Perfume Room

Meet the woman re-imagining what Langston Hughes' home would have smelled like. Teri Johnson, Founder of Harlem Candle Company pays homage to iconic figures and spaces of the Harlem Renaissance through her luxury candles and fragrances. To do this, she and the perfumers she works with become investigators, conducting hours of research to get every note just right. And lucky for us, Harlem Candle Company has recently expanded to Harlem Perfume Company! We chat about everything from Teri’s new perfume launch; her fragrance muse: her glamorous Aunt Barbara; and a recent collaboration with… The White House?! PLUS ENJOY A LTD. TIME EXCLUSIVE PERFUME ROOM DISCOUNT! FRAGS MENTIONED: 1509 Oil Matthias, Nemat Amber, Harlem Candle Company: Lenox, Speakeasy, St. Nicholas [The White House Gingerbread], Lolita Lempicka, Diptyque candles, Harlem Candle Company Josephine, Jean Patou Joy, Harlem Candle Company Langston, HCC X THE MET: Seneca, Harlem Perfume Company: Billie, Langston; Harlem Candle Company: Speakeasy and Langston reed diffusers; Harlem Perfume Company Josephine 15% OFF harlemcandlecompany.com CODE PERFUMEROOM15 (through Dec 8) SHOP PRODUCTS MENTIONED: https://shopmy.us/collections/86378 NOV SMELL CLUB: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nov-smell-club-savory-gourmands-tickets-461855731927 FOLLOW TERI/HARLEM CANDLE CO: @terijohnsonnyc @harlemcandlecompany FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

Jorum Studio, one of my *new* fave-ever indie fragrance brands, is in the Perfume Room today! I chat with Co-Founders Euan McCall and Chloe Mullen about the perfume scene in Scotland, the irreverence of the brand not just in their actual fragrances, but in how they source inspiration, the fragrance oil house (Scotland's only one, btw) to fragrance brand pipeline, and why the best thing you can be as an entrepreneur is naive.   FRAGS MENTIONED: 1509 Oil, Le Labo Bergamot 22, Xerjoff Apollonia, Jorum Studio: Gorseland, Athenaeum, Firewater, Arran Aromatics, Isle of Skye Candle Company, Essence of Harris, Guerlain, Chanel, Lanvin, Maison Margiela Untitled, Chanel 19, Jorum Studio: Gorseland, Trimerous, Pentimento, Fantosmia, Carduus, Elegy; Dior Homme  SHOP JORUM ON luckyscent.com  10% OFF WITH CODE 10PR  FOLLOW @jorumstudio  FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

*I'M BAAAAAACK* It's another palate cleanser, a little amuse-bouche if you will... This week, it's just me and here what's on deck: a particular niche fragrance house that is simply blowing my mind, some recent sniffs that I. just. can't. quit, why compliments on fragrances are not good barometers on whether they're 'good' (unless the compliment is coming from inside the house), my favorites from Liquides Imaginaires, what I'm being for Halloween, and a piece of advice for all of you that you can do... LITERALLY RIGHT NOW. PSSST: I also announce the November Smell Club theme!  Also fun little newness: I will now be linking out all the fragrances/products mentioned in episodes in the description.  SHOP THE FRAGS MENTIONED: Jorum Studio Gorseland, ERIS Green Spell, Andrea Maack Coven, L’Artisan: Musc Amarante, Cedrat Ceruse; Trudon Deux, L’Or de Seraphine Soft Life, Teo Cabanel Je Ne Sais Quoi, Glossier You, Montale Intense So Iris, Liquides Imaginaires: Blanche Bete, Fleur de Sable; Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajad, Liquides Imaginaires Fleuve Tendre, Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir https://shopmy.us/collections/81882 20% OFF ANDREA MAACK COVEN: 'PRCOVEN20' (through 10/31) MY DISCOVERY KIT: https://twistedlily.com/products/twisted-talent-x-emma-vernon 10% OFF LUCKYSCENT ORDERS OVER $40: code 10pr

A perfumer and a person with congenital anosmia walk into a bar... What ensues? A multi-sensorial fragrance created around everything BUT smell. Together Mane Junior Perfumer Ugo Charron and Journalist Emma Dancourt, who lives with congenital anosmia (meaning she has never smelled), set out on a most challenging endeavor: to create Emma’s signature scent. How do you capture someone’s essence in fragrant form when said person cannot smell? Well as you’ll hear in this episode, smelling well (or at all, for that matter) and smelling good can indeed be mutually exclusive. Hear first from Ugo about his path to perfumery, then Emma about her experiences living with anosmia, and then the duo as they discuss the intricate and oftentimes difficult road to creating Umema, Emma's signature scent. PLUS, ARE YOU KIKI OR BOUBA? FIND OUT! FRAGS MENTIONED: Atelier Materi Iris Ebène, Maison Crivelli Iris Malikhân, Bottega Veneta, Serge Lutens Daim Blond, Memo Irish Leather, Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena, Dedcool Blonde 03, Umema, Paco Rabanne Black XS, Armani Privé Cuir Noir, Shiseido Feminité du Bois, The Zoo Tubereuse Organique, Snif Dead Dinosaur, Guerlain L’Heure Bleu, Lancôme Poême FOLLOW UGO: @ugoartperfume FOLLOW EMMA: @emmanuelledancourt www.umefragrance.com FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

*REQUIRED LISTENING* Frank Voelkl—Principal Perfumer at Firmenich, and creator of cult-classics like Santal 33, Glossier You, The Noir 29, and yep, even Axe— is in the Perfume Room today!! Frank shares what it takes to set a trend, actually setting it, and of course, what happens next (hint hint: copycats, dupes, etc.). We talk about why being a perfumer isn't all coming up roses (sometimes it's musk, and woody notes too hehe), Frank's most personal creations, fragrance family trees, how the fragrance consumer's desires have shifted over the last few decades, and artistically-speaking, when and why you'd use a synthetic note versus a natural one.  FRAGS MENTIONED: Aedes de Venustas 16A Orchard, YSL Kouros, Paco Rabonne, Azzaro, Glossier You, Axe, Le Labo Santal 33, MCM Ultra, Chantecaille Tiare FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

Maya Njie (of Maya Njie perfume) is a self-taught, London-based perfumer who combines her own scent memories, Swedish and Gambian roots, imagination, and design background to translate photos into scents. And not just any photos— ones from her own family’s archive. Drawing on inspiration from the 60s and 70s and the unique color palettes of those decades, she color picks family photos from this era and re-imagines the color palettes, moments, times, places, and people as scents. FRAGS MENTIONED: Diptyque Orpheon, Marissa Zappas Annabel’s Birthday Cake, Hanae Mori, MCM Ultra, Maya Njie: Nordic Cedar, Mugler Angel, Vanilj; Annick Goutal Duel, Maya Njie: Tobak, Voyeur Verde, Les Fleurs; Cacherel LouLou, Coty Exclamation, Salvador Dali Eau de Dali, CK be SHOP MAYA NJIE: mayanjie.com & www.museexperiences.com FOLLOW: @maya.njie.perfume FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

Aurélien Guichard reaps what he sows... and then facets it. The rose and tuberose in his fragrances? It's sourced directly from his own organic flower farm in Grasse.  So yeah, in addition to being an illustrious, brilliant, 7th-generation perfumer responsible for some of your favorite smells (*cough cough* Gucci Guilty, Versace Eros, Narciso Poudree, Burberry Hero) Guichard is redefining what it means to be sustainable, natural, and locally-sourced (and not in an annoying greenwashing way). We discuss his path to perfumery, the inspiration behind Matière Première, and how you never know when an old fragrance formula might resurface and become the next... Gucci Pour Homme. FRAGS MENTIONED: Scents of Wood Plum in Cognac, BDK Gris Charnel, Robert Piguet Petit Fracas, Matière Première: Neroli Oranger, Cologne Cedrat, Santal Austral, Encens Suave; Robert Piguet Fracas, Giorgio Beverly Hills Giorgio, Robert Piguet Petit Fracas, Matiere Premiere French Flower, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Anisia Bella, Sean John Unforgivable, Gucci Pour Homme, Matière Première Crystal Saffron, Gucci Guilty, Narciso Rodriguez, Narciso Poudree, Burberry Hero, Versace Eros, Matière Première: Radical Rose, French Flower; Kenzo FOLLOW: @matierepremiereparfums @aurelienguichard SHOP: luckyscent.com (code: 10pr for 10% off orders over $40) FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

WOWOW, have you missed my train of thought musings? You are in luck. Today's ep is just moi and I'm talking about my biggest fall trend prediction: *mac & cheese scents.* (And btw, please, do join me in making this expression happen.) I also discuss how Baccarat Rouge is a microcosm of of larger Internet behavior, specifically TikTok behavior, and more specifically, the current state of PerfumeTok. Plus, I share the scents I'll be wearing all fall long, some fun facts about me, my thoughts on aromatherapy, and how I display and organize my collection.   FRAGS MENTIONED: Thomas de Monaco Eau Coeur, MFK Baccarat Rouge 540, Snif Sweet Ash, Le Labo Santal 33, Chabaud Lait et Chocolat, Marissa Zappas Annabel’s Birthday Cake, Ateliers Des Ors Lune Feline, Commodity Velvet+, Citrus BatiKanga, Jo Malone Grapefruit, Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling, Chris Collins African Rooibos, Commodity Orris, Atelier Cafe Tuberosa, Diptyque Orpheon, Floris Platinum 22, Akro Dark, The Maker Wild, Christian Dior Bois D’Argent, Milano Fragranze Basilica, Maison Margiela Lipstick On, Kierin Pier NY, Burberry Her, ELdO Secretions Magnifiques, Akro Night FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT) SIGN UP FOR SEPT SMELL CLUB: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-smell-club-boozy-tickets-416425759657 PURCHASE THE SAMPLE PACK: https://www.luckyscent.com/product/910003/sample-pack-boozy-by-perfume-room-smell-club

Fragrance Agent Bart Schmidt is in the Perfume Room today! Don’t know what a fragrance agent is? You’ll learn in this episode! Bart breaks down every aspect of the process of creating a fragrance from ideation to getting the bottle into consumers' hands — a great listen if you’ve ever been curious about how to launch your own fragrance! Bart also shares what his the trends he thinks are here to stay and what’s to come, who the next Le Labos of the industry will be, and why indie brands continue to break the mold when it comes to fragrance. FRAGS MENTIONED: Penhaligon's Juniper Sling, Diptyque Do Son EDT, Tom Ford Black Orchid, YSL Opium, Le Labo Rose 31, Giorgio Beverly Hills Giorgio, 4711, Melanie Martinez Cry Baby, Le Labo Santal 33, MFK Baccarat Rouge 540, Hayley Kiyoko Hue, Armani Acqua Di Gio, Bleu de Chanel, Coco Madamoiselle, Roblé Clique, Chanel Antaess, Halston Z14, Aramis Devin, leVerden Bamboo Salt Body Lotion 20% OFF andreamaack.com: code 'perfumeroom20' FOLLOW BART: @agentfragrance FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)

Your fave candle creator, Sir Candle Man (Kudzi Chikumbu), is in the Perfume Room today! This ep has been a long time coming! Sir Candle Man and I discuss everything from his creative process for content creation, to the chance encounter in Paris that started it all, and obv, you guessed it the launch of his first-ever fragrance (in collab with L’Or de Seraphine) Soft Life! We discuss the meaning and inspiration behind Soft Life, why and how he created this candle, and of course, what it smells like. FRAGS MENTIONED: Givenchy MMW, Escentric Molecules Escentric 01, Miason Crivelli Papyrus Moleculaire, Le Labo Santal 33, Gucci: 1921, A Song for The Rose, Tears from the Moon; Lancome Idole, Givenchy Indompte, Memo Sicilian Leather, Cire Trudon Bruma, Byredo Black Saffron, Dedcool Blonde 03, MFK 724, Diptyque Tam Dao, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, Tom Ford Ebène Fumé, MFK Au 17, Vilhelm: Mango Skin, Morning Chess; Carrière Frères: Acacia, Absinthe; Rewind Moscow Mule, JHAG Not A Candle, PF Candle Pignon Incense, Mizensir Ambre Magique ORDER SOFT LIFE: https://www.lordeseraphine.com/products/soft-life FOLLOW SIR CANDLE MAN: @sircandleman on all platforms FOLLOW PERFUME ROOM: @perfumeroompod (IG) @emma_vern (TT)