Avsnitt
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This week Karen is talking to Silvia Yonkova, founder of Rose Overdose, a company that grows roses and produces stunning fragrances from them. But, on top of this, Silva also hosts a yearly ‘Rose Retreat’ where budding perfumers can experience what it’s like to harvest roses and work with organic materials. In this interview with Karen, Silvia shares her family's rich history with roses, what inspired her to move into the world of perfumery and gives details of her not-to-be-missed retreat.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Silvia grew up in a family of rose growers. However, when she was young she began to notice a huge difference between the roses her family grew and those available to the public. She explains how this set her on her journey to perfumery. Synthetic rose materials are used in most perfume creations. Silvia explains why this is the case which leads the ladies into a discussion about the differences between natural and synthetic rose materials. Silvia explains what happens at her rose retreats and how she aims to give visitors a different experience from the standard tourist one. Despite her rich history with and love for roses, as Silvia explains to Karen, it was her desire to show the world that Bulgaria doesn’t just smell of roses that led her to perfume making.BEST MOMENTS
“What makes the Bulgarian rose so unique is that it is unapologetic.”
“Don’t be in a rush to create your fragrances. Enjoy the journey and let the materials reveal themselves to you.”
“What you smell with synthetic rose materials is not what roses actually smell like. There is no comparison.”
EPISODE LINKS
Rose Overdose Website
Rose Overdose Retreat
Rose Overdose Instagram
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
In-person class
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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Following on from last week’s episode, Karen is once again joined by Pia Long for part 2 of her interview. In this second part, Pia gets into the passionate side of her career. As she explains to Karen, she has long been an outspoken advocate for regulation reform and fragrance compliance. She explains her views to Karen, and how her work and advocacy led her to be the recipient of unexpected recognition.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In 2024 Pia received the ‘Septimus Piesse Visionary Award’ from the Institute of Art and Olfiction for her advocacy work around regulations, she explains to Karen the work behind the award. Candle fragrances are one of the most challenging areas of perfumery. Pia explains why and gives a breakdown of the regulations involved. Pia talks about the state of regulations in the fragrance trade today and why it is a perfect entry point for people looking to break into the industry. Pia discusses her creative vision, the things that inspire her perfume making and the importance she places on having a story around her brand and scents.BEST MOMENTS
“A lot of people don’t understand that a fragrance is a fragrance.”
“For the first time since IFRA was founded we’re seeing a shift toward regulations that are so overwhelming that people can’t cope.”
“We take time perfecting our products so that we do justice to them, not just as a novelty.”
EPISODE LINKS
Olfiction Website
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Getting Started Guide
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
In-person class
ABOUT THE GUEST
Pia Long is a Finnish-born, UK-based perfumer working in Buckinghamshire at Olfiction, the fragrance lab she co-founded with Nick Gilbert in 2016. Her career in the industry spans four decades, during which she has created a multitude of perfumes and product fragrances. She is a member of the International Society of Perfumer Creators, a member of the British Society of Perfumers, on the Executive Board of IFRA UK and a recipient of the Septimus Piesse Visionary Award from the Institute of Art and Olfaction.
Some of her recent creations include fragrances for Eau de Boujee, Vallense, Zoologist, Beaufort, Lindsay April and Atrium.”
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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Saknas det avsnitt?
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This week Karen is delivering the first of a two-part interview with Pia Long, head perfumer at Olfiction. Pia has worked in almost all areas of the perfume industry from sales and marketing to product development and quality control. She has, to use a cliche, seen and done it all. In the first part of this interview, Pia goes into depth about her incredible journey from student to master and talks with Karen about the changes she has seen in the industry over the years that give her hope that the budding perfumers of today may not have to journey the long, hard road she faced.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Pia breaks down her fascinating journey that led her from a language school in Finland to working in TV and film in London and how a very early mid-life crisis led her into the world of perfumery. Karen and Pia discuss how the vast number of roles within the creative industry often teach you transferable skills that may not be instantly recognisable. The ladies discuss how much the online community of perfumers has changed over the years and how, unlike when they both began, there is a world of knowledge and support at your fingertips. Despite the advances in the accessibility to education and resources it still can be extremely difficult to break into the perfume industry. Karen and Pia discuss the concept of gatekeeping and what you can do to get past it.BEST MOMENTS
“It's extremely difficult to break into the perfume industry, but if you have passion and determination it is possible.”
“The process itself should give you a kick, it shouldn't be about wanting to become famous or being known as a genius.”
“What most people don’t realise is that problem solving is very much a feature of the job when you’re a perfumer.”
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 final episode in Karen’s back to basics mini series, and as a special treat, she is focusing on something that often gets overlooked - fragrance journaling. Although many people don’t have one, a fragrance journal is a key tool to helping you progress as a perfumer. Whether its notes on your formulation or mood boards for inspiration, your journal should be your personal bible for your perfume making journey. In this episode, Karen breaks down why you should have one, what to put in it and how you can then use that information to take your perfume making skills to the next level.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A fragrance journal is an underused tool in perfume making, but Karen aims to change that as she explains the many invaluable reasons for having one. What exactly do you write in a fragrance journal? Karen details the many wonderful and important pieces of information that should go into your journal to help you progress. It’s not just notes that go into your journal. Karen explains how you can utilise digital technology to take your journal to the next level. Once you’ve added information to your journal, then what? As Karen reveals, this is only half of the process, and, where the real learning starts.BEST MOMENTS
“A journal helps you sharpen your skills and create perfumes with more confidence.”
“A journal means you're not relying on your own memory. It gives you a record of what works and what doesn’t.”
“If you regularly review your entries and apply what you have learnt, it will help you to become a better perfumer.
EPISODE LINKS
Master your materials
Fast Track Your perfume making with an in person class
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
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 is back for part three of her ‘Back to Basics’ mini series and this week she is taking a look at how to set up your workspace so you can create perfume safely and efficiently. When we start something new, diving in and trying everything at once is exciting and refreshing, but without proper preparation and organisation this way of working can lead to headaches down the road. In this episode Karen is here to explain not only how to organise your workspace, but why it is essential to do it in a safe and organised manner so that you can start your perfume making journey 100% prepared.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
When you first start making perfume it can be exciting and you can easily find yourself trying a hundred things at once. But, as Karen explains, there can be some drastic consequences to not handling your materials correctly. From ventilation to goggles and surface cleaner to storage, Karen goes into detail on the basics you need to have a safe workspace. Once you’ve got your workspace all set it is a good time to revisit dilution. Karen discusses how correct dilution practices can assist you in having efficient working practices. When you’re in ‘flow’ it can be easy to make simple mistakes. Karen talks about the importance of labelling, not just your materials, but also your blends. And, what you should put on those labels.BEST MOMENTS
“Getting into good safety habits from the get go is going to make your perfume making journey so much easier.”
“If you are selling your fragrances, or even just thinking about giving them to your friends and family, it is so important to understand basic safety rules.”
“Storage isn’t just about keeping your materials fresh, it’s about avoiding spillages and making sure your materials don’t oxidise.”
EPISODE LINKS
Master your materials
Set Up your Workspace
Make A Perfume Oil
Fast Track Your perfume making with an in person class
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
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’s ‘back to basics’ mini-series continues this week with part two, which takes a look at ‘Formulation’. Formulation is, as Karen says, “The reason you are here.” It is the very essence of perfume making, but it is also an area that most beginners rush into and, by doing so, make a number of costly, but easily avoidable, mistakes. In this episode, Karen breaks down the basics of formulation, guides you through the process of creating stunning formulas and goes into detail on the most common mistakes so that you can avoid them and formulate with ease.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A mistake a lot of beginners make is to throw their favourite materials together and expect a beautiful-smelling scent. However, as Karen explains, without a complete understanding of what each material will bring to the party, this will inevitably end in disaster. Karen introduces the idea of scent mapping - a way to organise and guide your material selection. She discusses in detail how it works and how it can enable you to create solid formulations. Less is often more when it comes to formulation. Karen gives her advice on how to avoid a very costly mistake - using too many conflicting materials. What are the most common mistakes that beginners make when it comes to formulation? Karen goes over them in detail and gives you pointers on how to avoid them.BEST MOMENTS
“There’s a temptation to throw together your favourite materials and hope that something magical will happen, but successful perfumes are not just about mixing materials that you love the smell of.”
“As you get comfortable with formulation it is easy to fall into a few common traps. Knowing what to watch out for is going to save you time.”
“Just because you’ve got something that smells great initially, doesn’t mean you have to stop. you can still tweak it.”
EPISODE LINKS
In Person Class
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
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 introducing a new mini series that will be looking back at the basics of creating your own fragrances. In this first part Karen is tackling the topic of selecting the right materials. With so many options out there, material selection can be an overwhelming task for first-timers. But Karen is here to guide you through everything from synthetics or naturals to choosing the right supplier and how to store your materials so that you can begin your perfume making journey today.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
There’s a trap that most first-time perfumers fall into, and that is buying any and all materials that you come across. Karen discusses how to set your own criteria for the materials you should buy. Natural or Synthetic Materials? - a question that every first-time perfumer will find themselves asking. Karen breaks down the pros and cons of each. Once you’ve selected your materials, where do you buy them from? As Karen stresses, it’s crucial to buy your materials from quality suppliers, and she tells you the things to look out for. Now that you have your materials you have to store them correctly. Karen outlines the crucial dos and don’ts of material storage.BEST MOMENTS
“When you start out, it’s important to choose materials that align with your creative vision.”
“Knowing your style is going to help you make more informed choices when selecting materials.”
“If you’re unsure about a certain material, buy a sample and experiment before buying in bulk.”
EPISODE LINKS
Materials Mastery
In Person Class
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
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 going all the way back to a fundamental topic for those starting their journey in perfumery - “Why alcohol based perfumes are the best starting point for beginners.” Alcohol, as a base material, often gets overlooked and has many false narratives surrounding it. But, it is actually the best place to start your perfume journey. In this episode, Karen is here to explain what makes alcohol so unique and debunk all those myths surrounding it so that you can start your perfume making journey with ease.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Alcohol evaporates very quickly. Most people learn this and instantly assume it to be a negative. However, Karen explains why this property is a game changer for beginners. How do your materials react to an alcohol base versus an oil base? Karen breaks down in detail the difference between the two. Alcohol is a very volatile solvent. Karen explains how this property allows you to create scents with more complexity and depth. There are many myths surrounding the use of alcohol in perfumery, such as “alcohol dries out the skin.” Karen is here to debunk those myths.BEST MOMENTS
“Alcohol reveals the true nature of your materials clearly and cleanly.”
“If you have built your business around oil based scents, don’t abandon that entirely, you can introduce alcohol slowly.”
“Alcohol based perfumes are so much more versatile than oil based.”
EPISODE LINKS
In Person Classes
Artisan Perfumery Mastermind
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 from a listener that posed an interesting question…”Should I keep my business doing what is already working or should I branch out and try something new?” Stepping into a new world can be daunting and can leave you second guessing if you’ve made the right choice, however, there is a way to do this and minimise your risk. This week, Karen is here to explain how you can expand your business into new and exciting avenues without losing what you have built and how you can grow your brand with confidence.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Before you start introducing new ways of working, or even new product lines, take a long hard look at what you’re already doing. As Karen explains, if it’s working, there’s a reason for that, so look at how you can leverage that to support other parts of the business.
What are the best products to get started with when thinking about expansion? Karen details some of the easiest products to develop and gives you a warning about the ones to avoid.
Karen breaks down the principle of the ‘soft launch’ and how it can help you to test new products without the excessive time and expense of a full launch.
The fear of fear itself is often the very thing that holds us back from getting where we want to go. Karen discusses what that fear might actually be about and how to overcome it.
BEST MOMENTS
“There’s a lot of power in stability and it’s the smartest place to grow from.”
“Ultimately you want to gain the skills to design scents that truly represent your brand.”
“The biggest thing that can stop us getting where we want to go is 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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On this week's show Karen is joined by a leader in the tech world of fragrance, Camila Thomas. Founder of Air Parfum, a device that allows you to test multiple fragrance without sensory overwhelm, WikiParfum, a digital encyclopedia of fragrance, and ScentXP, a platform that bridges the gap behind online and in-store scent discovery. In this interview with Karen, Camila explains how technology and AI are revolutionising the consumer experience in the fragrance sector, why an open attitude to tech will benefit everybody and how sight is the new smell.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
When Camila, who had a background in the world of tech, entered the fragrance industry she identified a disconnect between the consumer and the product that she felt could be bridged with new technology. She explains to Karen how these initial discoveries started the journey that she is on today.
Most companies that develop new technology in the fragrance industry limit its use to their own fragrances. Karen and Camila discuss the importance of opening up our tech to the whole sector.
Wikiparfum, the digital encyclopedia that Camila developed, allows consumers to understand what fragrances will smell like without actually smelling them. Camila explains how the platform works.
Airparfum is a device that allows people to test multiple scents without overwhelming their senses. Camila explains how it was developed, how it works and why it revolutionises fragrance testing.
BEST MOMENTS
“Fragrance is a category that many people in marketing love, but very few understand.”
“The only way to make the right recommendation of a fragrance is to make it for the individual, independently, regardless of who makes the fragrance.”
“The ability to visualize a scent suddenly makes it a universal language.”
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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Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of 2025. Before bursting into the new year with a host of new content, Karen is here to deliver an interactive episode that will allow you to look back and reflect on 2024. Whilst you may not think you achieved much last year, Karen is here to offer you some prompts and advice that might just make you think different. And, once you’ve completed your recap of 2024 Karen will walk you through how these observations can help make 2025 a year to remember.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Before Karen takes a look back at 2024 she shares some titbits of what listeners can look forward to on the show in 2025 and some information on her upcoming courses. Karen invites you to challenge yourself and write down the achievements you made during the last 12 months. Whilst they may appear to be small at first, writing them down may lead to a revelation. What are your values? A question that not many of us think about. Karen encourages you to make a list of your values, look back at how you might have compromised on them in the past and how that can help you to be more aligned with them in the future. Having looked back at last year, Karen sets you the task of taking what you have learned and setting your intentions for the next 12 months. Not sure what these can be? Don’t worry, Karen is on hand to offer some suggestions.BEST MOMENTS
“The more you reflect, the more you will realise how far you have come.”
“We put so much pressure on ourselves with new year resolutions, why not try setting a new year's intention instead.”
“Sharing your goals makes them more real. Talk to your friends or your online community about the things you want to achieve.”
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Shift
In Person Classes
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 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 Karen’s ‘Scent Shift’ 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
“Emotional anchors are created by repeating a scent during emotionally meaningful moments.”
“Scent can not just shape your experiences but it can also provide emotional support.”
“Emotional anchors make you aware of how the power of scent affects your mindset.”
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 week’s episode marks the first in a series of shows inspired by Karen’s ‘Scent Shift’ 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 ‘set an intention’ 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
“The connection of scent and memory isn’t just anecdotal, it’s rooted in how our brains function.”
“Scent doesn’t just improve emotions, it can be used to enhance your focus during work, promote creativity or increase energy during workouts.”
“Consistency is key. The more you practice, the better you will become.”
EPISODE LINKS
The Scent Shift
The Scent Shift £50 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
“Every successful perfumer started where you are now.”
“Simplify your palette. Pick a few materials you are curious about and get to know them deeply.”
“Using a mind map, brainstorm or mood board is a great starting point to help you map out your fragrance.”
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
-
This week on the show Karen is joined by Viola Levy, journalist, founder of branding agency ‘Smart, Beauty Creative” 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. That’s 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 ‘non negotiable’ 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
“There’s so much choice out there now, and that’s a great thing. People like to change their perfume as often as they change their clothes.”
“Brands have to have an opinion and a voice, they need to show they’re passionate about more than just selling their products.”
“AI is a great tool, but it shouldn’t be in the driving seat. You’ll always need a human touch.”
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. It’s less about playing on women’s low self-esteem, inventing problems (and products to “solve” them) or peddling false promises and miracles in jars. It’s 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 Karen’s 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
● 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.
● 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.
● Despite some people’s 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.
● 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
“Social media is an incredible tool to help single person businesses reach millions of customers for pennies.”
“It’s essential that you look at social media as a business tool and not as a consumer space.”
“The best thing about social media - You don’t pay for advertising.”
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
-
Running a successful perfume business doesn’t 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. That’s 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 it’s not as scary as you first think.BEST MOMENTS
“Let your vision be your anchor.”
“When we start to make progress it is often our fear of failure that can hold us back.”
“Our fears are there to keep us safe, but they can also keep us stuck, if we don’t acknowledge them.”
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
-
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. Karen’s instant reaction - “This is not enough time.” Perfume making is not just a science, it’s an art. And, like all art, it can’t 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
It’s 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 isn’t just about creativity, it’s 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
“The most important and enjoyable part of the perfume making journey is the learning and creating.”
“The more time you spend trying things out, the more confident you’re going to become as a perfume maker.”
“When you’ve taken the time to find your voice in your brand, it really shows in your work and that’s what will make you stand out.”
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
-
This week Karen is joined by Liz Grech, an alumni of Karen’s 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 wasn’t Liz’s 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
“One of the best pieces of advice I can give is ‘know when to stop tinkering’.”
“Do what you can with social media, don’t think you have to be everywhere doing everything.”
“The people that have opted into your email list are the ones that have said ‘I’m interested.’, so don’t ignore them.”
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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