Perfume’s Dark Secret – BBC Documentary Review
— As far as exposes of the perfume industry go, this one is amongst the more worrying. Seeing children being forced into hardship by a so-called luxury business is always…
Coty Infiniment review – various perfumers; 2024
— My first encounter with this much-hyped range was at a launch event in London last year. As far as these shindigs go, it was one of the less easily…
Montblanc Collection, L’Artisan Parfumeur Il Etait Un Bois, Jo Malone London Cypress & Grapevine reviews – 2024
In an attempt to lend their image a bit of rough, Jo Malone London have hired Tom Hardy as the face of their Cypress & Grapevine cologne (credited to Sophie…
Persolaise Masterclass – Episode 11 – The Industry – Independent Online Retail
For the most recent episode of my occasional Masterclass series, I veered away from ingredients and moved into the equally complex world of perfume retail. Guiding me through the journey…
Michael Edwards, American Legends, Live Interview
He may be the busiest man in the business, but fortunately for all of us, Michael Edwards, the supreme perfume guru, found some time to pop into my virtual studio…
Charlotte Tilbury Perfume Collection, Acqua Di Parma Mandarino Di Sicilia, Ormonde Jayne Vanille Des Afriques and other reviews – 2024
Trust Charlotte Tilbury to come up with perfume names like More Sex, Cosmic Power and Love Frequency… and trust her to make the scents more interesting than they have any…
An Artificial Perfume – Olivier Polge On The Creation Of Chanel Comete
— There’s this sentence that I always repeat: she asked for “an artificial perfume.” Artificial in the sense that she didn’t want the scent to smell exactly like a rose…
Chanel Comete, Frederic Malle Acne Studios, Serge Lutens La Fille Tour De Fer reviews – 2024
It was time to roll out the big guns over on YouTube the other day, with new releases from Chanel (Comete), Frederic Malle (Acne Studios) as well as Serge Lutens…
Thoughts On Frederic Malle Leaving His Own Brand — And Reviews Of Some Of His Classic Scents
— The speculators I alluded to above are theorising about all manner of likely (and less likely) reasons and scenarios. Take your pick from whichever of the following you fancy:…
Clara Feder & Michel Gutsatz, Le Jardin Retrouve, Live Interview
It’s generally accepted that the first, true ‘niche’ perfume brand was L’Artisan Parfumeur. But what if the history books have got that little detail wrong and what if the honour…
Akro Infuse, Rendez-Vous, Parfum D’Empire showcase and other reviews – 2024
An unusual cup of tea was on offer in a recent episode of Love At First Scent, in the form of the new Akro Infuse (Olivier Cresp). In the same…
Hiram Green Philtre, Puente Virescence, Parfums De Marly Perseus and other reviews – 2024
One YouTube broadcast will never be sufficient to discuss everything there is to say about the increasingly thorny and emotive issue of perfume prices, but I did my best to…
Tom Ford Vanilla Sex review – Nathalie Gracia-Cetto; 2023
– Upon being presented with a blotter doused in Tom Ford Vanilla Sex, the correct response is to recoil in confusion. I am delighted to report that this was precisely…
Guerlain Habit Rouge, Vetiver & L’Homme Ideal parfums review – Delphine Jelk; 2024
Why entice us with just one scent when three bottles lined up next to each other look so much better in a photo? Perhaps that’s what the Powers That Be…
Easter Wishes 2024
These tulips appeared in our garden a few days ago, so as we approach Easter, I thought I’d share them with you, gorgeously filter-free. Regardless of whether you mark this…
Eliam Puente, House Of Puente, Live Interview
The other day, I was delighted to interview Eliam Puente, founder of and sole perfumer at the House Of Puente (Iris Doux, Vespertine, Medusa and others). We talked about how…