The Perfume Making Podcast

• The Democratisation of Scent - Perfume in the Digital Age

  This week on the show, Karen is joined by Thomas Dunckley AKA The Candy Perfume Boy, 6 time Jasmine award winner, writer, trainer and industry consultant. After taking a step away from the industry Thomas has returned with a new mission and a new branding - ‘Making Scents Make Sense’. Thomas’ mission is to cut through the snobbery and gatekeeping traditionally associated with the perfume industry in an attempt to make it more accessible to more people. In this interview with Karen, Thomas breaks down his mission, his manifesto and how, piece by piece, the influencers and bloggers are making the fragrance industry accessible. KEY TAKEAWAYS Despite most people's familiarity with blogging, in the grand scheme, it is still a relatively new medium. Karen and Thomas discuss how blogging was first perceived when it was adopted by the perfume industry and how it helped change the industry for the better. Blogging opened the door to the influencers and influencer culture. Thomas discusses how influencers on TikTok and YouTube have helped transform the perfume industry without the need for all the knowledge that was being held by gatekeepers for so many years. After suffering from burnout from having so many projects, Thomas took a step away from the perfume industry and his alter ego of The Candy Perfume Boy. However, when inspiration struck he made a comeback. He explains to Karen why he decided to come back and how he was determined to do it on his own terms. “If you smell it, it’s there” - This is a phrase that Thomas wholeheartedly believes in. He explains to Karen the meaning he takes from it and how that meaning extends to other avenues of the fragrance industry, and, how it helps open the doors of the industry to anyone. BEST MOMENTS “The rise of influencer culture has stripped away most of the snobbery from the big brands.” “Perfume marketing is gender specific, but fragrance doesn’t have gender.” “In the past, the industry didn’t know what was happening outside the industry, but with the advent of influencers, that has changed.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind EPISODE LINKS Making Scents Make Sense Thomas Dunckley Website The Candy Perfume Boy Blog ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

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• From Day Job to Dream Job - Why it’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams

  This week Karen is joined by Artisan Perfumery Mastermind alumni Gabrielle Durand, the founder of natural fragrance brand ‘On the Nose’ perfumes. After a long career in the corporate world of HR, Gabrielle decided to take a leap of faith and follow her lifelong dream of being a perfumer. Changing your career late in life can be a very daunting prospect, but Gabrielle was determined to succeed. In this inspirational interview with Karen, Gabrielle takes us, step by step, on her journey from day job to dream job. KEY TAKEAWAYS Gabrielle had a long and successful career in HR, however the bug to be a perfumer was one that hadn’t left her since childhood. She recounts to Karen how a chance encounter with online learning led her into her dream career at the tender age of 50. Gabrielle started making perfumes as a test. Confident that she could make it into a business, it wasn’t until her friend and family started asking for refills that she realised other people were taking it seriously too. She explains to Karen how this spurred her on to take the leap into full time perfumery. The lessons Gabrielle learned in the corporate world served her well when she launched her new perfume business. She details how she used her learnings to make sure her brand was ready to launch and how it allowed her to communicate her style and vision effectively. A lot of people carry around the misconception that it’s too late to try something new. Gabrielle, who came to perfumery in her 50’s, explains to listeners why it’s never too late to make a change. BEST MOMENTS “It's not just about getting your product to a customer, it’s about making that experience valuable and memorable.” “In a year, you’re going to be a year older and you’re still going to be questioning if you should make a change. So do it now.” “It’s not just about getting the perfume right, it’s also about getting the packaging and design right. VALUABLE RESOURCES Perfume Business Launch Plan Bespoke Perfumery Masterclass Artisan Perfumery Mastermind Getting Started Guide EPISODE LINKS On The Nose Perfumes On The Nose Perfumes Instagram Sniffing Out The Details blog ABOUT THE GUEST Gabrielle Durand is the founder of On The Nose Perfumes, a natural luxury brand for those who believe natural shouldn’t mean simple. A self-professed maximalist at heart, she creates complex, high-impact fragrances using only pure, natural materials - no shortcuts, no synthetics.Her work blends craftsmanship, creativity, and a deep respect for nature to offer a new vision of what luxury perfumery can be. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

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• From Scroll to Sold - Mastering Social Media for Brand Growth

  This week Karen is joined by Kate Beavis, a social media strategist and content expert. Kate has been working with Karen since 2018 on her social media presence to make her brand feel authentic and not overwhelming. And, after Karen’s initial reluctance to use social media, Kate has shown her the many benefits that can come from embracing your online presence. In this interview, Kate spills the many secrets, tips and tricks she has learned over the years, from which social media platform you should use to how to drive engagement with your posts, so that you can grow your online presence and, ultimately, your brand. KEY TAKEAWAYS When Kate started working with Karen they both agreed that Karen’s social media profile was well below average, because she was making some of the most common mistakes. Kate breaks down what those mistakes are and how to avoid them. With so many social media platforms these days it’s hard to know which ones to join. Do you pick one or join multiple? Kate explains her method for discovering which is the best platform for you. For all its advantages, social media can be a difficult tool if you are looking to create direct sales of your product. Kate discusses how to overcome this hurdle and use the tools available to you to your advantage. The idea of creating a new post every day for your social media feeds can be exhausting. However, repurposing old posts can be an invaluable solution to this problem. Kate shares how to repurpose your content and the benefits that can come from this. BEST MOMENTS “Most people only show up on social media when they have something to sell or have something personal to say. The trick is to get a mix of both.” “Don’t chase perfectionism. Building a community is infinitely more important than having a perfect feed.” “The aim of every post is to get your audience and other people to interact.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind EPISODE LINKS The Indie Practice Bossing Midlife Kate's Instagram ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

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• A Nose for the Niche - Crafting a Unique Fragrance Voice

  The world of indie perfumes has become extremely crowded, leading people to wonder if there is space for their product in a marketplace full to the brim. And, that is the question Karen is here to address this week. Entering any marketplace as a beginner can feel daunting, but facing one that is over-saturated and full of high end brands posing as independent can easily be enough to give you second thoughts. However, in this week's episode, Karen is here to tell you that you have nothing to fear and, there is space for you, as long as you find your niche… KEY TAKEAWAYS Gatekeeping will tell you there is only one way to become a perfumer and if you don’t follow that path, you’re doomed to fail. However, Karen does not buy into this theory and explains how there are in fact many routes into the perfume industry. A lot of people reverse engineer their product by looking for something that doesn’t exist in the marketplace and then creating a product to fit that space. But, as Karen explains, the real niche is already inside of you, you just have to find it. But, how do you find that niche? Karen shares her personal journey on how she discovered hers and gives you some guidance on how you might find yours. To help you find your place in the perfume world, Karen has created a set of journal prompts and an accompanying audio guide. She explains how they work and what you will achieve by using them. BEST MOMENTS “It’s not always the flashiest branding or fanciest bottle that creates lasting impact. What really cuts through the noise is the work that feels intentional.” “What the world doesn’t need is more generic.” “The thing that feels the most ‘you’ is often the thing that you have been dismissing as too weird or too impractical.” EPISODE LINKS: Free Journal Prompts + Audio Guide VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

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• Success Doesn’t Have a Deadline - The Importance of Moving at Your Own Rhythm

  Last week Karen took the time to reflect but, as most of us do after we have a brief rest bite, she now feels the pressure to act with urgency creeping up on her. So, what happens when ambition and energy are at complete odds? The pressure we place on ourselves to be instantly successful, coupled with the pressure from society, is very real and can cause us to doubt our every move. However, the one thing that society doesn't teach us is that success is subjective. In this week's episode, Karen is here to tell you that you’re doing great, that you don’t have to conform, and shares with you the secrets to finding your own path. KEY TAKEAWAYS One common thought people have after a period of reflection is that you “have missed your moment”, which is only enhanced by the current culture of ‘early success is the best success’ However, Karen suggests that, if you pause and look, you might actually be exactly where you need to be. Finding your own rhythm and way of working is the key to success. Karen shares some tips, and a valuable resource on how to find the working method that works for you. Karen has discovered that the best working method for her is what she calls ‘Clarity and Flow.’ She explains what this means, how she achieves it and the benefits she receives from working this way. As much as you can perfect your working methods by yourself, there is still one component that everyone needs…external help. Karen explains the importance of asking for help and suggests some places to look. BEST MOMENTS “You have to learn how to move forward differently with compassion and support in a way that works for you.” “The truth is that most meaningful work takes time.” “The path of creativity is not linear.” “Rest is not a reward, it's a requirement.” EPISODE LINKS Free Journal Prompts and Audio Guide Mindset Course VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online, which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

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