An Aromatic Life

#171: To accompany your holiday preparations, we’re revisiting a beautiful conversation with writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra discussing her book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance. This is another aromatic read you’ll want to gift to yourself, or someone you love!In this episode, Frauke sits down with writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra to talk about her book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance, and discuss some of the indigenous aromatic materials that have defined Indian perfumery for centuries. Divrina shares her experience going to Kannauj, known as the "Center of Indian Perfumery," seeing the rose fields, and witnessing the traditional distillation methods that have been passed down from generations. She talks about the role itr plays in India today, and shares her experience discovering the unique ingredient choya nakh. Divrina also discusses the difficulties the Indian sandalwood industry has had, with both poaching and adulteration continuing to dominate. Lastly, she also shares her perspective on what the future holds for Indian perfumery, and what she found most inspiring after writing the book.Connect with Divrina on Instagram @divrina.d⁠⁠Buy The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian fragrance (in India)⁠⁠Buy The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian fragrance (on Amazon)⁠Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#170: As we ease into the holiday season, we’re revisiting a beautiful conversation with scholar Xuelei Huang about her book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell. You’ll definitely want to gift this aromatic treasure to yourself, or someone you love!In this episode, Frauke sits down with University of Edinburgh Senior Lecturer and author Xuelei Huang to discuss her new book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell. In the conversation she reveals a unique perspective on the smellscapes that permeated Chinese life from the eighteenth through mid-twentieth century. Xuelei explains the concept of "smell as the stranger" and shares some of the rich olfactory imagery of 18th century China through references in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She then tells how nineteenth century Shanghai shows an exemplary depiction of deodorization, which started to happen at that time. And how a subsequent (re)perfuming changed the olfactory smellscape of China once again. Xuelei furthermore showcases the unique way Mao Zedong used olfactory tactics to transform politics in the early twentieth century. Whether you know a lot about Chinese history or not, this conversation will give you new perspectives and leave you longing to explore more.Learn more about Xuelei Huang here: ⁠https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/xuelei-huang⁠Check out her book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell.Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#169: Attention all Sagittarians! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Sagittarius sign (Nov 22 - Dec 21), which is part of the Fire element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Sagittarius, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Sagittarius friends out there! Next month we focus on Capricorn. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#168: In this episode, Frauke sits down with Jeffrey Paul Ames, aka The Aromatic Gourmet, to explore the deep connection between fragrance, flavor, and beauty. Jeffrey shares how scent has guided his life, from his Italian family’s aromatic kitchen to teaching sensory classes at the Institute for Art and Olfaction. You’ll hear how he merges gastronomy and perfumery, creating “edible perfumes” through salts, syrups, and spices, and how sensory awareness can bring color, joy, and mindfulness back into our daily lives. Jeffrey also offers simple ways to make your meals, or any moment, more aromatic, which is perfect as we head into the holidays. If you’ve ever wanted to cook like a perfumer or use scent to anchor memories, this episode is a feast for your senses.Follow Jeffrey Paul on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@thearomaticgourmetJeffrey Paul Ames at The Institute for Art and OlfactionFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#167: In this week's whiff of wisdom, Oud Artisan Rahel Ali helps us understand the different grades of oud on the market so you know what to look for when you buy the chips or oil. To listen to the original full episode “Exploring Oud” go to episode #94.Whiff of Wisdom is a biweekly format that spotlights an inspirational insight from a previous guest. The aim is to offer you a whiff of wisdom for your aromatic life, as well as give you some inspiration to try new things that use your sense of smell more. Follow Rahel on Instagram @theoudartisan Check out Rahel on YouTube: The Oud ArtisanRahel's website: www.artisanperfumes.ukFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#166: In this episode, Frauke sits down with aromatherapist, herbalist, and botanical perfumer Sharon Louise Chapman to explore how plants and scent can be powerful partners in healing and self-discovery. Sharon shares her deeply personal journey, from leaving an abusive marriage and facing chronic illness, to rebuilding her life through gardening, aromatherapy, and natural perfumery. She reflects on how tending to plants and creating with scent helped her reconnect to nature, emotions and creativity after years of suppression. Together, Frauke and Sharon discuss how connecting with plants can ground and heal us through difficult transitions, the importance of building a healing relationship with plants instead of simply using them, what perfumery can teach us, and how scent can express who we are and help us grow into who we want to be. Sharon also introduces her new line of botanical perfumes inspired by classic Hollywood women like Audrey Hepburn and Louise Brooks. This episode is a gentle reminder that healing can begin with something as simple as a single potted plant, a walk through a garden, or the scent that brings you back to yourself.Check out Sharon’s new line of botanical perfumes Visit Sharon’s Substack Stories of Scent Connect with Sharon on Instagram Connect with Sharon on FacebookConnect with Sharon on LinkedInWatch the Sedona Aromatics on YouTube Listen to the Aroma Paths Podcast Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#165: Attention all Scorpios! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Scorpio sign (Oct 23 - Nov 21), which is part of the Water element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Scorpio, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Scorpio friends out there! Next month we focus on Sagittarius. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#164: In this episode, Frauke sits down with Appalachian Botanical Co. CEO Jocelyn Sheppard to talk about transforming reclaimed coal mine land in West Virginia into thriving lavender fields. Jocelyn shares her unexpected journey from librarian and consultant to CEO of a natural products company, the challenges of starting an agricultural business in Appalachia, and how lavender became a symbol of healing for both land and people. They discuss creating second-chance job opportunities, working with local communities, the importance of zero-waste practices, and the future of Appalachian lavender in both regional and national markets. This is the feel-good story that we all need right now!Visit the Appalachian Botanical Co. website: https://appalachianbotanical.com/  and use the code AROMATIC15 for 15% off total purchase (valid through 11/30/2025).Follow Appalachian Botanical Co on Instagram @appalachianbotanicalco Follow Appalachian Botanical Co on Facebook @appalachianbotanicalco Subscribe to Appalachian Botanical Co on YouTubeConnect with Jocelyn on LinkedInWatch the video Coal Mines Into A Lavender Empire!Watch the video Rooted in the Mountain State - Appalachian Botanical CoFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#163: In this week's whiff of wisdom, In-Glorious Smell-O-Vision co-director and producer Tammy Burnstock and historical scent technology aficionado Jas Brooks share how bringing scent into movie theaters deepens our connection to the story on screen. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #104.Whiff of Wisdom is a biweekly format that spotlights an inspirational insight from a previous guest. The aim is to offer you a whiff of wisdom for your aromatic life, as well as give you some inspiration to try new things that use your sense of smell more. Visit Jas' website: ⁠https://jasbrooks.net⁠Connect with Tammy on Instagram @⁠inglorious_smellovision⁠Connect with Jas on Instagram ⁠@jas_x_flowers⁠Learn more about Tammy's documentary ⁠Inglorious Smell-O-Vision⁠Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#162: In this episode, Frauke sits down with librarian, fragrance enthusiast, and Paperback Perfumes podcaster Clare Presser to unpack the emerging idea of olfactive literacy: what it means to understand, communicate, and create using our sense of smell. Together they ask: Can we read scents the way we read words? How do memory, culture, and emotion shape the way we smell? And what shifts when we begin to develop a deeper awareness and vocabulary around scent? From the foundational elements of smell health to the parallels with visual and digital literacy, and from perfumers crafting scent narratives to wearers interpreting them through lived experience, this episode is full of scent-loving curiosity. Perfect for anyone fascinated by the language of smell and the many ways it connects us to ourselves and the world around us.Listen to Clare’s podcast Paperback PerfumesFollow Clare on Instagram: @paperbackperfumesFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project