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 Nightingale & Nicola Bonn 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.

They’re also asking whether fragrance can influence mood, considering solid perfume in a new jelly-like form, and finding plenty to discuss in a line-up that moves from poised and polished to maximalist, sensual and gloriously escapist…

Sunset is a time of transformation. The day's heat softens, shadows lengthen and the air itself seems to shimmer with possibility. The skies right now are awash with purples, reds and pinks that melt into the darkness like nature's fireworks. It's no wonder perfumers are so often inspired by this spectacular display – and why we’re reaching for these five gloriously luminous sunset fragrances…

Our colleague and occasional On The Scent contributor Alice du Parcq’s book The Philosophy of Perfume has its official launch, celebrated with a florabundant event hosted by Jo Malone London in the beautiful setting of their Marylebone town house…

This Parisian perfumer, collaborator with artist and fragrance house founder Sarah Baker on A Vanilla Trilogy, has been described as being ‘born in a bottle’. Read on for Margaux’s inspirations, and the secrets of her working day…

From desert velvet, cake-soft warmth and (not too) sweetness to mineral stillness, crisp air and even the smooth touch of Prada’s iconic nylon, these scents offer six very different ways to experience texture and touchable, strokable sensations in fragrant form.

For this episode, Suzy & Nicola ask you to re-imagine what the way you experience your perfumes. So close your eyes as you listen to the descriptions, and imagine how they’d feel if you could reach out and touch them…

We’re thrilled to unveil Issue #3 of On The Scent, the acclaimed fragrance magazine. In ‘The Art of Glass’ edition, explore how humble sand is transformed into exquisite bottles, read about the creative inspirations of Marc-Antoine Barrois, and learn all about iris’s renaissance. Available in PRINT and online…

We’re the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ of scent this week, with a collectible art vibe running through our newshound Amanda Carr’s report, which spans Dior’s restoration of its fragrance heritage to perfumer Sarah McCartney’s suggestion that the rules of art collecting could apply to perfume. (And we also bring you some actual art involving antique Yardley packaging…)

Gosh, it’s a busy time for fragrance shows. And while Italy’s a hop, skip and a jump from our London HQ, we were sadly unable to pop over to the recent Geelong Fragrance Fair, in Melbourne. Happily, Anthony Gardiner – materials producer and writer – made it to the over from New Zealand. He now shares with On The Scent his discoveries and observations of the fast-growing Antipodean fragrance market…

Suzy & Nicola are back for part two of the 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…

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. 

As the last days of summer give way to autumn’s earliest whispers, the perfumes we reach for can be a lovely way to embrace this in-between feeling. Before we button-up and The temperature and humidity are subtly shifting, and this can dramatically alter the way fragrance behaves on skin, lending even tried-and-true favourites a newly compelling character. But what do we feel like wearing when even the weather can’t quite make up its mind…?

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a fragrance trade fair, get ready for all the news as Suzy reviews this year’s Pitti Fragranze in Florence. There are some some thrilling new launches and brands to get excited by, and she reveals some of the trends we can expect to see filtering their way through to the wider fragrance world over the coming months. 

Suzy has been attending the Pitti Fragranze trade fair for thirteen years, and genuinely felt this was one of the best ever years. The overall vibe seemed to be a return to beauty - classical perfumery elements woven in new and intriguing ways, and with greater cultural diversity from brands showcasing their heritage and aromas they grew up with.

We’ll be focussing more in this aspect - as well as talking about the trends Suzy saw emerging this year - in next week’s episode. But until then, enjoy this whistle-stop rundown of some of Suzy’s scented highlights of the show this year… 

There are more pop-up perfume adventures to be had in London this week, if you’re quick. And very encouragingly, there’s a distinct drive towards fragrance helping us all to become more sociably connected. Our newshound Amanda Carr – writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder – keeps your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant…

A decade after the launch of Penhaligon’s wonderfully eccentric Portraits collection, the fragrance family takes over the Royal Academy of Arts in a joyous, beautifully realised, multi-sensory exhibition. (And we also meet perfumer Daphné Bugey, creator of the latest to join the family…)

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…

Gourmands have taken a twist into more savoury scents, we’ve noticed, and olive has emerged as a new note in this ever-emerging category. Utilising the fruit itself, the olive tree (wood, leaf, blossom) and even olive oil, olive naysayers will be shocked at how surprisingly wearable these scents can be, writes Suzy Nightingale.

Presaging one of Suzy’s lead features in the the soon-to-be-published autumn edition of On The Scent magazine, this podcast episode finds Nicola and Suzy nose-deep in new iris launches. You cannot have failed to notice this note is enjoying a perfumed renaissance of late, and together they explore one of the most traditional (and costly) notes in perfumery – now made modern by perfumers exploring it in surprising ways.

From one of the all-time classic iris perfumes launching a new version after 114 years, to another historic house who’s just launched a dashingly debonair iris scent; and a brilliantly affordable iris from a high street shop that’s one of their star buys sofar this year… There’s a lot to love!

We’ve got ‘Back To School’ vibes this week, as we return from an extraordinary UK summer – but it seems that it’s never too early start thinking about the festive season, reports our newshound Amanda Carr, the writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder

In this episode our podcast duo are partnering with Estée Lauder for the first in a new series: Fragrant Focus. This is a sponsored segment where they take their time exploring a single scent - smelling it together and sharing their thoughts. And they have an exciting GIVEAWAY for you to enter! Listen and read on to find out how to enter, hear Suzy & Nicola’s reviews of Glimmer, and the beautiful inspiration behind its launch. 

But that’s not all, of course – in this week’s epsiode they have a plethora of exciting new launches to tell you about, from niche names, designer and heritage houses alike. But we begin the show this time with an emotional journey to capture the scent of something very special to Suzy… the smell of her late dad’s rose (which he planted for her when she was a little girl).

Who managed to bottle this scent memory for Suzy, and how was it done? You’ll need to listen to this episode to find out…

Louise Farina represents the ninth generation of the remarkable family behind Farina 1709, the Cologne fragrance house widely recognised as the world’s oldest. She’s the first woman to lead the brand.

Founded by Johann Maria Farina in 1709, its original Eau de Cologne became an international sensation, admired for its light, sparkling freshness. The house has remained in family hands for more than three centuries, continuing to produce its celebrated citrus-aromatic composition in Cologne, where its museum and historic premises are a portal to perfume history.

From latest launches helping us all hang on to summer to those that feel like a wisp of autumn in the air, Suzy and Nicola have so many scented suggestions for you to try – including a new niche house by a young perfumer who has both of our hosts incredibly excited.

This week they also have answers for two listeners who wrote in with perfume prescriptions – one seeking a cold plunge into icy incense and swimming pool perfumes, and another so-moving request from a listener searching for a scent to memorialise memories of a book-loving best friend.

Petrichor is the evocative smell of raindrops hitting parched earth, a magical moment when the earth seems to sigh with relief alongside us, releasing its cool, earthily verdant and calming scent. Here’s 5 petrichor perfumes to enjoy whenever your nose needs…

For Nelly Hachem-Ruiz, ‘happiness is perfume.’ (And can’t we all identify with that?) Paris-born Nelly’s family was originally from Syria, before they settled in the French capital, with her grandparents becoming ‘the very embodiment of Parisian art de vivre.’ Today, she is Senior Perfumer at IFF, and marks the launch of her latest fragrance – Contes des Parfums Marrakesh – by sharing her inspirations and the secrets of her working day with On The Scent.

From a listener seeking a clean iris vibe replacement for a much-loved (and now discontinued) Armani Privé, to another searching for an emboldening scent to help her win a fight (literally!) there’s nothing Suzy and Nicola love more than receiving your questions and requests for ‘Perfume Prescriptions’.

It’s something they’ve always specialised in at On the Scent Podcast – it brings them such joy being able to match people to perfumes they’d perhaps never tried or even heard of). And my word, they get a LOT of DMs @onthescentpodcast on Instagram, and messages on the On the Scent Podcast Facebook group, and so it made sense they dedicate an entire episode to do a deep dive on these two fascinating fragrant conundrums...

London’s perfume hot-spot right now is the Ultra Lounge, at Selfridges, where four of fragrance’s hottest brands are offering immersive experiences, through to 24th August. And where you can find a sublimely scented product that looks set to banish the washday blues forever more…

All the feels at Gap and Elizabeth Taylor as fragrance gets nostalgic for the 90s, alongside arty florals at dsm–firmenich and a long-awaited launch from Estée Lauder. Also, have we finally got a scientific excuse for our excess fragrance purchasing? Our newshound Amanda Carr – writer, trend-spotter and Barnes Fragrance Fair founder – keeps your finger on the pulse of all things fragrant…

Think you hate vanilla, or that you’ve tried every type? Think again! This week the award-winning perfume podcast host Suzy and Nicola rate and review five of their favourite vanilla fragrances (five each, that is. Obvs). Encompassing hip-swivelling seduction, a stunning high street body butter, hugely powerful fragrant talismans, and summery every-day wearability, there’s also a truly affordable modern classic vanilla – created by a Master Perfumer who trained at Chanel, created scents for Frederic Malle, Guerlain, Gucci, Amouage and Atkinsons; but THIS one can be snapped up for under £32! From delicious to depraved: dive on in…

Reckon nothing exciting happens in perfumery during August? Well, at Harrods, on the afternoon of 19th August 2026, renowned scent-lovers Thomas Dunckley and founder Dimitri Weber will unveil the latest shimmering Goldfield & Banks creation, Sunset Dark Hour Peach. And you could join them for this ‘Golden Hour’…

Ginger is a majorly-trending note we’re seeing popping up in all manner of perfumes right now, with its fizzing freshness and gently simmering heat a welcome wake-up to the senses. Here’s our edit of five ginger fragrances to set your nose a-tingle.

Olivier Cresp is one of the world’s most renowned perfumers, and each time we meet, we learn so much. Recently Olivier was back in London to talk us through his own, expanding AKRO fragrance brand – the name means ‘addiction’, in French – which he creates for, alongside his role as Master Perfumer at global fragrance house dsm-firmenich.