We cannot tell you how much we LOVE receiving your questions and requests for
‘perfume prescriptions’ (something we’ve always specialised in at On the Scent
Podcast – it brings us such joy being able to match people to perfumes they’d
perhaps never tried or even heard of). And we get a LOT of DMs
@onthescentpodcast on Instagram, and messages on our On the Scent private
Facebook group, so here we are dedicating an episode to do a deep dive on two
fascinating fragrant conundrums...
Sometimes the prescription requests we get are to help find a ‘replacement’ for a
beloved signature scent that’s since been discontinued – to which we say, there’s
probably never going to be an exact match, but we can definitely guide you toward
trying some scents that match the vibe, the feeling that fragrance gave you when
you wore it, and the way it slotted into your life like a puzzle piece. We also get a
lot of requests for very specific scenarios, sometimes quite abstract themes or
intimate moments our listeners are seeking to scent! But when we think about
them more broadly, there’s ways of applying these scenarios (and the things the
listener needs to take from them: strength, motivation, comfort, energy...) to
aspects of our own lives.
In this correspondence special, we begin with some lovely feedback from a listener
who made a new discovery via a previous prescription suggestion, then we dive into
the two new requests, which are equally intriguing, and really showcase the kinds
of questions we get so many of and adore researching (often for hours!) to find the
perfect perfumes for.
Let’s begin!
Joanna said:
‘Dear Suzy and Nicola,
I can’t thank you enough for your amazing affordable iris prescriptions! Both sound
incredible and I will be definitely be hunting them down, especially Fragonard Belle
de Paris!
I especially want to thank you for your reviews of the new M&S perfumes. That
episode came out shortly before my trip to England from the States, and I
immediately added M&S to the itinerary! And WOW…Sheer Musk and Darkest
Vanilla are incredible! M&S perfumes are unavailable in America, so had my trip
been just a couple of weeks earlier I would have been completely out of luck, as I
would never have considered exploring M&S as a perfume haven without your
expert recommendation. I humbly beg you to do full reviews of the rest of the
Studio lineup! I feel that the interests of promoting truly exquisite super-affordable,
unique fragrances warrant such a podcast focus. Thank you for all you do for the
fragrance community!!’
Listener prescriptions:
Netta asks:
‘Hi! I recently discovered your podcast and I’m absolutely loving it. I’ve been binge
listening and enjoying every episode!!
I’ve always been obsessed with fragrance and smelling good, so it feels like I’ve
finally found my people.
I was wondering if you could recommend a perfume that’s similar to the
discontinued Armani Privé Pierre de Lune. I absolutely loved it and have never
managed to find anything that captures the same feeling. It had such a clean, soft,
almost soapy quality while still feeling fresh and elegant. I’d be so grateful for any
recommendations! Many thanks in advance, Netta.’
Daniela Andrier (well known for her love of iris) created Pierre de Lune, featuring
violet, iris, cassia & woody notes.
Suzy suggests:
Prada Infusion d’Iris
‘This modern and elegant fragrance opens with notes of mandarin, galbanum,
orange and orange blossom which lead to the heart composed of iris, cedar and
vetiver. The base is composed of incense and benzoin.’
Fragonard Belle de Paris
Another stunning iris scent by Daniela Andrier. And only £42 for 100ml eau de
toilette! ‘Belle de paris is elegantly cloaked in iris, a symbol of chic, and wears its
incomparable scent. Its fruity head notes of green mandarin, neroli, and pear
brighten a generous heart of iris absolutely adorned with violet and incense. Musk
and white cedar form its base.’
27 87 Per sē
‘Per sē is our scent identity and the olfactive translation of our core belief: There is
No Scent Like the Present. It combines the now. The achromatic, and the individual
in a sensory experience.
“In creating Per sē, we aimed to capture the very essence of the present moment.
This fragrance is unparalleled; it ebbs and flows with the dynamism of change, yet
its core remains strikingly constant. Just as time never stops, neither does ‘Per sē’.
It serves as evidence of the enduring within the ever-changing.”
Crafting a symphony of achromatic elegance, Per sē is composed of a floral
bouquet, orris butter, and violet leaves. Juxtaposed with clean aldehydes, bamboo,
and a pinch of spicy pepper, a subtle underscore of ambrette seeds, angelica roots,
and gentle musk complete the incompletable experience of the sensory now.’
Nicola suggested:
Diptyque Fleur de Peau
‘A tribute to the mythical love between Psyche and Eros, which led to the birth of
their daughter, Hedone. One scent can convey this legend: musks. At the heart of
Fleur de Peau, they are cottony, downy or soft. Highlighted with iris and ambrette
seed, they reveal their full tactile dimension.
Absolute ambrette seed extract comes from hibiscus flowers. Its notes are
extraordinarily rich: sweet, slightly animal, fruity (like pear and plum).’
Madeline @rocknrollgypsy_13 asks:
‘Hello Suzy and Nicola! Fragrance goddesses!
Long time listener of the pod, I work on a vineyard in the Hunter Valley NSW
Australia and listening to both of you have gotten me through some long, long days
working by myself. My name is Madeleine and I was wondering if you could give me
a perfume prescription to empower and ground me.
Apart from being a musician, one of my other passions is Muay Thai. As a female
fighter I compete quite regularly, recently coming back from a life changing trip to
Bangkok where I competed at the WBC games winning a silver medal for Australia.
It was a tough fight and I know I could’ve done more to win that gold, but my mind
always seems to stop me before I even step over the ropes. My mentality is
something I always battle with, self-doubt, self-confidence and self-belief is always
what I struggle with. This is a weird kind of prescription, but I would like something
to wear before my fights, something that is empowering, fires me up, grounds me
and makes me feel like I am an unstoppable force going into the ring to face my
opponent. Think a goddess of war, powerful, strong, unbreakable and fierce.
Something to spray on before I warm up, or walk into the ring that grounds me,
centres me and reminds me of who I am.
I am open to anything, as my love for perfume has grown so much since listening
to you both. Much love always, thank you for all you do.
Madeleine xx’
Nicola’s answer:
Olfactive O New Earth
‘I am the host who cooks to the rhythm of the seasons, the one who pulls up an
extra chair before you’ve even asked. I believe in the beauty of things made by
hand - the thumbprint in the clay, the worn-in softness of a family heirloom. There
is quiet joy in walking the same path every day and noticing the first green shoots
of change. For me, luxury resides in the weight of a heavy linen shirt and the
simple, rhythmic task of chopping herbs from the windowsill pot. I am a life lived in
the present tense.
NOTES:
Luminous top: shiso, pink peppercorn, spearmint, elemi Present heart: deep-leaf
immersion, armoise, geranium, chamomile blue, cardamom, clary sage Rooted
base: hay absolute, fir balsam, oakmoss, myrrh
MOMENTS:
Nurturing my sourdough starter Fantasising of a life in the wilderness Leaving the
bookshop with just one more A cup of tea in the garden Seeking out the perfect
soulful escape’
Amouage Meander
‘The Amouage Meander eau de parfum explores the exhilarating feeling of
happiness in a land covered by fog – think lush green mountains and running
waterfalls covered in steamy clouds. Translating this surreal landscape using notes
of frankincense and vetiver, the rich greenery with cypriol and jonquille, and the
caramel-hued earth with sandalwood, carrot heart and orris root, this unique
fragrance captivates the senses and doesn’t let go even hours after being spritzed
on the pulses.’
Suzy’s answer:
Eris Parfums Ma Bête
‘MA BÊTE (My Beast) caresses you with the suggestiveness of perfumed fur. A
collision of the floral and the animal, MA BÊTE combines a regal Tunisian Neroli with
spices and a 50 percent overdose of Antoine Lie's own animalic cocktail.’
‘Ma Bête is a fierce beast with raunchy elegance.’ – Antoine Lie (Perfumer)
Aldehydes, Tunisian Neroli, Indian Nutmeg
Indian Cypriol, Honduran Styrax, Indian Jasmine Sambac
Virginia Cedarwood, Indonesian Patchouli, Synthetic Animalic Accord
‘After interviewing Master Perfumer Antoine Lie for Scent and Subversion, Barbara
asked him to help her create a collection of fragrances as bold as her favourite
vintage perfumes but for a modern audience.
Named after ERIS, the Greek goddess of troublemaking and disruption, ERIS
PARFUMS is inspired by muses — divine, human, and fragrant — that exemplify
unconventional beauty and...
