like for him and…

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159. The 2024 Perfume Room Holiday Gift Guide 35:01

8M ago35:01

35:01

Month 12 of 12 is finally upon us which means it's time to flex ye olde gift-giving muscle. Let Perfume Room help you do it with ease and aplomb! Enjoy my official 2024 gifting recs for candles, discovery sets, fragrance-adjacent gifts, non-fragrance gifts, and of course, the highly-anticipated LuckyScent x Perfume Room holiday 10-piece pack (a pac…

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158. [FISCHERSUND] A (Nordic) Journey for the Senses 1:14:45

8M ago1:14:45

1:14:45

PERFUME ROOM CANON ALERT. This week, join me on a one-of-a-kind auditory journey with Icelandic Art Collective, Fischersund. This episode was recorded in Seattle at the opening of Fischersund’s brand new multi-sensory exhibit: Faux Flora (which is happening now through Jan. 26 at the National Nordic Museum). You’ll hear all about this special famil…

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[HILDE SOLIANI] Gourmands Aren't All a Piece of Cake! [RE-RUN] 48:55

9M ago48:55

48:55

*TBT* Bringing back this Perfume Room gem: Perfume Royality Hilde Soliani, La Regina dei Gourmand//the Queen of Gourmands, is in the Perfume Room today! At first glance, you might say dessert scents are her bread and butter, but Hilde would be quick to tell you that *bread and butter scents* are also her bread and butter. And for that matter, so ar…

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157. [ANTOINE LIE - PT. 2] The Free-Spirited Perfumer 58:58

9M ago58:58

58:58

This week, enjoy the second half of my conversation with Free-Spirit Perfumer Antoine Lie. What is the Antoine Lie Olfactive experience? What excites Antoine? What frustrates him? How does he feel about the corporate industry he left behind? And yes, yes, of course, we discuss Secretions Magnifiques. FRAGS MENTIONED: ELdO: Clean Suede, Rien; Paco R…

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156. [PERFUMER ANTOINE LIE - PT. 1] Market Testing Killed The Perfume Star 47:53

9M ago47:53

47:53

Legendary perfumer Antoine Lie is in the Perfume Room this week! Having created blockbusters that range in style from Armani Code to Secretions Magnifiques, Antoine has done it all. Though he spent the first few decades of his career working in the corporate fragrance world, today, Antoine is independent (though he prefers the term 'free-spirited')…

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155. Rachel Syme Wants to Earn Your Perfume Compliments 1:01:46

10M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

New Yorker Staff Writer (and lifelong fraghead!) Rachel Syme is in the Perfume Room this week! Creator of the now-defunct, infamous Perfume Genie Twitter threads, and newsletter-turned-Substack, The Dry Down, Rachel's on the *perfume beat* on and off the clock. Today we chat all about her recent work trip to Paris, where she spent several days with…

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154. [FLAVORIST(!) JOAN HARVEY] A Journey to Flavortown! 1:01:16

10M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

Finally, a flavorist has entered the Perfume Room! Joan Harvey, Bell Flavors & Fragrances General Manager and R+D Senior Vice President, is this week's guest! Why do certain flavor profiles become gold standards and who are these alleged flavor canons (think: the Chanel No. 5s or Santal 33s of the flavor world)? How is flavor made? How do flavorist…

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153. [PERFUME ROOM HOTLINE] Ring Ring, hello? It's YOU! 15:18

10M ago15:18

15:18

This week, I am helping three special callers on three special perfume quests. ~It's the Perfume Room hotline.~ Want to hear more listener consults? Stick around for part 2, only on Substack, coming out this Friday! SUBSCRIBE: perfumeroom.substack.com FRAGS MENTIONED: Maison d’ETTO Noisette, Binaurale Supersolid, Gabar No, IV Rise (Nolita), Celine …

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152. [JOUISSANCE] Perfume to Smell like a 'Naughty Grandma' 55:52

10M ago55:52

55:52

Jouissance Parfums is a new niche brand whose fragrances are inspired by erotic texts and the women who penned them. Al fresco sex, sacred submission, and naughty grandmas are just some of the themes explored within the first 3 releases. (And more are on the way!) Founder Cherry Cheng joins me in the Perfume Room this week to discuss her love of er…

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151. [PERFUMER MATTEO SANCHEZ] Horchata Accords, Perfume Apprenticeships, & Serendipitous Dentist Appointments 59:34

10M ago59:34

59:34

Indie Perfumer & Founder Matteo Sanchez (creator of Matteo Parfums) is in the Perfume Room this week! Matteo shares the story of how an article he read in a dentist's waiting room changed the entire trajectory of his career (spoiler alert: to perfumery!). We talk about the smells of his multi-cultural childhood, learning perfumery via apprenticeshi…

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