Scent World

Latest Episodes:

Rachel Zoe on Holiday Scenting, Gifting, & Matching Style to Fragrance Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Rachel rose to fame as Hollywood’s most influential stylist, known for creating the “boho rocker chic” look inspired by the 60s and 70s. Working with A-listers like Lindsay Lohan, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Lawrence, she became synonymous with everyday glamour. She thinks fragrance is the finishing touch to any outfit and draws on different types of women to bring the Rachel Zoe collection to life.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Heather Hyatt, who runs social media at Scentbird. She reveals her most memorable scents, answers questions about fashion and fragrance, and shares recommendations for holiday scenting and gifting.

Highlights:

• Rachel’s newest fragrances: Invincible & Wild

• What it’s like to create fragrances

• Memorable fragrances throughout life

• The first fragrance Rachel ever wore

• Rachel’s favorite fragrance from her collection

• What does it mean to be a Warrior woman?

• Styling for the Warrior woman

• The story behind the Rachel Zoe collection

• How Rachel likes to wear fragrance

• How to wear the collection day to day

• What the Empowered woman smells like

• Women’s greatest asset

• Being a mom of boys

• Beyond Scent: Q&A with Rachel on Fragrance, Style, & Fashion

• Why Rachel doesn’t layer fragrances

• Dos and don’ts for matching style to fragrance

• Choosing your scent before leaving the house

• Versatile wardrobe pieces every woman should own

• Scenting your home for the holidays

• Dos and don’ts for holiday gifting

• Scent Connection: Milestones Edition

• What Rachel’s first date with her now husband smelled like

Featured Fragrances:
Warrior by Rachel Zoe
Empowered by Rachel Zoe
Fearless by Rachel Zoe
Instinct by Rachel Zoe

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Malin+Goetz's New Twist on Classic Scents, with Matthew Malin & Andrew Goetz Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

What does a simple skincare routine look like? At a time when skincare was becoming more and more complicated, Matthew and Andrew went a different direction: less, but better. They started Malin+Goetz in 2004 with just six essential products that worked for all skin types, tones, and genders. Today, fragrance is the brand’s fastest-growing category, with two collections that create a sense of balance: “the (un)florals” and “the vices.”

In this episode, Matthew and Andrew sit down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. They talk about the bridge between perfumery and apothecary, take us back to their first Chelsea store, and reveal how they’ve put a new twist on scents like tomato, rum, and cannabis.

Highlights:

• The core essence of Malin+Goetz

• What does a modern apothecary feel like?

• Skincare 20 years ago vs. now

• Why they never felt they had to jump on the “clean” trend

• Malin+Goetz’s very first day in business

• A trip back to the original Chelsea store

• What New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood felt like in the early 2000s

• Memorable smells: Paco Rabanne, roasted chicken, and makeup

• Expanding into fragrance, with a nudge from Michel Mane

• How do you put a modern spin on classic scents?

• Capturing the essence of tomatoes, from the plant to the fruit

• Matthew and Andrew’s 30-year+ partnership in business and life

• The expression of balance, a sense of yin and yang

• Turning strawberry, leather, and rose into scents

• What gender-neutral leather smells like

• Why rose is so common in apothecary

• Scent Spotlight: Vetiver, Strawberry, Cannabis, and Dark Rum

• Gender-neutral florals that celebrate more than just the flower

• Mexico, mojitos, and the creation of Dark Rum

• Amsterdam, cannabis, and why “it’s fun to be a little naughty”

• Scent Connection: Favorites Edition

• Matthew and Andrew guess each other’s favorite (and least favorite) smell

Featured Fragrances:
Vetiver by Malin+Goetz
Strawberry by Malin+Goetz
Cannabis by Malin+Goetz
Dark Rum by Malin+Goetz

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Trixie Mattel on her Perfume Obsession, Fragrance Q&A + Scent Recommendations Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Trixie, the electrifying drag superstar, shatters boundaries and captivates audiences like no other. She won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 3, and since then, has been on a meteoric rise to become a cultural icon. She worked with Integrity Toys to create the “Trixie” doll, was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for her “One Night Only” comedy special, and in 2019, debuted her cosmetics company, Trixie Cosmetics.

In this episode, she sits down with Heather Hyatt, who runs social media at Scentbird. She talks about her obsession for perfume, answers questions about scent, style, and self-expression, and challenges her nose to guess common fragrance ingredients.

Highlights:

• One of the most powerful drag queens in America

• If you’re not sure what to wear on Halloween, wear this

• Fragrances Trixie has been wearing lately

• What Trixie Motel smells like

• First fancy cologne

• Fragrance as an accessory for performance vs. everyday life

• The perfect scented housewarming gift

• Rocky Horror & way into drag

• Trixie’s (extensive) fragrance collection

• Trixie’s (perhaps even more extensive) Barbie collection

• Why the name “Trixie” is reclaiming power

• What RuPaul’s Drag Race was like behind the scenes

• Trixie’s rise to fame

• Designing Trixie’s Cosmetics packaging to look like toys

• Trixie’s life in 3 eras & what they smelled like

• Beyond Scent: Q&A with Trixie on Fragrance, Style, & Self-Expression

• Co-worker wears too much fragrance?

• Current partner wears ex’s perfume?

• Wearing fragrance as a man?

• Want to smell like a villain?

• Fragrance as character building?

• Breaking gender norms in your everyday style?

• Mystery Scents: Can Trixie challenge her nose to guess these fragrance ingredients?

• What’s next for Trixie

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Dita Von Teese on the Alluring Power of Perfume, Burlesque & Glamour (Part 1 of 2) Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Dita is the biggest name in burlesque since Gypsy Rose Lee. She is known for revitalizing the art form, mesmerizing sold-out theaters around the world with spectacles that evoke fantasy and freedom. Born Heather Sweet in Michigan, Dita posed on the cover of Playboy in the early 2000s and soon became fashion’s “it” girl. Her book, Your Beauty Mark, is a New York Times bestseller, and her latest fragrance, Scandalwood, is a collaboration with Heretic Parfum’s Douglas Little.

This episode is split into two parts hosted by Marianne Mychaskew, who runs communications at Scentbird.

In Part 1, we immerse ourselves in Dita’s enchanting world. She shares why she believes perfume is a tool for you to become whoever you want to be. She reveals her most memorable scents, the iconic mid-century women who inspired her, and how she developed her signature look.

Highlights:

• “There’s never been a time in my life when I haven’t used fragrance”

• Dita’s early love for elegance and femininity

• Dita’s most memorable scents growing up in the 80s

• Dita’s first bottle of expensive perfume, which became her signature scent for years

• Smell like your French boyfriend’s mother? “Get rid of the man or get rid of the perfume”

• How Dita wears (and layers) perfume

• Good girl perfumes vs. bad girl perfumes

• Dita’s own fragrances, including Erotique, a cult classic

• Going against the grain with celebrity fragrances

• Dita’s Playboy cover and rise to fame

• Reviving the garter belt and the power of red lip stick

• “You can become whoever you want to be”

• Developing the signature Dita Von Teese look

• Inspiration from Bettie Page and first bondage photoshoot

• Being made fun of for wearing vintage clothing

• Breakthrough career moments, including biggest burlesque tours ever

• Starring in Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” video

• Why Dita felt attracted to past vs. present beauty icons

• Scent Connection: Scandalous Edition

• The iconic women from the Golden Age of Cinema who inspired Dita

Featured Fragrance:
Scandalwood by Heretic Parfum

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Dita Von Teese & Douglas Little on 1920s Perfumery & Creating Scandalwood (Part 2 of 2) Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

In Part 2, we explore Dita’s collaboration with perfumer and Heretic Parfum founder, Douglas Little. Together, Douglas and Dita tell the story behind their latest fragrance, Scandalwood. They talk about their creative process, finding inspiration in vintage erotica, and why the social revolution of the 1920s made it such a rich period for perfumery.

Highlights:

• The story behind Dita and Douglas’ collaboration

• How the industry tends to approach celebrity fragrances

• The connection between Erotique and Scandalwood

• Why the 1920s was a fascinating time to make perfumes

• What is the fragrance of the 1920s Paris sex clubs?

• Why Douglas abandoned his 100%-naturals approach with this fragrance

• Dita’s direction: “add more champagne”

• How you know you’re finished with a fragrance

• Dita, Douglas, and a chance encounter in the elevator

Featured Fragrance:
⁠Scandalwood by Heretic Parfum⁠

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Mona Kattan on Newest Kayali Collection, Perfume Layering & Entrepreneurship Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Mona introduced the world to Middle Eastern scent layering. She came into the limelight as the co-founder of Huda Beauty, and in 2018, founded Kayali, which translates to “my imagination” in Arabic. Propelled by the wildly popular fragrance Vanilla 28, the brand is known for its decadent, luxurious gourmands that demonstrate Mona’s belief that “perfume is pleasure.”

In this episode, she sits down with Marianne Mychaskiw, who runs communications at Scentbird. She recommends fragrances from her 4,000+ bottle personal library, shares tips like favorite layering combinations, and reveals her newest collection: Oudgasm, an invitation to lean into oud.

Highlights:
• Mona’s recent wedding and inspiration for The Wedding Collection
• The first fragrance Mona ever wore
• Mona’s 4,000+ bottle fragrance collection: can she beat the world record?
• Best-kept secrets: Mona’s favorite niche fragrance brands
• Mona, the Queen of Layering, shares her favorite scent combinations
• A recommendation for a Middle Eastern brand you may not know about
• Surprises from launching Kayali fragrances around the world
• Mona’s entrepreneurial journey, from PR to hair salon owner to founder
• Fragrance Tips & Tricks: how to apply, layer, and store your fragrances
• Fragrance Tips & Tricks: how to build your fragrance collection
• Fragrance Tips & Tricks: reading top, mid, and base notes
• Scent Spotlight: Vanilla 28, Yum Pistachio Gelato, Eden Juicy Apple, and the (new!) Oudgasm collection
• The perfect layer topper
• How many mods does it take to create the perfect Kayali fragrance?
• The scent inspired by Middle Eastern desserts
• Working with Olivier Cresp, Master Perfumer and father of modern gourmand fragrances
• Mona reveals the newest Kayali collection: Oudgasm, featuring 4 fragrances
• Take scentscaping to the next level, with perfumed oud wood chips known as “bakhoor”
• How to start experimenting with oud scents
• Why oud is referred to as “liquid gold” in the fragrance industry
• Scent Connection: Arabian Royalty Edition, with perfume layering ideas for various occasions
• Mona reflects on lessons learned building Kayali and shares why we need more women decision makers in the beauty industry
• Mona’s advice for women who dream of building a beauty brand

Featured Fragrances:
Vanilla 28 by Kayali ‍
Yum Pistachio Gelato by Kayali
Eden Juicy Apple by Kayali
Oudgasm Collection by Kayali (New!)

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Bridge Wellness and Culture, with Brown Girl Jane's Malaika Jones Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

Can a fragrance do more than smell good? That’s the question behind “functional fragrances,” which are developed to elicit a certain emotion, mood, or cognitive state. Malaika and her team are pioneering this space, tapping into decades of neuroscience research to explore how scent can make you feel better. But they don’t stop there. They bring in an understanding of cultural nuances to create evocative scents that resonate across communities and foster rituals that fit into everyone’s daily life.

In this episode, Malaika sits down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. She talks about how she went from Wall Street trader to founder, how to deal with burnout and perfectionism, and scents inspired by places like Kenya and Brazil.

Highlights:
• Brittney on the need for wellness in today’s world
• Scent is our strongest sense
• Scents you can feel: Can scent help you sleep or fall in love?
• Using neuroscience to create scents that have wellness benefits
• The cultural nuances around scent preferences
• Daily wellness rituals don’t have to be complicated
• Why the fragrance industry is ripe for an injection of soul and wellness
• Malaika’s wake-up call during her time as a Wall Street bond trader
• The Brown Girl Jane founders and the inspiration to start the brand
• Dealing with burnout and the pressures of perfectionism
• The founding team’s vision for serving communities in a more inclusive way
• The big question: Who is Jane?
• Malaika’s mother, her influence, and why she was ahead of her time
• Fragrances Malaika gravitated towards as a teenager and young adult
• Scent Spotlight: The Wanderlust Collection: Casablanca, Bahia, Lamu
• Scent Spotlight: Dawn, Dusk, Dare, and scents for wellness benefits throughout the day
• The vanilla scent that gives you an energy boost
• The lychee scent that takes you to an intimate, confident, and sexy place
• Scent Connection: ‘90s Nostalgia Edition
• Rapid-fire impressions on nostalgic Victoria’s Secret, A&F, and Bath & Body Works fragrances
• The journey of getting closer to your true self

Featured Fragrances:
Casablanca by Brown Girl Jane
Bahia by Brown Girl Jane
Lamu by Brown Girl Jane
Dawn by Brown Girl Jane
Dusk by Brown Girl Jane
Dare by Brown Girl Jane
Wanderlust Trio by Brown Girl Jane

Jo Loves Founder on Changing the World with Fragrance Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Jo has one of the most recognizable names in the perfume industry. Starting out with handmade scents from her kitchen, she grew Jo Malone London into a cult classic brand worn by royals. She sold the company to Estée Lauder in 1999, and after stepping away, found the inspiration to start a new venture, Jo Loves. It’s a rekindling of her deeply personal relationship with fragrance.

In this episode, Jo sits down with Mariya Nurislamova, Scentbird’s co-founder and CEO. She reflects on what makes her a successful entrepreneur, tells the story of the scent that changed her forever, and reveals a new creation that is revolutionizing how people apply fragrance.

Highlights:

• Jo’s story

• Jo’s extraordinary sense of smell: “I could smell if the dog was sick”

• Dyslexia, synesthesia, and fragrance as a superpower

• Seeing color for smell?

• The magician’s assistant and early entrepreneurial roots

• The promise Jo made to herself

• As a 16-year-old, a dramatic scene gets Jo fired from her job at a flower shop

• Full circle: the story of No. 42 Elizabeth Street

• Ready for fragrance tapas? Nothing to eat, only to smell

• Why brands need to create a “first kiss” moment

• Jo’s tips for scenting your home

• The scent that changed Jo forever

• How to seal the deal with a retail partner? Douse their Burberry coat in Pomelo

• Jo’s go-to fragrance notes

• Why life is not about succeeding or failing

• A fragrance paintbrush? A revolutionary new idea

• How Jo thinks about packaging and the story behind the red dot

• Scent Spotlight: Mango Thai Lime, White Rose & Lemon Leaves, and Number Forty-Two The Flower Shop

• What would the Union Jack smell like?

• Mariya tells Jo a quick story and Jo recreates it in 5 fragrance notes or less

• Don’t worry about the teacher who didn’t believe in you as a kid

Featured Fragrances:

⁠Pomelo by Jo Loves⁠

⁠Jo by Jo Loves⁠

⁠Mango Thai Lime by Jo Loves⁠

⁠White Rose & Lemon Leaves by Jo Loves⁠

⁠Number Forty-Two The Flower Shop by Jo Loves⁠

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

Cherish Meaningful Memories, with Homesick's Lauren McCord Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

What would Endor, the moon in Star Wars, smell like? How about Central Perk, the coffee house in Friends? Questions like these start the creative process at Homesick, a home fragrance brand with a knack for capturing places and moments. Whether it’s your favorite series, college town, or even wedding celebration, they know how to evoke a memory that transports you there.

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Heather Hyatt, who runs social media at Scentbird. She tells the story behind their cult-classic Star Wars and Friends collections. She shares a method for crowdsourcing nostalgia, techniques for making candles last longer, and scent recommendations for popular zodiac signs.

Go to https://www.scentbird.com/horoscope for curated scent picks for your zodiac sign.

Highlights:

Heather’s connection to Homesick during college
The Homesick origin story: Florida, Georgia, and Texas
Crowdsourcing ideas to make candles feel authentic
The surprising finishing touch in the Chicago candle
Doughnuts and coffee... in a candle? (The Dunkin’ collaboration)
Lauren’s earliest scent memories: snow days and the smell of gasoline
Why the Boston candle has a special meaning for Lauren
Grapefruit, black pepper, and cinnamon
Candle care: how to get the most out of your candles
Music, moodboards, and candles are made at Homesick
Deciding what to use for top, mid, and base notes
Scenting bridal shops and weddings
Scent Spotlight: Let’s Toast, Gone Hiking, New York City, Central Perk, and Star Wars
How Let’s Toast helped Lauren manifest her own engagement
The smell of concrete and department stores
The smell of Central Perk, the coffee house in Friends
What it was like to collaborate with Lucasfilm
The smell of iconic Star Wars locations: Tatooine, Endor, and the Death Star
A special treat: Heather does a Chewbacca impression
Scent Connection, Zodiac Edition
Scent notes for zodiac signs

Featured Candles:
Let’s Toast by Homesick

Gone Hiking by Homesick

New York City by Homesick

Friends Central Perk by Homesick

The Star Wars Collection by Homesick

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

[Bonus] Learn the Early History of Perfume as a Ritual, with Sue Phillips Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

The root of the word “perfume," Ancient Egyptian perfume rituals, and the use of galbanum in the 13th century, with Sue Phillips, who carved her space in the industry as a "scentrepreneur.” It’s a term she coined to describe her work developing fragrances for luxury brands like Tiffany & Co., Lancome, and Burberry, and celebrities like Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes.

In this “Summer School” special bonus episode, Sue sits down with Brittney Jackson Moseley, who runs integrated marketing at Scentbird. She shares the early history of perfume as a ritual, the story of bringing Tiffany’s first fragrance to life, and how men can break free old-time scent preferences.

Highlights:

The root of the word “perfume”
Ancient Egyptian perfume rituals
The use of galbanum in the 13th century
Why Grasse became fertile ground for perfumery
How Sue’s love of fragrance began
The accident that led to an “aha!” moment
Ambient scenting and why it works
The story behind Tiffany’s anniversary fragrance
Working with perfumer Jacques Polge
Finding a fragrance that suits you
Understanding fragrance families
Keeping a pulse on what’s new in fragrance
Ever been invited to an immersive scent dinner?
Training your nose and uncovering your scent preferences
“Not all roses are the same”
Scent Spotlight: Fresh, Floral, Woodsy, Spicy, and Fruity
Men can love florals, too
Why so many people love vanilla
Sue’s book: “The Power of Perfume”

Soak in all of our audio and video content at https://podcast.scentbird.com.

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