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Fragrances With Friends is a blog devoted to elevating the voices of the online fragrance community. I invite my fellow fragrance enthusiasts to share what makes them feel passionate about the art of perfumery.

Fragrances With Friends •

A perfumer’s Ode to Vincent van Vogh

I asked Paul Kiler, “If you could meet your perfume hero, living or dead, and ask them one question, what would it be?”


Paul immediately knew who he wanted to meet, but it wasn’t a perfumer—it was Vincent van Gogh. I decided to go with it, and I’m glad I did.


In this Fragrances With Friends interview, Paul explores what draws him to Van Gogh’s art and how that, in turn, inspires his love of perfume. He also shares the question he would like to ask Van Gogh, if he could go back in time....
Fragrances With Friends •

Captivated by Iris

Where most people have marrow running through their bones, John Van’s bones encase a thin line of iris butter.


Iris has captured John’s imagination in perfumery like no other fragrance note. His passion for this perfume ingredient is something I’ve rarely seen equaled.


In this Fragrances With Friends interview, John shares the characteristics of iris that draw him in, the expressions of iris he appreciates most, and his favorite iris perfumes. He also shares what he’s learned about how iri...
Fragrances With Friends •

Do you deserve to know what’s in your perfume?

Arthur Clayton Emrick lives out a fantasy common to many fragrance lovers. He has turned his passion for perfume into a profession. Through his artisan perfume brand, Jinx, and his role in the online perfume community, Arthur advocates for an open and honest approach to perfume-making.


In this Fragrances with Friends interview, Arthur discusses the importance of transparency in perfume ingredients. He believes that by sharing knowledge and challenging traditional secrecy in the industry, we...
Fragrances With Friends •

Bottled memories: Why perfume is more than just a scent

If my friend, Anne Gray, were to write an autobiography, it would undoubtedly be scratch-and-sniff.


Fragrance has always been a central element in Anne’s experience of the world. She’s fascinated by the intricate interplay of scent, memory, and emotion. A veterinarian by training, Anne wishes she could understand how her doggie patients perceive and remember their environment through scent.


In this Q&A, Anne explores the ways she has purposefully used perfume to recollect her past, alter h...
Fragrances With Friends •

Where fragrance, photography, and travel collide

Hira Ahmad is a passionate amateur photographer, sometime world traveler, and lover of perfume. Through Hirascents on Instagram, she has created a “collision” of all three in a unique and beautiful way that allows her to to share her multi-sensory experiences with others.


“Life is a beautiful yet fleeting journey,” Hira says.


In this interview, Hira shares her thoughts on the transportive power of perfume and the wonder of exploring the world — as much as she can, as often as she can — thr...
Fragrances With Friends •

Zaharoff’s zeal for emotive, fan-driven fragrances

In the world of luxury fragrances, few brands can match the close-knit connection that Zaharoff has created with its dedicated fans. This brand’s community-driven approach has not only propelled Zaharoff’s success but has also shaped its creative direction and product offerings.


In this Fragrances with Friends interview, I chat with Josh Lichtenfeld, a Zaharoff superfan, about what drew him to the brand and what keeps him fascinated. He shares his top three favorites from the Zaharoff and dis...
Fragrances With Friends •

Apples, bonfires and spices: The fragrances of fall

For Leah Burgdorf, celebrating the seasons reminds her to slow down and appreciate the passage of time. One way she loves to celebrate is through the use of fragrance.


In this Fragrances with Friend interview, Leah discusses how she uses perfume to evoke the spirit of autumn, from the warm golden days of September to the crisp, chilly days of November. She also shares how fragrance makes Halloween (her favorite holiday) more meaningful.


Bring your trick-or-treat pail for this interview. Le...
Fragrances With Friends •

Our perfumes, our selves

Ever pondered how a simple scent can evoke powerful memories or shape your identity? For Dan Roberts, a fragrance enthusiast from Liverpool, England, perfume is more than just a pleasant aroma. Perfume has played a central role in his journey of self-discovery. He also sees fragrance as a powerful tool for connecting with others.


In this Q&A, we dip our toes into Dan’s world of fragrance, exploring how he’s built a community around his passion and how online perfume groups can shape the wider...
Fragrances With Friends •

Olfactory time capsules

In a world of fleeting trends and disposable culture, vintage fragrances serve as olfactory time capsules. They offer a unique window into the past, evoking emotions, memories, and even a sense of time travel. For perfume enthusiast and indie perfumer Darren Alan, these vintage scents are more than just fragrances; they’re precious artifacts of our shared past.


Darren defines “vintage” as any perfume that is at least 20 or 30 years old, or anything that is no longer being made.


In this Fra...
Fragrances With Friends •

A native guide to Thailand’s perfume scene

Thailand’s tropical climate demands a unique approach to perfumery. While perfumery in other parts of the world often indulges in rich, sweet and dense fragrances, the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia call for lighter, fresher alternatives. In this interview, Gahn Yongyueangpan, who grew up in Chiang Mai and now lives in California, shares his insights into the world of Thai perfumes and offers his perspective on how cultural factors and climate influence scent preferences.


From the allure...
Fragrances With Friends •

Perfume and music, anthems of the soul

William Carius finds a unique harmony between the worlds of music and perfume. Both utilize symphonies of “notes” to evoke emotions and memories, connecting with people on a profound level that transcends conscious thought.


I met Will through a mutual acquaintance in the online fragrance community and quickly discovered a kindred spirit. He cherishes both music and scent for their ability to transport us. A single whiff of a fragrance, akin to a familiar chord progression, can instantly whisk...
Fragrances With Friends •

The Green Man

What does it take for a fragrance be truly captivating? For my friend, who I affectionately call “The Green Man,” the answer lies in untamed world of green perfumes.  Unlike many mass-appealing scents, green fragrances don’t necessarily try to be crowd pleasers. Instead, what they offer is a journey of discovery.


It’s a journey that keeps The Green Man enthralled. 


In this Fragrances With Friends Q&A, I chat with The Green Man (who goes by LittleDinkums on Basenotes and Fragrantica) and t...
Fragrances With Friends •

The Allure of Naturals

Forest FaeryCat’s journey as a fragrance lover began in childhood, captivated by her grandmother’s collection of gentle floral scents. This early exposure sparked a lifelong love affair with perfume, particularly natural fragrances.


Our paths crossed in an online group dedicated to the work of natural perfumer Teone Reinthal. Forest FaeryCat’s enthusiasm for natural fragrances quickly intrigued me, revealing a depth and complexity in this area of perfumery I hadn’t anticipated.


In this int...
Fragrances With Friends •

A Heart for Happyland

In this Fragrances With Friends interview I chat with Joel Berg about his love for Happyland Studio, a quirky, indie perfume house. Joel Berg is an active member of many popular Facebook fragrance groups, where he and I met. For Joel, Happyland isn’t just a brand: it’s his gateway to the wider, weirder world of fragrance.


Drawn in by YouTube reviews during the pandemic, Joel’s first foray into Happyland was with Barbershop, a citrusy, leathery concoction that garnered unexpected compliments....