Show Notes
Are you feeling the need for snuggly scents yet? Suzy and Nicola are leaning into the cosiness in this week’s episode and have been gathering together some of new launches and favourite fragrances they’ve been wearing as autumn approaches. The discussion ranges from ultra-sophisticated gourmands encompassing chocolate and lattes, to a bohemian rose, a truly fantastic new woody scent, and an American niche tobacco fragrance Suzy fell for years ago and a listener kindly sourced a sample of for her. Plus, the #listenerprescription this week is for a ‘friendship fragrance’ to link and be shared by a listener and her best friend who is moving far away... Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat By Daniela Andrier ‘TOM FORD has long been drawn to the sensual, masculine heat of tobacco – and now, the perfumer adds another iteration to its repertoire. Tobacco Chocolat is an eau de parfum founded upon the brand’s exclusive cocoa smoke accord, a note that fuses the rich, intoxicating quality of cocoa with the grounding earthiness of tobacco. Alongside this powerful core are a host of complimentary notes, from bright orange essence to balsam and patchouli, coming together to make a fragrance set to capture attention. Top Notes: cocoa smoke co-distillation, Orange Essence Middle Notes: peru balsam, chocolat noir grand cru delight Base Notes: patchouli cœur Indonesia, Ambrofix.’
NEST New York Cardamom Latte ‘Like cashmere on bare skin, this spicy gourmand eau de parfum is endlessly wearable. The gentle heat of cardamom drifts through jasmine-laced air steeped in the creamy comfort of coconut milk. Cardamom Latte unfolds like the perfect pour—layered and immersive. Heat blooms into softness. Spice melts into cream. Steam diffuses into air. Transforming your atmosphere with warmth you can feel. An enveloping fragrance that surrounds before it settles. Because comfort isn’t static. It’s fluid.’
Acqua di Parma Signatures of the Sun Cedar Virtuoso (& body cream) ‘Cedro Virtuoso celebrates the sensorial warmth of creation—the moment when an idea begins to take shape and inner confidence turns sensibility into emotion. Like the different stages of a creative process, the fragrance unfolds like a warm embrace, encouraging creativity to rise from within. Between vivid, vibrant notes and deeper, cocooning tones that accompany the journey from intuition to realization is the fragrance’s distinctive singularity: a co-infusion of Virginia cedarwood and hazelnut, whose encounter shapes a creamy woody signature.’ Miller Harris Scherzo Extrait ‘Developed at 30% concentration, Scherzo Extrait captures the vibrant spirit of the original Eau de Parfum while unveiling a deeper, more intoxicating signature. Bright, luminous sweetness meets newfound richness and warmth, allowing the fragrance to bloom with a more immersive intensity for lasting presence. The fragrance opens with the familiar rush of tangerine and davana, radiating vibrant fruity luminosity. At its heart, delicate peony blooms abundantly alongside crisp pittosporum, while a new dimension begins to emerge: a more sumptuous and velvety rose, enrobed in golden honey and entwined with creamy vanilla for a richer sensuality, its floral radiance enhanced by threads of incense to bring light and vibration. Together, they introduce a magnetic tension, guiding the fragrance towards more mysterious territory. At the base, shimmering oudh unfolds with greater texture, amplified by intensified patchouli and moss. The introduction of smooth amber woods brings warmth and refinement, creating a striking counterpoint to the fragrance's signature sweetness. As these richer notes emerge, they reveal new facets of its character. The result is a fragrance which is radiant yet mysterious, vibrant yet profound, with a more enduring and enveloping trail.’ HEAD NOTES: Tangerine*, Davana* (herb with a fruity, sweet, tea like smell, member of the Artemisia family.) HEART NOTES: Rose Nectar Accord, Peony, Olibanum* (Frankincense
More from On The Scent
We couldn’t do better than quote our brilliant guest Dr Kate Lister’s own bulging bio: ‘a history sleuth with a passion for uncovering the wild tales of the past. You might know me from my bestselling books, “A Curious History of Sex” and “Harlots, Whores, and Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale,” where I spill the tea on our ancestors’ sex lives.’ When she’s not ‘deep-diving into historical hanky-panky’, Kate hosts the award-winning History Hit podcast, Betwixt the Sheets, where she and her guests (including an episode with Suzy on historical fragrances) ‘time-travel through the sauciest and most scandalous stories in history.’ But there’s something else that Kate’s become passionate about – other than her eternal quest for the best red lipstick in the world – which makes us love her even more... In this episode we delve deeper into Kate’s burgeoning olfactory obsession, which she fully admits was Suzy’s fault, as Kate purchased the perfumes Suzy spoke about when she was a Betwixt guest – and as we all know, it’s a slippery scented slope from there. You can listen to that episode here: https://shows.acast.com/betwixt-the- sheets/episodes/cleopatra-to-jane-austen-perfumes-of-powerful-women From Kate’s early experiments with perfumes she and her peers dabbed and dabbled with in their youth, through to expressing her personality, and finding fragrances she’s now fallen madly in love with; of course, our conversations took an historical turn. Among our discussions: what people in the past actually smelled like (did they stink, as many people assume?), the cultural controls over what women were supposed to smell of, why we have a deep longing to smell like forest witches, and a disturbing revelation of how and why Lysol was first marketed to women. We think you’ll agree that Kate was an utterly fascinating guest, and we’re determined to get her back for a Part Two! (Once she’s tried even more of the fragrance recommendations Suzy is going to send her. Sorry in advance, Kate... Dr Kate Lister’s Fragrance List: Body shop Dewberry Calvin Klein CK Be Gap Grass (the original) Gap Heaven (the original) Rook Forest Histoire de parfum Encens Roi Histoire de Parfum 1968 Wales Perfumery Celtic Perfume Discovery Set
Can you imagine a whole day dedicated to wandering the streets of Paris and smelling their scented wares? Utter olfactory heaven, right?! Well, recently Suzy had a morning and afternoon to do just this, and in this week’s episode, she and Nicola retrace her steps and recall the gorgeous and inspiring Parisian boutiques she managed to visit, reviewing each of the fragrances sniffed and recounting the memories they evoke.
Fancy a scented tour through unexpected florals (via toasted seeds and cool green leaves), autumnal sunsets in California, walled gardens where a warrior goddess might stroll, impeccably tailored heritage, and a gloriously gilded pop fantasy? Step right this way, because this week Suzy & Nicola are discussing perfumes for taking a calm breath, for making an entrance, for leaning into your own glow, and the pleasure of simply choosing the perfect scent to suit the moment.
What does a fragrance feel like? This week, Suzy Nightingale and Nicola Bonn are following their noses into the wonderfully tactile world of perfumery, where a scent can suggest velvet brushing the skin, the smooth swish of nylon, or the crumbly warmth of freshly sliced cake. There’s oudh as soft as autumnal sun-warmed suede, a mineral hush reminiscent of earth after rain, and an aromatic breeze that arrives wind-whipped and bracing before settling into comfort. These perfumes invite you to think beyond notes alone. Some wrap around you; others seem to lift you into cool, open air or draw you into the glow of a city after dark. Join Suzy and Nicola for an episode devoted to sumptuous scents you can almost reach out and touch... The fragrances discussed in this episode are: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Velvet Mood Extrait Velvet warmed by desert sun is the irresistible idea here. Peach skin, delicate suede and deep oud wood unfold in a slow, enveloping caress – soft, sensuous and richly textured, with a sillage that seems to ripple across dunes beneath a starry sky. D.S. & Durga Ain’t That Sweet? The blissful comfort of a freshly sliced cake, with no apology for its sweetness. Cinnamon lends a spicy dusting, fresh floral lily keeps things lifted, and creamy vanilla melts into the skin, leaving a decadent trail that lingers like the last delicious crumb. Pigmentarium Aereo Airy yet grounding, Aereo feels like finding a quiet moment after rain. Soft, mineral cashmeran suggests warm soil, pink pepper brings a flicker of clarity, and soothing myrrh anchors it all in a clean, contemplative stillness. Aesop Unforeseen Aer Wind-whipped and refreshing at first, this aromatic fougère brings rugged, mineral heights to mind. Geranium, lavandin and rosemary create its cool rush of air, while nutmeg lends a textured warmth as the scent settles into comfort. Prada Olfactories Nylon Noir Prada’s iconic nylon becomes something you can almost feel against your skin. Luminous jasmine gives way to a clean, enveloping nylon accord, before musk emerges in the dry-down, leaving a sleek, softly polished trail. Prada Olfactories Troubled Midnight A city after dark, where hot pavement meets cold air and light flares against shadow. Smoky incense and patchouli bring depth to this warm amber-musk, while a date accord adds a softly fruity glow – satin darkness in perfume form.
Suzy & Nicola are back for part two of their Pitti Fragranze roundup, continuing their deep-dive into the perfume launches, houses and ideas that made this year’s Florence fair feel so full of possibility. Having attended Pitti Fragranze for thirteen years, Suzy felt this was one of the most exciting editions yet. Alongside the return of classical perfume structures reinterpreted for contemporary tastes, she noticed a growing confidence in brands drawing upon personal heritage, local materials, food culture, landscape, ritual and memory. In this episode, the pair explore some of the fragrances that most vividly expressed those stories. From a Chinese-French house capturing the transient scent of sun-dried osmanthus, to Korean brands evoking fire-charred ingredients, graceful calligraphy and fine-dining balances of flavour, this episode travels widely through fragrance’s newest creative terrain. There is also a decadent, night-time gourmand journey through Bandra in Mumbai; a woody incense scent from Reserve en Afrique; and two beautifully emotional creations from Italian poet-perfumer Meo Fusciuni. Listen for a perfume that smells of roasted chestnuts, fermented tea and Korean seaweed crisp; a vivid, herbal peach; a “new century” Parma violet growing in a cold spring garden; and a cocoa-rich love story that charts the bitterness and sweetness of heartbreak… https://fragranze.pittimmagine.com/en/events-calendar Reserve en Afrique – Woodoo Reserve en Afrique’s Woodoo is a woody, resinous composition built around the warm, meditative pull of incense, balsams and dry woods. It opens with ginger and olibanum, giving the fragrance both brightness and a slightly peppery, ceremonial character. Labdanum, iris and white flowers arrive at the heart, adding a soft, ambery texture: floral, but shadowed by resin and a certain velvety darkness. The base of musk, benzoin, cedar, tonka bean and cypriol brings a long-lasting warmth, with dry woods, sweet balsams and a gently smoky earthiness. The name suggests ritual, mystery and a connection to wood, smoke and spirituality, and the composition seems to play with all those ideas. This is not necessarily a loud fragrance, but one that gradually develops its presence on skin: incense-lit, softly floral, smooth with tonka, and grounded by a woody, mineral base. Reserve en Afrique draws inspiration from African landscapes, stories and olfactory traditions, translating them into contemporary fine fragrance. Woodoo feels like a particularly atmospheric example of that approach: a scent that uses familiar perfume materials, but lets them tell a more transportive story. Cent.PM – eau de pensée Eau de pensée, the debut fragrance from Chinese-French house Cent.PM, begins with an intensely personal memory: founder Haoyuan recalling the childhood ritual of sun-drying osmanthus blossoms in a field. Rather than trying to make a literal flower portrait, Cent.PM treats the memory as something unstable and shifting. The perfume is intended to capture that instant when an old recollection suddenly brightens into focus, only to blur again as past and present overlap. The opening is vibrant and light-filled, with notes including neroli, pink pepper and mandarin lending a sparkling, green-citrus lift. From there, the fragrance becomes more veiled and contemplative, eventually settling into a warm, close-to-the-skin afterglow. Osmanthus can be a fascinating material in perfume: floral, but also capable of suggesting apricot, tea, suede and a certain honeyed, almost leathery softness. Here, its role appears to be as much emotional as olfactory, carrying the atmosphere of childhood, sunshine, landscape and passing time. Cent.PM approaches fragrance as a meeting point between cultures, materials and memory. Its name and first release suggest an interest in the fleeting, in-between time of late afternoon: a moment for reflection, imagination and sensory recollection. Sisology – Être toi Korean house Sisology’s Être toi