Blog

  • The olfactory rules of long-haul flights

    I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of guides on how to survive long flights. Here’s my olfactory guide. Read more

  • Scents that don’t attract

    Not all fashion is designed to attract. Maybe you’re making a statement, trying to blend in, or simply maximising comfort. The difference in style between Billie Holiday and Billie Eilish,… Read more

  • Forcing memories

    Intentionally or accidentally, do you wear a particular fragrance for a specific place or person? I like to stick to one perfume when on a holiday so when I pick… Read more

  • Boring cuisine

    Your senses of taste and smell are so intricately tied together that a scent can make you salivate, while your favourite dish can taste bland with a blocked nose. If… Read more

  • Picasso’s matchstick

    Are an artist’s materials more important than the hand guiding the brush? In perfumery, much has been said over the decades about quality (and expense) of raw materials – tuberose,… Read more

  • The mile-high perfume club

    Should you wear perfume on a plane? Just because you bought something at duty free doesn’t mean you should reek of it when you step onto the aircraft. Be considerate… Read more

  • Most days I’m a fragrance nudist

    I heard someone years ago say they feel naked leaving the house without perfume on. If that’s how it works, then most days I’m a fragrance nudist. For the company… Read more

  • A home perfume gallery

    Some people collect fragrances for their artistic merit, and instead of wearing them spray them occasionally in solitude or for guests as a way to ‘display’ these ephemeral works like… Read more

  • What are perfume notes?

    Someone recently asked me what the ‘notes’ in fragrances are. It’s a little complicated, but I’ll keep the answer brief. 1. Ingredients What probably comes to mind for most people… Read more

  • What I’ve been wearing this summer

    I never really notice how much the days shorten each year until I watch a sunset, which is rare considering I’ve been living in urban Sydney (those ‘Look up’ billboards… Read more

  • C Is for Chanel N 5

    When it comes to iconic fragrances, Chanel No 5 is in a league of its own. And I don’t just say that because of the marketing billions have been poured… Read more

  • Arabian Perfumes

    Perfumes from the Arabian Peninsula have always been dominated by powerful woods, ambers, and florals such as rose and jasmine, and thanks to the Silk Road, these notes are now… Read more

  • B Is for Bottles

    I’ll just go right out and say it: the most important part of a perfume is the bottle it’s in. And I kind of hate that. Think about it –… Read more

  • 9 Dreamy Scents for Autumn

    Seasonal change seems to welcome more collective excitement in spring, but I must admit that I crave cold weather. Living in most parts of Australia means you never really experience… Read more

  • Perfume Films

    I think it’s fair to say that most areas of professional or academic interest have a defining film – architects have Metropolis, fashionistas have The Devil Wears Prada, psychologists have… Read more

  • A is for Amber

    This is part one of a series of posts I’ll be doing over the next twelve months. It will serve as an introduction to, and history of, the big, wonderful… Read more

  • 7 Floral Perfumes for Spring

    With the imminence of spring in the southern hemisphere, I thought it would be appropriate to create a list of some favourite floral perfumes you’ll love to have wafting around… Read more

  • How to choose your next fragrance

    Fragrance shopping can be great fun, but it’s often frustrating. Among all the brands, sales staff, and celebrity ads, how can you find the ultimate bottle for you? I’ve been… Read more

  • My favourite perfume books

    My research on perfumery has involved a lot of reading, ranging from textbooks to novels. Here are the books I think you’ll enjoy, and that aren’t too technical (I’ve also… Read more

  • How to store fragrances properly

    Some luxury goods, like gold and diamonds, require very little care day-to-day. However, the vast majority do require special treatment – wines need cellars, cigars need humidors, and leather needs… Read more