An Aromatic Life

#52: In this episode, Frauke sits down with designated noses Mark Wiegers, who lives with his partner Dia, who has congenital anosmia, Kiki Poupazis, who lives with her daughter Thelma, who has acquired anosmia, and Mark Winnington, who lives with his fiance Anne Louise, who has parosmia to talk about what it's like, as a person able to smell, to live with a person experiencing a smell dysfunction. They share what it was like at the beginning, how they manage day-to-day in supporting their partner/child, what roles and responsibilities they have, and, most importantly, what advice they can offer to others who might also be a designated nose. So, whether you, yourself, are experiencing a smell dysfunction, or you’re a designated nose, or maybe you’re friends with someone who has anosmia or parosmia. Or perhaps you don’t know anyone, but you just want to learn and gain some understanding. Whatever the reason, I want to thank you for listening because this is an important conversation that I know can help a lot of people. Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#51: In this episode, Frauke sits down with The Institute for Art and Olfaction director and founder Saskia Wilson-Brown to discuss the democratization of scent. Saskia takes us through her early years living with a Cuban father and British mother, reveals how traveling a lot shaped who she is, and shares how her relationship to smell really changed in her teenage years going to school in Paris (hint, it involves supermodels). She also explains what brought her to finally settle down in Los Angeles and eventually start the IAO. Saskia discusses what she believes people get wrong about the sense of smell, what potential she sees in this beautiful sense, whether smelling, and scent for that matter, is a human right, as well as why perfume is more than just the liquid in a bottle. This conversation is all about shifting paradigms and questioning the status quo. So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy a thought-provoking hour that won't disappoint.Visit The Institute for Art & Olfaction website https://artandolfaction.com/Read the New York Times article: Can Scent Be Democratized?Connect with the IAO on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#50: In this episode, Frauke sits down with congenital anosmic Charlie Atkins to answer her curiosities about smells. Charlie was born without a sense of smell and had a bunch of questions about smells she wanted to ask Frauke. These are everyday curiosities about odors that we, as smellers, frankly don't think about much. Questions like "What does it feel like to smell?", "How long do food smells last?", "How do you buy products to avoid clashing smells?", "How does smell travel and stick to things?" and a whole lot more! This was really hard! But Frauke is always up for a challenge. It certainly makes you think a lot more about this beautiful sense that so many of us take for granted. And the great thing about this conversation is that it allows everyone across the smell spectrum to gain new perspectives. So, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Connect with Charlie on social media:InstagramTikTokFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#49: In this episode, Frauke sits down with Nigerian perfumer, teacher, mentor, and artistic curator Deola “Abela” Paul-Inyang to talk about all things olfaction in Nigeria. Abela reveals how the smells of her childhood, and the influence of her mother, informed the work she does today. She also explains how she went against traditional norms to follow her heart (and nose) for more creative pursuits, and shares how her determination to know the how and why of olfactory materials led her to establish the Abela Fragrance Academy & Abela Centre for Olfactory Art. Abela shares what the Nigerian Perfume industry is like today, explains how she became a better perfumer once she had access to olfactory materials, and explains why all of her olfactory platforms come from a place of need. Frauke and Abela also discuss the impact Euro-centric fragrance products have on Nigerians truly understanding "what Africa smells like." Abela also shares her passion for helping people with smell loss, and reveals that she's dedicated to continuing to expand her olfactory platforms to include anosmia as well. This is a heartwarming conversation that will leave you truly inspired!Visit Abela's website Abela by Scents of AfricaConnect with Abela on social media:InstagramFacebookVisit the Abela Fragrance Academy on FacebookFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#48: In this episode, Frauke sits down with award-winning natural perfumer, educator, and author Mandy Aftel to talk about her amazing museum in Berkeley, California called the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, plus a whole lot more. Mandy takes us through her creative journey that led her to the work she's doing now, incl. why she insists on keeping things small. She reveals how much has changed since she started in perfumery and gives advice for those looking to start their own perfume brand. Mandy explains what she believes people get wrong about natural essences, including isolates, and shares insights on what's important to understand. She also reveals her obsession with quality and working with upcycled materials. Most importantly, Mandy shares what prompted her to create her incredible museum and tells us what you can expect to find there (hint: it includes a jewel pomander from the 16th century and an oud exhibit to die for). Needless to say, this episode is jam-packed with goodies you don't want to miss and there's a good chance it'll leave you heading to Berkeley, California very soon.Visit Mandy's website www.aftelier.comLearn more about Mandy's museum Aftel Archive of Curious ScentsTake a virtual tour of Mandy's museum hereShop books by Mandy Aftel hereConnect with Mandy on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterPinterestFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#47: In this episode, Frauke sits down with Perfumer and Scent Docent Terees Western to talk about her mission to help people open up their hearts & minds, and have new experiences, through scent and flavor. Terees takes us on a scented journey through her childhood growing up in Detroit and spending summers with her grandparents in Alabama. She also shares a unique perspective on what the sense of smell means to her. Terees explains how she went from being a Corporate Executive in the auto industry to taking the leap and becoming a perfumer and starting her company FragranTed. Frauke and Terees discuss the importance of making perfumery more approachable by making the experience fun and enjoyable. Terees also shares how she celebrates the incredible people of the black diaspora through her fragrance line Genteil, which she launched during a period of social reckoning in 2020. This episode will leave your heart full and your nose inspired to engage with scents in new ways.Visit Terees' website FragranTedConnect with Terees on social media:InstagramFacebookFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#46: In this bonus episode, to celebrate Anosmia Awareness Day, Frauke sits down with award-winning filmmaker and congenital anosmic Jacob LaMendola to talk about all things anosmia. Frauke shares the story of how Jacob's award-winning short film "Anosmia" changed her life and influenced the work she's doing now. Jacob talks about what brought him to make the film, how it's shaped him, and impacted so many people's lives. He also shares his personal anosmia story, incl. growing up at a time when there was little to no understanding of anosmia. Jacob also explains what sense of smell means to him, how he responds when people ask him about smells, and what questions are least helpful for anosmics to hear. Importantly, Jacob shares what those who can smell can do to support the anosmia community (hint: it begins with awareness), and what he wants those living with anosmia to know.  Watch Jacob's award-winning short film AnosmiaWatch Jacob's latest documentary on Netflix: Long ShotLearn more about Jacob's work here: https://jacoblamendola.com/Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#45: In this episode, Frauke sits down with experimental psychologist, Assistant Director, and Assistant Member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center Valentina Parma, PhD to discuss where we are today in terms of testing and diagnosing the health of a person's sense of smell. Valentina shares how COVID became a magnifying glass for connecting the sense of smell to our health, and how unprepared we all were in our ability to assess olfactory health when smell loss became a key symptom of the virus. She explains how screening for small, incremental changes in olfactory function (and dysfunction) from an early age has the potential to help doctors detect olfactory disorders, then monitor their progress, and even intervene early in the diagnosis of such illnesses as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Valentina also provides information on an exciting new rapid smell test being developed by Monell scientists and collaborators called SCENTinel, and reveals her mission to get this quick and inexpensive screening tool into every doctor's office around the world. Frauke and Valentina also discuss the important collaborative work being done by the GCCR and the 3 simple tests you can do at home to assess your own olfactory health. Learn more about the rapid screening tool SCENTinel: https://monell.org/smell-check/Evaluate your olfactory health using the GCCR surveys (3 tools): https://gcchemosensr.org/Visit the Monell website and learn how you can talk to children about the senses of smell and taste (science activity): https://monell.org/covid-19-resources/Learn how you can participate in Monell research projects: https://monell.org/covid-19-resources/Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#44: In this episode, Frauke sits down with actor, certified sommelier, and natural perfumer Rachel Binder to discuss the importance of having real-world olfactory experiences in a more holistic way. Combining her unique professional experiences, Rachel discusses the value of smelling blind to remove preconceived notions, the benefit of connecting with the "energy imprint" of plants, and moving beyond the industrial mindset of fractionated, isolated viewpoints. She also shares her perspective on the ill effects of colonialism on sourcing natural ingredients and telling accurate scent stories. Rachel furthermore reveals why she treats natural perfumery like wine making, and how working with the rhythms of nature bring her closer to the true olfactory experience. This episode will leave you reflecting on how you truly want to perceive the smells around you, and it will probably make you want to dig in the dirt a little more.  Enjoy!Visit Rachel's website Pomare's Stolen Perfume Watch the Kiss The Ground DocumentaryConnect with Rachel on social media:InstagramFacebookFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#43: In this episode, Frauke sits down with art and sensory historian Caro Verbeek to discuss what riches we can learn from smelling the past. Caro takes us through her personal scent journey growing up in the Netherlands and reveals the moment she knew that being a smell historian was what she was meant to do. She explains the role that historical smells can play in helping us to understand the past in new ways, and argues how smell is just as much a part of our heritage as music (hearing) and art (seeing). She explains why it's important to understand smells in history, and how we can apply smelling to evoke a more contextual understanding of history in museums, including for the visually and olfactory impaired. Caro reveals the most interesting, and surprising, historical smells she's encountered, and shares her experience of smelling Cleopatra's famous perfume Mendesian. She also shares information about the exciting new project, Odeuropa, she's taking part in which aims, among other things, to recognize, safeguard, present, and promote olfactory heritage. This episode will leave you with new perspectives, and wanting you to explore the past through the nose. Check out Caro's blog Futurist Scents.Watch Caro's Ted Talk "Inhaling history and smelling the future."Learn more about the Odeuropa Project. Read Caro's New York Times article "What Does History Smell Like?"Connect with Caro on social media:InstagramTwitterFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Frauke's Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anaromaticlife.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠