Advertise on podcast: It's Just Perfume

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve sits down with journalist Ariel Baker from Marie Claire at Scent Bar Brooklyn. They talk about her career journey from health care into editorial and her personal journey from Jamaica to Massachusetts to New York City. Ariel reveals her first perfume loves and her foray into niche as Marie Claire readers demanded more stories about the growing scent world. They talk about the relationships between brands, customers, journalists and content creators and how various generations discover perfume through different channels. We find out which bottles she grabs most often and what notes she's excited about. Iris, concrete anyone? Perfumes mentioned in this episode: 02:33:18 Twilight Woods by Bath and Body Work 05:28:20 Beach Walk by Maison Martin Margiela 05:36:01 By The Fireplace by Maison Martin Margiela 09:58:10 Mango Skin by Vilhelm Parfumerie available on Luckyscent.com 12:21:09 Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules available on Luckyscent.com 15:38:23 Fahrenheit by Dior 16:37:23 Molecule 01 + Iris by Escentric Molecules available on Luckyscent.com 17:41:05 Angel Dust by Fugazzi available on Luckyscent.com 21:52:22 Cuir Béluga by Guerlain 22:35:15 Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 by Guerlain 24:16:25 Rotano by Maison d'Etto available on Luckyscent.com 26:44:25 For Your Love by Mizensir 27:14:08 Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian available on Luckyscent.com 37:41:10 Love-O-Matic by Room 1015 available on Luckyscent.com 39:11:01 Sonic Flower by Room 1015 available on Luckyscent.com 39:58:15 You by Glossier 40:58:00 White Rice by D'Annam available on Luckyscent.com 41:52:15 Pomelo Oolong by D'Annam available on Luckyscent.com 48:37:08 God of Fire by Stéphane Humbert Lucas available on Luckyscent.com 50:09:00 Happy Dust by Narcotica available on Luckyscent.com 50:46:24 Beyond the Veil by Sorce available on Luckyscent.com 52:25:16 Peau Originale by Arnué available on Luckyscent.com 56:35:05 Mantes La Jolie by Astier de Villatte available on Luckyscent.com Hosted by Steven Gontarski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steven Gontarski and Susannah Melvoin talk with perfumer Angelos Balamis of Angelos Creations Olfactives. Having collected vintage perfumes throughout her life, Susannah immediately recognized the unmistakable, special qualities of Angelos' perfumes. Sure enough Angelos revealed his love for the classics of the venerable French perfume houses such as Guerlain and Caron. They discuss how the economic crash in Greece led Angelos to reposition his career path, inspiring him to pursue his passions. He discusses his thorough process of evaluating raw materials and conversing with them as he builds highly intricate, sophisticated blends. Together they all sniff Soma Panorama, a perfume developed in collaboration with Sebastian Jara, The Perfume Guy and debuted at the inaugural ScentFest SF earlier this year. The two friends live in sister cities, San Francisco and Thessaloniki, and wanted the perfume to reflect their physical and cultural similarities and differences. It's a perfect example of Angelos' distinctive approach to perfume making combining elements of storytelling, his biography, perfume history and a deep understanding and appreciation of the olfactory building blocks. Perfumes discussed in this episode 00:03:41:04 Tabac Blond by Caron 00:03:43:03 Mitsouko by Guerlain 00:03:48:10 Vol de Nuit by Guerlain 00:03:56:26 Djedi by Guerlain 00:04:01:11 Iris Gris by Jacques Fath 00:04:27:02 Jazz by YSL 00:04:33:15 Havana by Aramis 00:04:36:14 Fahrenheit by Dior 00:08:06:02 Soma Panorama by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:17:11:27 Narcisse Noir by Caron 00:17:16:08 Narkissos by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:32:06:03 Eau de Vertu by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:33:38:17 Figue de Vertu by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:37:17:29 Pnoi by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:41:05:27 Pothos by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:51:17:07 Vetiveria Animalis by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:53:48:16 Thebes by Sultan Pasha Perfumes 00:58:25:05 Karikia by Angelos Creations Olfactives 00:59:26:03 Tabac Libre by Angelos Creations Olfactives 01:07:26:21 Fougeriste by Angelos Creations Olfactives Episode hosted by Steven Gontarski and Susannah Melvoin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve and Dana hang out with Emma Vernon, host of the Perfume Room Podcast. Emma was in town hosting a live game show where people tried to find a partner through scent. This opened up two questions: What fragrance do we find irresistible on others? What fragrance do we put on when we want to be irresistible to others? We took an Instagram poll asking the public to name the sexiest scent to them and the results were both predictable and surprising.  Due to a technical issue a portion of this episode is missing its video component. We hope you enjoy the slideshow in its place as Emma, Steve and Dana take a deep dive into matters of scent and attraction. Perfumes mentioned in this episode: 03:08:24 Mandala by Param Sara 08:17:18 El Morocco Discovery Set by El Morocco 12:42:27 Highball for Lucius B 23:45:09 Angels' Share by Kilian 24:23:11 Ambre Narguilé by Hermes * 24:54:27 Tihota by Indult 26:26:20 Salomé by Papillon Artisan Perfumes 28:59:06 Heliodose by Marlou 29:36:05 Un Bel Amour d'Eté by Parfum d'Empire 30:36:08 Jazz by Zernell Gillie Fragrances 33:04:04 Seduction Theory by Universal Flowering * 33:21:09 Daddy by Universal Flowering 37:30:13 Black Afgano by Nasomatto 39:23:00 Benjoin Boheme by Diptyque * 41:25:06 Bowmakers by DS & Durga 43:39:13 Hinoki by Monocle x Comme des Garcons 43:49:18 Gendarme by Gendarme 45:14:28 Fierce by Abercrombie * 46:35:22 Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren * 46:59:07 Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche * 47:16:02 Cool Water by Davidoff * 48:03:14 Sicilian Leather by MEMO  49:38:10 Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules 50:12:09 Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecules 52:12:20 Molecule 01 + Iris by Escentric Molecules 52:33:01 Molecule 01 + Black Tea by Escentric Molecules 55:21:02 BoraBora by Giardini di Toscana 56:47:18 Champs Lunaire by Rogue Perfumery 58:55:07 Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret 01:01:22:18 Patchouli by Santa Maria Novella 01:20:45:26 Gothic I by Loree Rodkin 01:05:11:27 Orphéon eau de parfum by Diptyque 01:07:04:28 Aristo Chypre by Infiniment Coty 01:08:22:18 Fleur du Mal by Dries Van Noten 01:09:06:11 Apricot Innocence by Simone Anreoli 01:10:51:03 La Panthere by Cartier (not LS) 01:14:10:08 Covert Musc by What We Do Is Secret 01:15:06:26 Terra Former by Braindead 01:16:03:10 Acqua di Sale by Profumum 01:16:35:23 Melograno by Santa Maria Novella *Not sold by Luckyscent Hosted by Steven Gontarski and Dana Kiley Buchanan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve and Dana sit with Sebastian Jara, aka The Perfume Guy. Having made a name for himself in the perfume community through his well-established YouTube channel, Sebastian has introduced many to the niche world and continues to educate us on new releases. He recently added to his impressive list of accomplishments by spearheading ScentFest SF, the largest scent expo on the West Coast.  Steve and Dana wanted to know how Sebastian got his start and which perfumes sparked his fascination with scent. They talk about his foray into YouTube and Sebastian's first encounters with Luckyscent. He describes the impetus for ScentFest and lets Dana and Steve try the stunning perfume collaboration he completed with perfumer Angelos Balamis.  Perfumes mentioned in this episode: 03:41:18 Purple Fig by Vilhelm Parfumerie 04:08:02 The Ghost in the Shell by Etat Libre d'Orange 17:35:23 Cozé by Pierre Guillaume Paris, Parfumerie Generale 20:31:14 Musc Maori by Pierre Guillaume Paris, Parfumerie Generale 21:04:14 Le Musc & La Peau by Pierre Guillaume Paris, Parfumerie Generale 21:54:08 Avignon by Comme des Garcons: Incense 22:05:27 Costes Signature Candle by Costes 25:39:15 Relique d'Amour by Oriza Legrand 26:45:05 Horizon by Oriza Legrand 28:18:22 L'air du desert marocain by Tauer Perfumes 28:35:21 Ambre Precieux by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier 28:39:19 Ambre Russe by Parfums d'Empire 36:48:11 Soma Panorama by Angelos Creations Olfactives 49:12:26 Philosykos by Diptyque 49:14:24 Premier Figuier by L'Artisan Parfumeur 51:56:15 Not a Perfume by Juliette Has a Gun 52:09:25 Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret 53:59:24 Bois Imperial by Essential Parfums 56:10:27 Fleur du Mal by Dries Van Noten 57:24:02 Camomille Satin by Dries Van Noten Hosts: Steven Gontarski and Dana Kiley Buchanan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve and Dana chat live in front of an audience gathered at ScentFest, the West Coast's largest perfume expo. The weekend was filled with scent discoveries and the warmest meetups with fragrance lovers from around the world. Steve and Dana talk about their impressions of ScentFest then sniff perfumes featuring unusual notes with the audience. Oyster, pollen anyone? The sniffing session was followed by a Q&A segment where Steve and Dana recalled their most nostalgic scents, revealed the notes and styles they'd like to smell more of and investigated Dana's perfume application methods that transform her into a walking scent sculpture. Perfumes mentioned in this episode: 01:12:24 ScentFest Sample Pack 05:26:07 Still by CBCB 07:47:22 Cocoyster Bananita by Salum 12:15:26 Pony Boy by Jorum 13:01:05 Debaser by D.S. and Durga 13:14:25 Delulu by Oddity 14:05:10 Rhubarb Thief by Heretic 15:19:10 Gun Girl by CBCB 19:21:00 Molecule 01 + Patchouli by Escentric Molecules 20:26:09 Morel Map by Clue 20:35:04 Coven by Andrea Maack 21:15:25 Musc by Bruno Acampora 22:52:22 Moon Magic by Sorce 24:42:03 Vampire Husband by Sorce 24:45:00 In Dreams and Fairytales (Vanilla) 26:54:10 Metal Lavender by Matiere Premiere 27:12:11 La Nuit des 300 by Hellenist 28:39:16 Les Dieux aux Bains 29:48:23 Flower Glyph by Liis 32:53:03 Noel au Balcon by Etat Libre d'Orange 34:02:01 Unspoken Gesture by Jorum 35:28:05 Still by CBCB 43:26:20 Saskia by Grandiflora 43:28:16 Madagascan Jasmine by Grandiflora 44:11:00 Mossy Glen by Villa Erbatium 45:33:28 Neo-Animism by Mami Wata 48:02:21 Angelos Creations 48:26:26 Chypre Siam by Rogue 48:41:09 Aristo Chypre by Infiniment Coty 48:57:14 Spoturno Paris Hosts: Steven Gontarski and Dana Kiley Buchanan Recorded in San Francisco, 6/27/26 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22. Report from the Runway - A Conversation with Merle Ginsberg In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits down with writer, fashion icon and one of the original judges of Ru Paul's Drag Race, the legendary Merle Ginsberg. From a young age, Merle expressed her identity through clothes and words, always keeping her senses, including scent, keenly attuned. Steve and Merle have talked perfume for many years at Scent Bar and have selected her signature scents together. They take a deep dive into her perfume history, stop by Scent Bar to discover a new scent and end the episode by pairing fragrances with outfits.  Perfumes mentioned in this episode 06:53:15 Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules L'Eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake Eau d'Hadrien by Annick Goutal Filles en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens 21:54:00 Black Amber by Agonist 23:35:03 Coffee White Flowers by Bohoboco 28:39:19 Grev by Slumberhouse 33:50:09 Bo by Liis 40:00:02 Nuit Elastique by Premiere Peau 41:52:19 Vanille Camouflage by Dries Van Noten 42:36:02 Mantes La Jolie by Astier de Villatte 43:09:05 Dandelion Butter by Clue 44:07:10 Tokyo Bloom by The Different Company 44:55:24 Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret 46:34:24 Green Vanille by Regime des Fleurs 47:03:00 Vanille Riviera by Maison Rebatchi 53:02:04 Carine by Carine Roitfeld 56:02:25 Crimson Rocks by Amouage Be sure to keep up with Merle's fashion news on Loose Threads, a regular newsletter in The Hollywood Reporter, Hollywoodreporter.com Host: Steven Gontarski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits down with songwriter Steph Jones. Having written hits for artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Blackpink, Selena Gomez and Jade she's one of the most in-demand talents in the music industry. Perfecting her impromptu songwriting skills at church, Steph naturally develops melodies and lyrics for people as she discovers their personal stories and soaks in their vibes. Along with her passion for tunes Steph has been fascinated by perfumes from an early age and tells Steve about her Hall of Fame fragrances and what they mean to her.  Perfumes discussed in this episode: Aromatics Elixir by Clinique Tubéreuse Astrale by Maison Crivelli / Available on Luckyscent Towédé by Notes de Bas de Paje Gris Charnel by BDK / Available on Luckyscent Gris Charnel by BDK / Available on Luckyscent Lait Concentré by Chabaud / Available on Luckyscent Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden CKin2U by Calvin Klein Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules / Available on Luckyscent II (Deux) by Trudon / Available on Luckyscent Tihota by Indult / Available on Luckyscent B683 by Marc Antoine Barrois / Available on Luckyscent Quentin Bisch Poivre Samarcande by Hermes Pacific Park by Simone Andreoli / Available on Luckyscent Jardins de Misfah Extrait by Une Nuit Nomade / Available on Luckyscent Fleur Narcotique by Ex Nihilo / Available on Luckyscent Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle Cool Water for Women by Davidoff Black Tie by Celine Molecule 01 + Iris by Escentric Molecules / Available on Luckyscent Supernova by Andrea Maack / Available on Luckyscent Carine by Carine Roitfeld / Available on Luckyscent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve and Dana bask in the holiday glow and talk about their favorite warm, spicy, cozy scents to wear at festive parties or for quiet times at home. They discuss the biggest note trends of the year and smell through their favorite scents of 2025. It's been a great year for perfume releases - what were some of your favorites in 2025? Perfumes mentioned in this episode: Bowmakers by DS and Durga Ambre Liquide by Astier de Villatte Hammersmith Tea & Biscuits by 4160 Tuesdays Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene Empire des Indes by Oriza Legrand Myrrh Shadow by Bon Parfumeur Molecule 01 + Cistus by Escentric Molecules Ouarzazate by Comme des Garcons Tobacco Memories by Chambre52 Encore Une Fois by Infiniment Coty Japanese Whiskey by D'Annam Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret Carine by Carine Roitfeld Venice Rococo by Arquiste Green Vanille by Regime des Fleurs Blood Spider Orchid by Regime des Fleurs Apricot Innocence by Simone Andreoli Cedrat Ceruse by L'Artisan Parfumeur Witchery by Sorce In Dreams & Fairytales by Sorce Vampire Husband by Sorce Joyeux by Sultan Pasha Perfumes Nightchild by Epichron Taipei by One Day White Rice by d'Annam Dirty Rice by Borntostandout Rice Makgeolli by Villa Erbatium Delicious Rice Milk by Federico Cantelli The LIttle Mermaid by The Mischief Academy Kyoto by Le Gout de Peau African Rooibos by Chris Collins Savant by Chris Collins Milk & Matcha by Obvious London Fog by Brandt Jasmine Freak by Room 1015 Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana R & B by Zernell Gillie Cafe des Delices by Maison Mataha Hosted by Steven Gontarski and Dana Buchanan Produced by Emi Brown and Claire Jelinek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve sits down with legendary master perfumer Olivier Cresp. They talk about his distinctive style, which Cresp refers to as minimalist and figurative, valuing simplicity with key ingredients.  They touch on Olivier's generational roots in the perfume industry and his upbringing in Grasse. He discusses the various steps of the creation of Thierry Mugler's Angel - an iconic perfume that forever changed the landscape of perfumery - and the various ideas that went into the formation of Akro, a brand Olivier started with his daughter Anais, celebrating life's guilty pleasures. Perfumes mentioned in this episode: Bake by Akro Crush by Akro Angel by Thierry Mugler Juniper Sling by Penhaligon's LIght Blue by Dolce & Gabbana My Devotion by Dolce & Gabbana Rise by Akro Smoke by Akro Hosted by Steven Gontarski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve talks with actor, musician and member of the Scent Bar family, Ronald Prokeš. They talk about the scents Ronny wore as a teen in the Czech Republic and his more recent fascination with chypres, fougeres and vintage perfumes. He describes how he sometimes uses scent to disassociate from social settings and how "an empty bottle is a happy bottle." Fragrances mentioned in this episode: Fierce by Abercrombie and Fitch Fahrenheit by Dior Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant by Kenzo Maai by Bogue Profumo Cocoa Kimiya by Atelier des Ors Eau Noire by Dior Varuek by PRIN Grand Chalet by Astier de Villatte Memoir Man by Amouage Nuit de Bakelite by Naomi Goodsir Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens Rauque by Roberto Greco Oeilleres by Roberto Greco Opium by Yves Saint Laurent Hosted by Steven Gontarski Produced by Emi Foster and Claire Jelinek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits with Chris Collins and asks him about his background in fashion and his pivot into perfume, one of his lifelong passions. He remembers the fragrances his father wore and the scents that inspired him to start his own brand. From knocking on the door of Robertet in Grasse to channeling his admiration for Prince's music into a new perfume, Chris shares many stories that describe the rewards and challenges of founding and directing a perfume line. Fragrances mentioned in this episode: Old Spice by Shulton Company Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene Blue Jeans by Versace Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein Polo by Ralph Lauren L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake Renaissance by Chris Collins Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle Straight to Heaven by By Kilian African Rooibos by Chris Collins Babycat by YSL Lust Oud Delice by Chris Collins Savant Manhattan Cherry by Chris Collins Hosted by Steven Gontarski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susannah Melvoin is known to many as a stellar musician and songwriter, having contributed to legendary albums by Prince and Madonna among others. Her passion for music is only rivalled by her passion for perfume. In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve sits with Susannah as they talk about the interplay between music and scent in creating atmospheres. She shares her earliest memories of her parents' perfumes, her first scent and her current go-to bottles while dropping some iconic stories. Want to know what the set for Prince's 'When Doves Cry' video smelled like? Perfumes mentioned in this episode: - Tihota by Indult - Encore Une Fois by Infiniment Coty - Molinard de Molinard by Molinard - Salome by Papillon Artisan Perfumes - Chanel No 19 by Chanel - Perfect Veil by Sarah Horowitz - Delulu by Oddity - Carine by Carine Roitfeld - Numero Uno (I) by Adamo Parfum - Isvaraya by Indult - Kagiroi by Di Ser - Mortel Noir by Trudon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zernell Gillie has made his name as an international DJ and founder of a much-loved perfume brand inspired by musical genres. In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve talks with Zernell about his his journey from early days at high school sock-hops to his sets at Berghain, the legendary Berlin club. Music, fashion and scent have always coexisted in the club scene and have inspired Zernell for decades. Find out which fragrances have meant the most to him and how they have influenced his olfactive interpretations of his favorite music. Perfumes mentioned in this episode: - Polo by Ralph Lauren - Bowling Green by Geoffrey Beene - Halston Z14 by Halston - Egoiste by Chanel - Ivory Route by Xerjoff - Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani - Dior Homme Intense by Dior - Pi by Givenchy - Sweetie Aoud by Roja Parfums - Geschopf by PMP - R & B by Zernell Gillie - Jazz by Zernell Gillie - Hip-Hop by Zernell Gillie - Coco by Chanel - Stetson by Coty - Tango by Masque Milano - Sweet Botswana Mystery by Modern Mark - Hypnotising Fire by The Harmonist More information on Zernell Gillie can be found on zernellgillie.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve and Dana talk about their Back to School fragrances. Whether or not you're in school, this time of year is full of moments to reset and begin a new cycle - scent can certainly help mark this renewal. As the long days of summer start to grow shorter, sometimes the smell of spices, woods and amber can provide all the coziness you need in a new season. Fragrances discussed: The Jungle Book by Mischief Academy La Danza Delle Libellule Exceptional Edition by Nobile 1942 Matcha Ice Cream by Theodoros Kalotinis Matchbox Romance by Binaurale Dead Air by Oddity Psychedelique by Jovoy Empire des Indes by Oriza Legrand Jazz by Zernell Gillie Jardins de Misfah Extrait by Une Nuit Nomade Love Is Coming by The Different Company Nightchild by Epichron All That Matters by Anamor Breathe by Akro Eau Sacree by Heeley Crush Balls by D.S. & Durga Fire at Will by Jovoy Orgasmo by Hilde Soliani Tales of Amber by Goldfield and Banks Hosted by Steven Gontarski with Dana Buchanan Produced by Steven Gontarski, Emi Foster and Claire Jelinek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few people deserve the status of Fashion Legend as much as Carine Roitfeld. As the editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue for a decade, through her collaborations with Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld and through her current publication, CR Fashion Book, she has indelibly shaped the direction of style and high fashion. In a conversation with Steve, Carine Roitfeld talks about the various titles she's adopted over the years from 'Combattante' during the student strikes of Paris 1968 to 'Magic Grandma' of today. She talks about the decision to create a fragrance brand as soon as she left Paris Vogue and her discussions with master perfumes like Dominique Ropion and Aurelien Guichard to create scent portraits of herself and several loves of her life. Perfumes mentioned in this episode: - Carine by Carine Roitfeld - Eau Vive by Carven - Fracas by Robert Piguet - Opium Pour Homme by YSL - Fleurs d'Oranger by Serge Lutens - L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain - Kar-Wai by Carine Roitfeld - Sebastien by Carine Roitfeld - Vladimir by Carine Roitfeld - George by Carine Roitfeld - Black Orchid by Tom Ford - Forgive Me by Carine Roitfeld Hosted by: Steven Gontarski Produced by: Claire Jelinek, Emi Foster, Steven Gontarski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.