Episoder
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This week marks the third and final part of Karen’s mini series on her scent shift programme. This time of year we all make promises to ourselves about how the next twelve months will be different but, as we all know, these promises never last. The reason they never last is that we always fail to create new habits, which are the key to lasting change. Karen is here to help. In this episode, she explains how to use scent to form and sustain positive habits so that 2025 can be the year of change for you in more ways than one.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Having a positive mindset is great, as is acting on positive emotions, but real change comes about when we change our habits. Karen outlines why and how habits are the key to improvement.
Karen breaks down the science of habits, how we form them and how we stick to them, and explains how scent can accelerate and enhance this process.
Karen explains the practical steps you need to take in order to link a habit to a scent.
Just in case you’re struggling for inspiration, Karen gives you some examples of scents and the habits that they could be linked to.
BEST MOMENTS
“By linking a specific scent to a specific habit we create a natural cue that helps us move from intention into action.”
“Your brain automatically creates neurological shortcuts based on the scents in your life.”
“Scent can help you transform your habits from a chore into a natural part of your daily life.”
EPISODE LINKS
Scent Shift Programme
£50 off Coupon Code: SS-EB22
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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Welcome to part two of this mini series inspired by Karenâs âScent Shiftâ programme, which looks at how scent can be a tool for meditation and wellbeing. This week, Karen is looking at how to create emotional anchors with scent. Emotional anchors are an incredibly powerful tool that can be harnessed to bring about positive changes to all aspects of your life. But, how do they work, when can you use them and how do you create them? Karen answers all these questions and more so that you can start creating your own emotional anchors today.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Emotional anchors are a powerful tool that can be used to help transport you into a desired emotional state. Karen breaks down the science of how and why they work.
You might already be using emotional anchors in your daily life without realising. Karen gives some examples of common emotional anchors and encourages you to be mindful of what is already on your radar.
Karen outlines her three step process to creating emotional anchors of your own.
Emotional anchors can help you in all aspects of life. Karen gives some real world examples of how they can help you.
BEST MOMENTS
âEmotional anchors are created by repeating a scent during emotionally meaningful moments.â
âScent can not just shape your experiences but it can also provide emotional support.â
âEmotional anchors make you aware of how the power of scent affects your mindset.â
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Shift
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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This weekâs episode marks the first in a series of shows inspired by Karenâs âScent Shiftâ programme, which looks at how scent can be a tool for meditation and wellbeing. In this first part, Karen is looking specifically at how fragrance interacts with our brains to influence our emotions. Drawing from the evidence based research, Karen explains not only how this happens, but why. And, teaches you how to utilize this incredible power of scent to your advantage to live a healthier and calmer life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Why does the smell of perfume, or anything for that matter, invoke an emotional response in us? Karen breaks down the science of why scent impacts us emotionally.
The correlation between scent and mood has been thoroughly researched and is backed up with evidence. Karen gives an overview of how certain scents can influence us emotionally.
We can use the ability of scent to evoke emotions to our benefit, as Karen explains how to âset an intentionâ with a scent to positively influence your day.
In a similar way, we can also use scent to transition our mood or mindset, whether that be wanting to regain focus or to help us switch off after work. Karen explains how you can do this.
BEST MOMENTS
âThe connection of scent and memory isnât just anecdotal, itâs rooted in how our brains function.â
âScent doesnât just improve emotions, it can be used to enhance your focus during work, promote creativity or increase energy during workouts.â
âConsistency is key. The more you practice, the better you will become.â
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Shift
The Scent Shift ÂŁ50 off Coupon Code: SS-EB22
EBo Shower Steamers
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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In this episode, Karen shares valuable insights on transitioning from experimentation to a more structured approach in perfumery. Karen discusses common challenges such as feeling overwhelmed by raw materials, creating balanced accords, and translating ideas into finished fragrances. She provides practical tips like simplifying your palette, starting small with accords, and focusing on fragrance structure and storytelling. Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on your fragrance creation journey and grab her special Black Friday offer: The Foundations of Fragrance Collection
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It's easy to feel stuck when you're trying to pull all of these pieces together by yourself, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Every successful perfumer has been where you are now. We all start out with the same basic challenges.
It's tempting to try everything, but without an understanding of the materials and the specific roles that different materials play, it's really easy to get completely lost or frustrated.
Successful perfumery does not happen by accident. It's not just about throwing materials together and hoping for the best. It's about having a clear process and the knowledge to guide your decisions along the way. And that is why I have put together the Foundations of Fragrance Collection.
BEST MOMENTS
âEvery successful perfumer started where you are now.â
âSimplify your palette. Pick a few materials you are curious about and get to know them deeply.â
âUsing a mind map, brainstorm or mood board is a great starting point to help you map out your fragrance.â
EPISODE LINKS
Foundations of Fragrance Collection
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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This week on the show Karen is joined by Viola Levy, journalist, founder of branding agency âSmart, Beauty Creativeâ and host of the Smart Beauty podcast, a show for beauty business owners who are looking to hone their brand voice. Getting the story of your brand and your products right is essential, and can be the difference between success and failure. Thatâs why, in this interview, Viola and Karen cover all you need to know about transforming your business from a retailer to a storyteller.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Viola started her career as a journalist and found that a lot of the companies she was writing about were in the beauty sector. Whilst doing this work she noticed a gap in the market which, as she explains here, led her to set up her own company. Karen and Viola discuss the incredible rise of indie brands over the last decade, what this means for consumers, but also, how the bigger designer brands have reacted to this growth. As Karen often states, and Viola agrees, creating a story around your scents is the most important thing you can do in terms of marketing. Viola explains why this is a ânon negotiableâ and gives her insights into how to make this effective. Historically, brands have put all of their time and effort into creating a fragrance and then launched into the marketplace. However, as Viola explains, there is so much more value in bringing your customers along on the journey from day one.BEST MOMENTS
âThereâs so much choice out there now, and thatâs a great thing. People like to change their perfume as often as they change their clothes.â
âBrands have to have an opinion and a voice, they need to show theyâre passionate about more than just selling their products.â
âAI is a great tool, but it shouldnât be in the driving seat. Youâll always need a human touch.â
EPISODE LINKS
Smart Beauty Website
Smart Beauty Podcast
Smart Beauty Instagram
Smart Beauty Linkedin
Smart Beauty Email
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
ABOUT THE GUEST
Having worked in the beauty industry for over 15 years, Viola is an award-winning journalist, copywriter and brand consultant.
As an established writer, Viola has contributed to all sectors of the beauty world, with articles appearing in Vogue, Glamour, The Evening Standard, and Refinery29. In addition she has written copy for several major beauty brands and retailers, including Aromatherapy Associates, 111SKIN, Cult Beauty, Boots, By Terry, and Superdrug, and in 2019, she won a Fragrance Foundation Jasmine Award for Best Short Piece and was shortlisted for Best Social Engagement. She has also written global trend reports for major forecasting agency WGSN, focusing on how consumer needs and habits have changed since the global pandemic.
From her years of experience, Viola has seen the beauty world rapidly change over the past decade. The way brands speak to customers has evolved. Itâs less about playing on womenâs low self-esteem, inventing problems (and products to âsolveâ them) or peddling false promises and miracles in jars. Itâs more about feeling better (not just by looking better), intelligent discussions and promoting inclusivity. Which is why she set up Smart Beauty Creative to create the next generation of forward-thinking, feminist brands, helping to pave the way for a new, diverse and more enlightened beauty industry.
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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After receiving a couple of emails from people who were reluctant to join Karenâs online workshops because they were to be hosted on Facebook, Karen has been inspired to produce an episode on social media. Whilst social media is ever present in our lives and can be seen to have negative effects on our health and wellbeing, if you use it correctly, it can be an extremely powerful tool for business. In this episode, Karen gives a full overview of social media, its many platforms, the areas to be wary of and how you can leverage it to get the most out of it for your business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
â Karen started her first business long before social media existed. For those of you unsure of how much social media has benefited small business marketing, Karen outlines the differences between then and now.
â Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest - There are so many social media platforms that could help you but, which one, or combination, is right for you? Karen breaks down the pros and cons of each.
â Despite some peopleâs objections to social media Karen continues to use Facebook to deliver her training courses. She outlines why she thinks it's a platform that works.
â Messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp are also considered social media. Karen details what these apps can do for your business and also their pros and cons.
BEST MOMENTS
âSocial media is an incredible tool to help single person businesses reach millions of customers for pennies.â
âItâs essential that you look at social media as a business tool and not as a consumer space.â
âThe best thing about social media - You donât pay for advertising.â
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Shift
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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Running a successful perfume business doesnât just require someone who can blend materials to create a sweet scent, or someone who can market effectively. A truly successful perfume business also requires someone with the right mindset. Thatâs why, this week on the show, Karen is taking a break from regular programming and presenting an interactive episode designed to change your mindset. With exercises on planning your future, overcoming fears and stepping into the unknown, this episode will give you the tools to be successful and elevate your journey as a perfumer to the next level.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Can any of us know what your future looks like? What if we could actually create the future we want for ourselves? Karen invites you to participate in an exercise that can help you create the future you want. What are you afraid of? Lack of money? Time? Karen shares an exercise that encourages you to face your fear and, in doing so, may reveal that the thing you are afraid of is not what it first seems to be. Nobody likes to fail, and we often partner failure with thoughts of quitting. However, as Karen explains, failure can be better than success for our long term growth. And, she shares an exercise for reframing your failures. Stepping outside of our comfort zones is a daunting prospect, especially if we find ourselves in a place of relative success. Karen shares an exercise that will help you take a leap forward, and itâs not as scary as you first think.BEST MOMENTS
âLet your vision be your anchor.â
âWhen we start to make progress it is often our fear of failure that can hold us back.â
âOur fears are there to keep us safe, but they can also keep us stuck, if we donât acknowledge them.â
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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Karen recently received an email asking for her advice on launching a perfume brand. However, the author of the email had only given themselves a 6 month deadline to get everything ready to launch. Karenâs instant reaction - âThis is not enough time.â Perfume making is not just a science, itâs an art. And, like all art, it canât be rushed. In this episode, Karen doubles down on the importance of taking your time to get where you want to go and explains the process and procedures for making sure you do it right.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Itâs natural to want to jump to the end when starting your own business, after all, you want to start seeing the money coming in. But, as Karen explains, your role will change dramatically once your business is active so it is important to master one area before moving to the next. Perfume making isnât just about creativity, itâs about understanding the materials. Karen explains how this essential aspect of perfume making should not be rushed and the consequences if you do rush it. When you launch into the perfume market, you compete with countless other brands. The one thing that can, and often does, set you apart is presenting a product made with care and attention. Karen explains how to do this without rushing. Karen ends the episode by sharing her top tips on how to embrace and enjoy the process of perfume making, making sure you spend the right amount of time on the right things.BEST MOMENTS
âThe most important and enjoyable part of the perfume making journey is the learning and creating.â
âThe more time you spend trying things out, the more confident youâre going to become as a perfume maker.â
âWhen youâve taken the time to find your voice in your brand, it really shows in your work and thatâs what will make you stand out.â
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Design Challenge
Deep Work - Cal Newport
The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron (Morning Pages)
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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This week Karen is joined by Liz Grech, an alumni of Karenâs Artisan Perfumery Mastermind course and founder of Olentium, a perfume brand based in Malta. Liz started her career as a journalist before the birth of her son unexpectedly moved her into the world of fragrance. In this interview with Karen, she discusses her career trajectory, how it takes time to find your voice, what you can do as an indie brand to compete with the big boys and how it felt to be a finalist at the Art & Olfaction Awards in 2024.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Liz had a successful career in journalism. When her son was born she began to be interested in various skin care products and how they would affect a newborn. She explains to Karen how this eventually led her into the world of fragrance. Coming from a journalistic background, Liz has a deep understanding of the importance of having a story to your fragrances. She describes to Karen how she uses classic literature, the seasons and her home in Malta to create these stories. Olentium wasnât Lizâs first iteration of her business. She explains to Karen how her brand and philosophy have changed over the years and how she finally found her groove. One of the restrictions all indie brands face is access to certain materials and packaging as suppliers will not sell in small quantities. Karen and Liz discuss these challenges and some unique ways they have found to work around them.BEST MOMENTS
âOne of the best pieces of advice I can give is âknow when to stop tinkeringâ.â
âDo what you can with social media, donât think you have to be everywhere doing everything.â
âThe people that have opted into your email list are the ones that have said âIâm interested.â, so donât ignore them.â
EPISODE LINKS
Olentium Website
Olentium Instagram
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
ABOUT THE GUEST
Anglo-Maltese Olentium founder Liz Grech started out in magazine journalism and digital communications. Pivoting interests over the past decade, Liz gained a diploma in organic cosmetic formulation before taking up perfumery, training both with Karen Gilbert and teaching herself through experimentation.
Liz uses a high percentage of botanicals in her mixed-media perfumes, drawing first on those ingredients native to the Mediterranean where she lives. She launched Olentium to merge her life-long passion for fragrance with her desire to capture the spirit and soul of the Mediterranean in scent stories. Her perfume Bal Baroque was a 2024 Finalist in the artisan category of the LA-based Institute of Art & Olfaction Awards.
Liz designs Olentium fragrances in her atelier-lab in a Maltese village house, and sells worldwide online as well as through a growing number of niche perfume stockists.
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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This week on the show, Karen is taking a break from regular programming and presenting you all with a diary-style episode after spending the last week thinking about staying in alignment with your actions, not just in business, but in life. In this episode Karen covers what it means to stay true to your values and creative goals, the importance of avoiding the shoulds, and her top tips for achieving a work-life balance so that you can stay in perfect alignment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What does it mean to take aligned action? From her experience, Karen discusses what this means to her and how you might be waiting for the right time when itâs now. One of the best pieces of advice Karen received was to âStay out of the shoulds.â But what does this mean? How can you do it? And, how can it impact your life? A work-life balance is incredibly important, especially when you work in a creative industry and your job can also be your hobby. Karen talks about how she achieves this balance and how important it is to have one. Karen has recently lost one of her close friends. As with any bereavement, this has put things into perspective. Karen shares her thoughts on the importance of finding whatâs important and living life for the now.BEST MOMENTS
âTrust your gut, start with where you are and what youâve got. You can always make changes further down the road.â
âYou are always going to get more opportunities, so donât feel bad about the ones you turn down.â
âThere is no perfect time, the time is now.â
EPISODE LINKS
October 5 Day Scent Design Workshop
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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This week marks the fourth and final part of Karenâs mini-series on fragrance families. And, sheâs ending the series with one of the most important families - Fougere. Created over a century ago, Fougere has had an immense impact on the perfume industry, from its pioneering use of synthetics to its worldwide appeal with the launch of âBrutâ. In this episode, Karen tells you all you need to know about Fougere, from why it's lasted so long, the key ingredients, and how to make your Fougere fragrance.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Karen gives a detailed overview of the history of Fougere fragrances, from its initial creation in 1882 by Paul Parquet of Houbigant, its pioneering use of synthetics, and its impact over the decades.
What makes a Fougere a Fougere? Karen breaks down which notes make up the main accord, what qualities each of them adds to the fragrance, and what other materials can be added to enhance the fragrance.
One of the most famous examples of a Fougere fragrance is Brut. But, underneath the marketing and packaging, it is a quite feminine fragrance. Karen talks about the crucial role marketing plays in selling your fragrance.
Karen give a breakdown of some of the most famous Fougere fragrances and how they impacted the family and its evolution.
BEST MOMENTS
âThe success of Fougere Royale showed that synthetics could enhance and expand what was possible in perfumery.â
âIf youâre studying music, you go back and look at the roots to understand it properly. The same is true for perfume.â
âAs long as you are creating safe perfumes there are no rules as to what a fragrance can be.â
EPISODE LINKS
Karenâs Book
October 5 Day Scent Design Workshop
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 personalised fragrances.
With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen can 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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Continuing her deep dive into fragrance families, this week sees Karen delving into the world of Amber fragrances. Known for their warmth, richness, and versatility, amber fragrances have remained incredibly popular from their inception in ancient Egypt to the modern day. Unique in their makeup and with an incredible number of variations, there is a lot to learn about amber fragrances. In this episode, Karen covers everything you need to know to get started on the road to understanding the wonderful world of amber.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Amber fragrances are unique in that they are actually a blend of notes rather than a single ingredient. Karen details the long history of Amber fragrances and how they have significantly developed over generations. Amber fragrances are known for their warm, comforting smell. But, what gives them this quality? Karen breaks down the various materials that make up a classic amber fragrance. Amber fragrances date back to ancient Egypt, and there have been hundreds of influential fragrances made over the years. Karen gives details of some of the most influential and encourages you to test them for yourself. Due to its widespread popularity, there are so many subcategories of amber fragrances. Karen gives an overview of the main subcategories so that you can begin to explore them for yourself.BEST MOMENTS
âAmber fragrances are typically long-lasting because they focus on the base notes.â
âThe strength of amber fragrances lies not only in its comforting quality but its ability to be rich and complex.â
âNiche brands have been incredibly influential in pushing the boundaries of what an amber fragrance can be.â
EPISODE LINKS
Karenâs Perfume Book
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 that demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.
Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory senses and create their personalized fragrances.
With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen can offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrances, room scents, and skincare/body care 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 their sense of well-being.
CONTACT DETAILS
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Email
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Karen is continuing her in-depth look at different fragrance families. This week, sheâs taking a look at the misunderstood Chypre family. Created in 1917, the chypre family of fragrances has never been considered the best or most popular but has stood the test of time, and the family continues to grow with new subcategories being added year on year. In this episode, Karen details everything you need to know about this family of fragrances and explains why you might benefit from creating your very own chypre fragrance.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The chypre fragrance was first created in 1917 by Francois Coty, who was inspired by the island of Cyprus. What he didnât know at the time was how influential it would be and all of the offshoots it would create, as Karen explains. What exactly is a chypre fragrance and why are they so unique? Karen breaks down what notes go into a chypre fragrance and how they all work together. Oakmoss is one of the main ingredients in chypre fragrances but, due to it causing allergies, its usage has been heavily restricted. Karen gives details on other materials that can be used to create an oakmoss scent. There are numerous subcategories of chypre. Karen details the main subcategories, how to identify them, what materials go into them, and gives you some real-world examples that you can sample for yourself.BEST MOMENTS
âThe interplay between the fresh, floral and earthly elements are what makes a chypre so fascinating.â
âThe thing that really defines a chypre is the fresh notes in the base.â
âIf youâre looking to make a fragrance that stands out from the crowd, then a chypre fragrance could be the way forward.â
EPISODE LINKS
Make a Natural Perfume Masterclass
Exploring Aromachemicals Second Chance
Perfume Book
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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This week Karen is continuing her series on fragrance families, looking at floral families. The largest and most varied family in fragrance production, florals have stood the test of time and are as popular today as they ever were. From key notes to the difference between soliflore and floral bouquets and a breakdown of some of the most popular notes, Karen covers everything you need to know about this famous family, and also, why they are so popular.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Florals are among the most popular fragrances in the world of perfume. Karen details the reasons behind this and how synthetic materials help creators keep up with demand. One category of floral fragrances are âFloral Bouquetsâ. This is a fragrance where no single scent stands out above the others. Karen explains the background to these scents and offers some examples for you to sample. In the 80âs it was âWhite Floralsâ that were popular among consumers. Karen breaks down exactly what a white floral is and some of the classic fragrances that were inspired by them. Micheal Edward, and his fragrance wheel, categorise the subfamilies of florals and how they relate to each other in a unique way. Karen summarises his method and conclusions.BEST MOMENTS
âFloral fragrances are the most expansive and versatile family in perfumeryâ
âKeep in mind that fragrance classification is a guide, not a rule.â
âEvery floral note can have a unique part to play, whether they are used as part of a main focus or a complex blend.â
EPISODE LINKS
Natural Isolates Masterclass
Make a Perfume Oil Masterclass
Materials Mastery
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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This week Karen is starting a new mini series, looking at each of different fragrance families. And, to start, sheâs looking at one of her personal favorites, Citrus. In this jam packed show Karen covers what materials go into a citrus fragrance, the right notes to add to make your scent last longer, key regulations to understand and the interesting history of citrus fragrances. And, on top of all of that, Karen also breaks down her step by step guide to help you create your very first citrus fragrance.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What materials go into a citrus fragrance to give it that bright and uplifting quality? Karen breaks down the best materials to achieve a citrus fragrance and gives some top tips on experimenting with different variations of notes. Citrus notes will normally disappear on the skin within minutes, therefore, it is crucial to mix your fragrance with the right mid and base notes. Karen gives her recommendations for the best notes to make your fragrance last. Making a citrus fragrance, like any fragrance, requires research. Karen breaks down the fascinating history of citrus fragrances and gives you recommendations of modern fragrances that you can sample and begin to learn from. So, how do you actually make your own citrus fragrance? Karen explains the process step by step.BEST MOMENTS
âA well balanced eau de cologne canât just rely on citrus notes, otherwise it will last for 10 seconds on the skin.â
âThe beauty of a citrus fragrance lies in its simplicity, but achieving that can be a complex task.â
âJust because youâre using natural materials doesnât mean your product can be used by anyone, they are still packed full of allergens.â
EPISODE LINKS
Make a Citrus Fragrance Masterclass
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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This week Karen is joined by Kelly Colman, an award winning product expert. After developing and selling her own cosmetics products, Kelly now helps other entrepreneurs find their niche and sell their products on Amazon. Surprisingly, most people donât consider the possibility of selling on Amazon for various reasons, such as the high levels of competition or fear or altering the perception of their brand. However, as Kelly explains in this episode, there are masses of customers already on the platform waiting to buy your products, and sheâs about to share with you the secrets to accessing them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Kelly shares with Karen the details of her incredible career journey from dancer to salon owner to product developer and, finally, to where she is today. So many people have developed products and are selling them online, but have never considered the possibility of selling on Amazon. Kelly breaks down what the first research steps are that people should consider before taking this leap. Selling on Amazon isnât as easy as just uploading your product and setting the price. There are hundreds of factors to consider, and most of these, people are unaware of. Kelly explains to Karen the basics of a sales strategy and how you can target the right customers. With the excessive number of products already on Amazon, how do you stand out? Even with a perfect sales strategy you still have to differentiate yourself from the competition. Kelly shares her top tips on how to rise to the top.BEST MOMENTS
âThereâs a really big piece of cake online for sellers and itâs accessible to everyone.â
âPeople want perfection out of the gate, but if you havenât done the research and it doesnât sell, youâve lost so much money and time.â
âAmazon isnât just about selling, it is also a great tool to direct customers to your brand website.â
EPISODE LINKS
Kellyâs Instagram
Kellyâs Website
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kelly Colman is the founder of New CID Cosmetics, a multi-award-winning brand she built from the ground up before selling it in 2018. An entrepreneur and industry expert, Kelly now runs One Winning Product, where she helps others create and launch successful products through Amazon and beyond. With a deep understanding of todayâs fast-paced market, Kelly is passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
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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This week on the show, Karen is talking to Kyle Fearn of Redolescent Fragrances. Kyle created his first fragrance as a way to make an emotional connection with his boyfriend who was travelling across the world. This creation started Kyle on a journey of developing fragrances that would tell a story which people could integrate into their lives. Focusing on wellbeing and mental health, Kyleâs fragrances have had an incredibly positive impact on the lives of many. And, when his grandmother died, Kyle saw a unique opportunity to turn his grief into love through his most bold creation.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
During his time at university Kyleâs then boyfriend was moving to Japan to study. Determined to continue their special connection across the globe, Kyle was drawn to the idea of perfume. He explains to Karen how this idea led to the creation of his first fragrance and his future career. Kyle was suffering from PTSD, having an average of 10 flashbacks a day. One day he climbed a mountain with his mother and, when he reached the summit, he was overcome with peace. He tells Karen how this inspired him to create scents that he hoped would create that sense of peace in others. Toward the end of his life Kyleâs grandfather, David, was suffering with Alzheimer's. When his wife was taken into hospital David received a phone call to say she wouldnât make it through the night. This led to Kyle creating his fragrance âWhat Time Will My Wife Die?â A fragrance designed to create a conversation around loss. Karen and Kyle discuss the idea of using scent as a wellbeing tool and a functional fragrance and how choosing the right scent can vastly affect your mood and create a positive feeling within you.BEST MOMENTS
âPerfume falls between art and science and the most interesting things happen between the intersection of the two.â
âHistorically, functional fragrances were laundry detergent and bathroom cleaners. But, they can be, and are, so much more now. They are powerful wellbeing tools.â
âSmell forms an integral part of early memory structure. If utilised correctly, this can be a powerful tool to promote wellbeing.â
EPISODE LINKS
Redolescent Website
Redolescent Instagram
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kyle Fearn is the perfume maker and owner of Redolescent. Kyle has a degree in chemistry from the University of Cambridge, where he found his passion at the intersection of science and art. His mission? To tell stories through scent. Alongside fragrance, Kyle finds joy in pottery and onstage performances. He lives in the midlands with his husband and two dogs.
Redolescent stems from the idea that scents possess the power to weave stories and rekindle memories. Kyle envisioned fragrances that resonated deeply, serving as companions throughout your day and accompanying pivotal moments in life. He also saw the potential to use fragrance as a platform to discuss other topics, such as mental health. Kyleâs desire to bridge the gap between fragrance and emotional connection gave rise to Redolescent.
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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On this week's show, I'm joined by Ana Kaplan of Kaplan Communications, a PR company that works with beauty and holistic companies. Ana worked for a large PR company but increasingly felt like they didnât match her values. So, during COVID-19, she took the brave move of leaving them behind and setting up her own company that has the unique approach of blending PR and marketing with holistic wellbeing. In this interview with Karen, Ana discusses the importance of creating stories, the all-important âhookâ and the crucial difference between PR and Marketing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
How do we know when a new venture is the right path to follow? Leading on from Ana sharing her story of how she began her company, we discuss the idea of following your heart and the green flags to look out for. Ana moved from working for a large PR firm to setting up her own. She talks about the lessons she learned from the big firm and how they have shaped her philosophy on both her work and selecting the clients she chooses to work with. What is the difference between PR and marketing? Ana explains, giving examples, so that you can organise and be efficient. âThe Hookâ is one of the most important aspects of creating a piece of modern marketing. But what is a hook?, what makes a good one?, and how does the approach change for different types of media? Ana explains.BEST MOMENTS
âWhen things feel natural and fluid, thatâs how you know itâs meant for you.â
âAre your goals coming from a place of ego or from alignment of where we want to be in the world?â
âWhen you're writing a PR story make sure youâve done your research on who you are sending it to, donât just cut and paste.â
EPISODE LINKS
Website: https://www.kaplan-communications.com/about
Yin Yoga: https://thepoweryogaco.com/hybrid-plugin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaplancommunications/
https://www.instagram.com/ana.stasia.maria/VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ana Kaplan is a PR specialist focused on supporting wellbeing and beauty brands; she is also a yin yoga practitioner.
Ana holds space for healing yin yoga sessions incorporating galactic reiki to re-calibrate the nervous system as one melts into a deep meditative relaxed state.
From a young age Ana has always been attracted to spirituality and helping people holistically. The benefits of practising yin yoga has created an awareness of a different quality of being which she weaves into her unique PR approach.When she works with clients, Ana harnesses an intuitive edge to deliver valuable and recognised results. By working in alignment through her bespoke PR services, she is able to share her knowledge for all to benefit from her unique and effective PR philosophy.
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
-
Get your calculators, beakers and bottles ready because this week Karen is tackling the often talked about subject of perfume math, or more simply, the basic calculations involved in creating and scaling up perfume formulations. The idea of perfume math can fill most first timers with dread, especially when considering ratios, scaling up and concentration equations. But, Miss. Gilbert is here to give you the easiest math lesson of your life as she once and for all simplifies perfume math.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
You've got your materials measured out, youâve made your accords, but now you want to scale up or reproduce that scent. This is the part of perfume making that can stump a lot of people. But, Karen has created a spreadsheet to help you. She breaks down what her spreadsheet can do and how to use it. Understanding percentages is essential for creating safe and consistent perfumes. But itâs easy to become stuck when you want your perfume to smell great but also add up to 100%. Karen shares her insights on how to tackle this problem. Getting the ratio of your materials correct is key to making sure your scents blend well, but it can be a daunting aspect to learn. Karen shares some of the many tools to help you understand ratios. Complying with regulations and allergy needs requires complex calculations. But, as Karen explains, you might be worrying about something that isnât essential to your production scale.BEST MOMENTS
âThereâs a misconception that you have to be a math genius to make perfume.â
âWith practice, focus and the right tools you can master these skills without becoming a math expert.â
âA well balanced ratio ensures that fragrance components work together harmoniously.â
EPISODE LINKS
Perfume Calculations Spreadsheet - Use Coupon Code to get this for free: PODCAST-FS
Episode on Diluting
Episode on Jean Carles
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
-
This weekâs show is inspired by a question Karen received from one of her listeners - âCan you give me your top tips on how to overcome the overwhelm of starting perfume making?â
This is a problem that most first timers encounter. That initial adrenaline rush of creating something new can easily be dampened when you start to dive into the world of perfume making and see just how big it is. But fear not, Karen is here to guide you through her top tips, from starting small to building a support network, so that you can tackle the art of perfume making and become a master.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
People can become easily seduced by the appeal of something new and exciting. Karen details what is actually happening to the chemicals in your brain during this time and how you can harness this to your benefit. When you're in a structured environment like a classroom it can feel easy to create a scent, however, when you're back at home on your own you suddenly find yourself without a plan. Karen breaks down how to create a simple plan you can stick to to avoid getting lost in the process. Itâs natural to want to jump to the end and create your magnum opus at the first attempt. However, this will only lead to frustration. Karen explains why creating simple goals is key to the process of becoming a master. One aspect that can cause great overwhelm is the state of your workspace. Karen talks about the importance of not just having a dedicated workspace but also having it organised and fluid so that it works for you.BEST MOMENTS
âThe main thing that is going to make your career is consistent progress. Never stop moving forward.â
âEvery mistake you make is an opportunity to improve your skills.â
âEngaging in continuous learning is a great way to combat fear."
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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