This week has been a curious mix of in-between weather: oddly misty days with some areas of the U.K. looking distinctly Dickensian as ‘pea-souper’ fogs rolled in, though spring sunshine tried to peek through. Other days it’s felt almost autumnal again - chilly enough to crave our cosier clothes (and fragrances!) again. After chatting through what we’ve been wearing in these confusing times, we take a look at some more questions listeners have sent in (through Instagram DMs @onthescentpodcast & Facebook group comments), with requests including snuggly scents, two listeners desperately seeking replacements for discontinued perfumes they adored; and an _intensely_ personal memory-making fragrance. In this episode… What We’re Wearing: Suzy: Frederic Malle Contre-Jour ‘Built against conventional patterns, this fragrance reveals a dazzling yet elusive trail that invites one to never be defined. The perfume echoes the spirit of the mediterranean wildflower ‘Everlasting Flower’, famed for its extraordinary longevity, a sunlit yellow bloom, contrasting with dark, untamable depths of its scent. Master perfumer Annick Ménardo drew from this inspiration to craft a fragrance that defies traditional olfactive structures. Notes of the Everlasting Flower unfurl a spicy, almond-tinged nature, dancing alongside an intense rose absolute, embracing its shadows and thorns. To imprint this manifesto on the skin, sandalwood oil offers a rhythm, amplifying the enigma of this creation. Captivated by the allure of contradictions, Annick Ménardo creates fragrances of a new era, for those who cherish their own mystery. Top notes: everlasting flower Middle notes: rose damascena Base notes: sandalwood.’ Jean-Charles Brosseau Ombré Rose eau de toilette ‘A quiet morning unfolds in a sunlit Parisian salon. The air is filled with the soft rustle of silk and the gentle clink of porcelain teacups. A bouquet of fresh roses sits atop a lace-covered table, its scent mingling with the delicate aroma of peach and honey. The room exudes an air of timeless elegance, where every detail whispers of grace and refinement.’ Connock Kukui ‘Connock’s signature scent is an elegant, floriental fragrance inspired by the wild, natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. Kukui is built around the gardenia flower, complemented by fresh bergamot and a full bouquet of delicate floral notes including white jasmine, moroccan rose and calla lily. The fragrance is further enriched with base notes of sandalwood, amber, patchouli and musk.’ Nicola: Bamford Woodland Moss ‘A woody fragrance true to the elegant simplicity of its namesake. Earthy patchouli is balanced with aromatic notes of sage, angelica, and rose. Woodland Moss pays homage to the diverse and intimate landscape of English woods.’ Nécessaire The Deodorant ‘A woody fragrance true to the elegant simplicity of its namesake. Earthy patchouli is balanced with aromatic notes of sage, angelica, and rose. Woodland Moss pays homage to the diverse and intimate landscape of English woods.’ Merit Retrospect ‘A rich, nuanced scent that evolves throughout the day. Soft, clean notes open, followed by a subtle floral center before settling into a base of musk, vanilla, and moss for a warm, second-skin finish.’ Listener Prescriptions: Aga7006 asked for ideas of warm, cosy perfumes for cold days. We suggested… Anillo Fig Whisky Fig Whisky Eau De Parfum opens with ripe fig and smoky rum, deepening into woods and amber for a fragrance that feels bold yet comforting Top notes: fruity (fig) Middle notes: smoky (rum, patchouli, pepper) Base notes: woody (sandalwood, musk, amber.’ Maison Louis Marie Vanille Infinie ‘No.15 Vanille Infinie unfolds as a warm, luminous composition, soft vanilla layered with citron, sugared amber and cashmere oud for gentle resinous warmth. The Eau de Parfum evolves naturally on skin, shifting with your body heat to reveal a smooth, enveloping trail that feels both intimate and enduring.’ Commodity Milk (Bold) ‘Milk's warm notes of Marshmallow, Tonka Bean and Mahogany Wood emblazoned with the unexpected smoky depth of Firewood and Amber. A smoky, sweet and inviting scent to be worn with confidence.’ Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk ‘Delicious yet sophisticated, faceted yet smooth, VANILLA MILK is a fragrance of paradoxes. VANILLA MILK eau de parfum uses two types of vanilla extracts, a touch of florals, delectable cocoa shell, rich amyris, and a creamy milk accord. Top: creamy milk accord, frangipani, peony rose Heart: bourbon vanilla bean, madagascar vanilla bean extract, upcycled cocoa shell extract Dry Base: benzoin resinoid, amyris, sandalwood, musk.’ Stelladoodle ‘I've been seeking a reasonable facsimile of Tom Ford's discontinued Sahara Noir. Help!’ [Sahara Noir (2013) is a discontinued, amber-woody fragrance inspired by the mystery of the Middle East. It was all about intense, dry frankincense, resinous labdanum, beeswax, and oud. It was often described as a smoky, golden, and balsamic aroma. We suggest… Amouage Royal Tobacco ‘Royal Tobacco is a fragrant journey along the Tropic of Cancer from Oman to Cuba, connecting Royal Frankincense to Regal Tobacco. Interpreted by renowned perfumer Cecile Zarokian, a unique accord of Frankincense and Tobacco bursts alive in a novel and rich sensory experience.’ Top notes: frankincense oil, elemi, cardamom, anise, basil, bergamot Heart notes: tobacco absolute, liquorice root, lavender, prunol, fenugreek, orange blossom, osmanthus, rose Base notes: frankincense resinoid, peru balsam, benzoin, labdanum, myrrh, birch tar, tonka bean, vanilla madagascar, vetiver, guaiac wood, oud assam, musks.’ AKRO SMOKE ‘SMOKE is our addictive tobacco fragrance. Tobacco is an ancient crop, which for centuries, has lured people in with its enticing aroma and powerful rituals. It’s the shared, flirtatious exchange of preparing a roll-up for someone, it’s the way the tobacco leaf crumbles between your fingers, the smell of flame hitting paper. SMOKE is the scent you’re not supposed to enjoy, but the one you can’t live without.’ NOTES TOP: tobacco leaves MIDDLE: birch BASE: benzoin, tonka.’ Boadicea the Victorious Tobacco Sapphire This glows with honeyed tobacco and shimmering oud, its smoky heart softened by magnolia, rose, and heliotrope. Spiced accents of cumin, coriander, mandarin, incense, and saffron ripple through resinous woods of benzoin, cistus, patchouli, and moss. Vanilla and musk lend a gilded warmth, while caramel, hay, and a trace of singed paper curl into the air - a golden haze of nostalgia and opulence. (Also try the Sonoma Studio Tabac Aurea mentioned last week!) jen.m.coyle Asked for ‘A replacement scent for original Tiffany's by Tiffany and Co. (Now discontinued)?’ [The original Tiffany fragrance was launched in 1987, by François Demachy. The notes were: Top notes: black currant syrup and Italian mandarin, middle notes: violet leaf, lily of the valley, orange blossom, ylang ylang, iris, jasmine and Damascus rose. The base was: woody accords of sandalwood, vetiver, amber and vanilla.] We wondered if they’d tried… Diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’Eau eau de toilette ‘A fragrance with pictorial qualities. The green of blackcurrant leaves mingles with the tart, fruity notes of blackcurrant buds and the floral intensity of rose. In L'Ombre dans l'Eau eau de toilette, a romantic painting comes to life - a summer slumber beneath a tree on a river bank.’ Tocca Maya ‘Maya is a thoughtfully indulgent manifestation of the divine feminine. In a warm floral of exquisite character, wild iris and Bulgarian rose find strength in blackcurrant, earthy patchouli and sandalwood. Florida bitter orange, sweet violet leaf, blackcurrant, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, wild iris, patchouli, sandalwood, and oakmoss.’ Guerlain Chamade ‘Dedicated to liberated women, this green ambery floral blends the fruity accents of blackcurrant buds with a dynamic hyacinth accord and galbanum on a vanilla base. A bold embodiment of freedom, both to be and to love.’ Maison Margiela Replica On a Date ‘Inspired by a magical date on a late summer’s evening overlooking the magnificent vineyards of Provence at sunset. It captures the sparkling and addictive fruitiness of ripe grapes soaked in warm sunshine, and the delicate yet decisive character of wild roses.’ ‘Britt Frank In Scents’ shared an incredibly personal story of loss and battling rare illness in her family. She sought ‘a fragrance that I could wear in memory of my extraordinary son and my father. Something that tells of the devastation of losing them but also the blessing and joy of having them in my life. Something that tells of the pride that I have in both of them for the mark they left on the world.’ Suzy
