

An Aromatic Life
Frauke Galia
Our sense of smell is one of the most underappreciated senses we have. Host Frauke Galia aims to shed light on this beautiful sense and increase its profile in a culture dominated by sight and sound.
Listen as she explores our sense of smell from different angles, including science, art , literature, movies, health, and much more. And she'll explore how our sense of smell impacts our life, including the ways we perceive the world and how we interpret what we experience.
Join Frauke, and her guests, as she makes sense of the most allusive, yet mesmerizing sense we have.
Listen as she explores our sense of smell from different angles, including science, art , literature, movies, health, and much more. And she'll explore how our sense of smell impacts our life, including the ways we perceive the world and how we interpret what we experience.
Join Frauke, and her guests, as she makes sense of the most allusive, yet mesmerizing sense we have.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 1, 2022 • 4min
Scent*Tattoo - Pine
#72: In December I'm releasing a few Scent*Tattoo stories that reminisce about the smells of the holiday season. This episode is about the smell of pine. If you're not familiar with Scent*Tattoo, it's a passion project of mine that aims to connect humans through our sense of smell. I interview people and ask them to share a deeply emotional and personal scent memory, and then I document the story on my websitescenttattoo.com. This episode is a reading of one of the scent tattoos. Happy Holidays!If you'd like to contribute to the project, and share your own scent memory, email me atanaromaticlifepodcast@gmail.com.

Nov 17, 2022 • 1h 3min
Holiday Strategies For Anosmia, Hyposmia & Parosmia
#71: In this episode, Frauke sits down with acquired anosmic Anthea Bull and parosmic Anne Heloise Dautel to discuss strategies for making it through the holiday season. An episode geared forboth the non-smelling and smelling, this conversation provides insights and understanding to help make everyone's time spent with family and friends as joyful as possible. We discuss ways to prepare for the holidays both mentally and practically, what to do if going to someone else's house vs. hosting yourself, as well as how to make the most out of going to a restaurant. Anthea and Anne also share their strategies for making holiday meals enjoyable (and tolerable), and reveal what drinks they go to, and avoid. They also tell us smellers how we can support them best. This episode is filled with tips and tricks for making the holidays a memorable and positive experience for all. Follow Anthea on Instagram@anosmicfoodieFollow Anne on Instagram@anneheloise.dautelDownload thefree guide with tips & tricks for making it through the holiday season.If you need community during the holidays, reach out to these smell & taste disorder charities:Fifth Sense (UK)Abscent (UK)Reuksmaakstoornis (NL)The Smell & Taste Association of North America (Canada, USA, Mexico)If you’re feeling depressed, lonely, or have suicidal thoughts:In the U.S. dial988 for help.In the UK call the free hotline0300 304 7000.Follow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Nov 3, 2022 • 54min
Smellscapes of Cities with Dr. Kate McLean
#70: In this episode, Frauke sits down with artist and designer Dr. Kate McLean to discuss smellscapes and the value you can derive from them. Kate explains what smellscapes are, how she goes about capturing smells, and then how she translates the information into visual smellmaps. She describes the three categories of smell, the three stages of smellwalking, and the types of people she recruits to give her the data (hint: all noses, including anosmics, are welcome!). Kate also reveals the interesting projects she's got coming up, which may or may not include Benedictine monks (you'll have to listen to find out!). This conversation is guaranteed to leave you connecting with your sense of smell in new ways and definitely wanting you to experience your town in a whole new way. Visit Dr. Kate McLean's websitesensorymaps.comFollow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Oct 20, 2022 • 1h 5min
Connecting With Aromatic Plants with Jade Shutes
#69: In this episode, Frauke sits down with aromatherapist Jade Shutes to talk about connecting with aromatic plants. Jade shares why it’s so beneficial to go beyond the essential oil and get to know the plant itself. She reveals what aromatic plants surprised her the most and how using her sense of smell has helped her to expand the perception of the aroma from plant to essential oil. Jade shares advice on how to grow aromatic plants, how to take care of them, and where to start if you don't have a green thumb (like Frauke). You'll get tips on how to go beyond expensive essential oils to still get the benefits that aromatic plants provide. This episode is jam-packed with practical information that will get you curious and motivated to cultivate your own aromatic garden in no time. Visit Jade's schoolThe School For Aromatic StudiesLearn aboutYarrow Mountain FarmConnect with Jade onInstagram andFacebookSearch for a botanical garden where you live:https://tools.bgci.org/garden_search.phpSearch for a community garden in the U.S. near you:https://www.communitygarden.org/garden Follow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Oct 6, 2022 • 42min
Scent in Fiction with author Erica Bauermeister
#68: In this episode, Frauke sits down with New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister to discuss the focus of scent in fiction. Erica shares what the sense of smell means to her, explains what she believes people get wrong about the sense, and gives her perspective on its potential. She tells Frauke about her journey to writing fiction, including what brought her to incorporate scent as a focal theme (hint: Italian food may have been involved). Erica also talks about the time she lost her sense of smell, inconveniently right as she embarked on her bestselling novel The Scent Keeper (btw it was a Reese's Book Club pick). After listening to this episode I know you'll be inspired not only to read her books, but to find yet another way to connect with your sense of smell more. What a gift!Visit Erica'swebsite.Follow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Sep 22, 2022 • 1h 4min
Death and Olfaction with Nuri McBride
#67: In this episode, Frauke sits down with Israeli-based writer, perfumer and community organizer Nuri McBride to discuss the intersection of death and olfaction. Nuri shares her life journey that led to the work that she's doing now, including working in refugee resettlement and torture treatment primarily in Kenya, Thailand, Israel, and the United States, as well as later joining a Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society) and becoming a Metaheret. She explains what death and scent have in common in Western culture (hint: both are ignored and heavily sanitized). She also discusses the concept of "death positive" and argues for the need to teach death literacy instead. Nuri talks about using art in her death meditation workshops to help people become more comfortable with the idea of death, and shares why the concept of the brevity of time, and the immediacy of pleasure, are so critically important to understand and embrace. Nuri also gives a global perspective on the intersection of death customs/rituals and scent, revealing the many ways cultures use scent to create space around special occasions like death. This is a conversation that will certainly leave you with new perspectives on death and the positive role olfaction can play. Visit Nuri'swebsite.Learn about Nuri'sScent & Society Lecture Series at The Institute for Art & Olfaction.Subscribe to Nuri'sAromatica de Profundis Newsletter.Follow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Sep 8, 2022 • 1h 14min
The Language of Scent with Sarah McCartney
#66: In this episode, Frauke sits down with London-based writer and indie perfumer Sarah McCartney to talk about the language of scent. Sarah shares the unique and fascinating journey that led her to perfumery which, in her words, was "the long route." She explains what brought her to start working as a writer for Lush cosmetics (yes, the famous bath bombs) and shares how she learned to write descriptively about scents to entice people to buy products without having smelled them. Sarah also reveals the clues in people's language that let her know what scents they like, and don't like, and shares her thoughts on the need for retailers to gender scent and use the dreaded "notes list." She also shares the meaning behind her company 4160Tuesdays and how you can join her Patreon to learn how to make perfume affordably. Finally, Sarah and Frauke discuss their work with UK smell and taste disorder charity Fifth Sense, incl. how Sarah ended up making a parosmia-friendly perfume. This is a feel-good, laugh-out-loud conversation that will have you smiling from ear to ear. Enjoy!Visit Sarah's website:https://www.4160tuesdays.com/Visit Sarah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SarahMcCartney4160Check out Sarah's booksThe Scent of PossibilityandThe Perfume Companion.Check out Sarah's PatreonScenthusiasmLearn more about Sarah's parosmia-friendly perfumeParadox.Connect with Sarah on Instagram@sarahmccartneythinksFollow Frauke on Instagram:@an_aromatic_lifeSubscribe to Frauke's Substack:https://anaromaticlife.substack.comVisit Frauke's website www.anaromaticlife.comLearn about Frauke'sScent*Tattoo Project

Sep 1, 2022 • 7min
Scent*Tattoo - Fresh Cut Garlic on Fingers
#65: I'm releasing a series of short episodes showcasing stories from my Scent*Tattoo project. The project aims to connect humans through our sense of smell. I interview people and ask them to share a deeply emotional and personal scent memory, and then I document the story on my websitescenttattoo.com. This episode is a reading of one of the scent tattoos.If you'd like to contribute to the project, and share your own scent memory, email me atanaromaticlifepodcast@gmail.com.

Aug 29, 2022 • 8min
Scent*Tattoo - Orange Zest
#64: I'm releasing a series of short episodes showcasing stories from my Scent*Tattoo project. The project aims to connect humans through our sense of smell. I interview people and ask them to share a deeply emotional and personal scent memory, and then I document the story on my websitescenttattoo.com. This episode is a reading of one of the scent tattoos.If you'd like to contribute to the project, and share your own scent memory, email me atanaromaticlifepodcast@gmail.com.

Aug 25, 2022 • 5min
Scent*Tattoo - Mango
#63: I'm releasing a series of short episodes showcasing stories from my Scent*Tattoo project. The project aims to connect humans through our sense of smell. I interview people and ask them to share a deeply emotional and personal scent memory, and then I document the story on my websitescenttattoo.com. This episode is a reading of one of the scent tattoos.If you'd like to contribute to the project, and share your own scent memory, email me atanaromaticlifepodcast@gmail.com.


