Show Notes
“How cyclical and bittersweet for a child to retrace the image of their mother. For a subject to turn back to document their archivist.”
― Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart
This episode’s guest is Thomas Dunckley — fragrance expert, six-time Jasmine Award winner, and the voice behind the much-loved blog The Candy Perfume Boy. Thomas has made it his mission to make perfume accessible, joyful, and free from snobbery through his podcast Making Scents Make Sense.
Our conversation explores the deep connections between fragrance, memory, and identity. We talked about how scent can transport us through time, evoke powerful emotions, and reflect who we are — or who we want to be. Thomas shares his thoughts on the importance of inclusivity in the fragrance community and how personal experiences shape the way we interact with fragrance.
We also discussed Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, reflecting on the book’s themes of grief, cultural identity, and the mother-child bond. Thomas paired these themes with fragrance recommendations that speak to comfort, nostalgia, and the emotional resonance of scent. Whether you're a seasoned perfume lover or just beginning to explore the world of fragrance, this episode is a celebration of scent as story — and the joy it brings to our lives.
Fragrances mentioned: Pho Breakfast - d’Naam Concombre d'Inde et Menthe de Syrie - Officine Universelle Buly Sunday - Arielle Shoshana Vetiveria -Ormonde Jayne Eau de Magnolia - Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Lupin Meadow - Nancy Meiland Allure - Chanel Angel - Mugler Book mentioned: Crying in the H Mart - Michelle Zauner
Find Thomas here: Instagram: @makingscentsmakesense Website: thomasdunckley.com
Find Japanese Breakfast here: japanesebreakfast.rocks
Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Paperback Perfumes
“Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one.” - V.E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains." -Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses
"Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can." - Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic
“In the secular night you wander around alone in your house. It’s Two-Thirty” - Margaret Atwood, In the Secular Night
“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”