This week on the show, Karen is joined by Thomas Dunckley AKA The Candy Perfume Boy, 6 time Jasmine award winner, writer, trainer and industry consultant. After taking a step away from the industry Thomas has returned with a new mission and a new branding - ‘Making Scents Make Sense’. Thomas’ mission is to cut through the snobbery and gatekeeping traditionally associated with the perfume industry in an attempt to make it more accessible to more people. In this interview with Karen, Thomas breaks down his mission, his manifesto and how, piece by piece, the influencers and bloggers are making the fragrance industry accessible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Despite most people's familiarity with blogging, in the grand scheme, it is still a relatively new medium. Karen and Thomas discuss how blogging was first perceived when it was adopted by the perfume industry and how it helped change the industry for the better.
• Blogging opened the door to the influencers and influencer culture. Thomas discusses how influencers on TikTok and YouTube have helped transform the perfume industry without the need for all the knowledge that was being held by gatekeepers for so many years.
• After suffering from burnout from having so many projects, Thomas took a step away from the perfume industry and his alter ego of The Candy Perfume Boy. However, when inspiration struck he made a comeback. He explains to Karen why he decided to come back and how he was determined to do it on his own terms.
• “If you smell it, it’s there” - This is a phrase that Thomas wholeheartedly believes in. He explains to Karen the meaning he takes from it and how that meaning extends to other avenues of the fragrance industry, and, how it helps open the doors of the industry to anyone.

BEST MOMENTS

“The rise of influencer culture has stripped away most of the snobbery from the big brands.”

“Perfume marketing is gender specific, but fragrance doesn’t have gender.”

“In the past, the industry didn’t know what was happening outside the industry, but with the advent of influencers, that has changed.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

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 Artisan Perfumery Mastermind alumni Gabrielle Durand, the founder of natural fragrance brand ‘On the Nose’ perfumes. After a long career in the corporate world of HR, Gabrielle decided to take a leap of faith and follow her lifelong dream of being a perfumer. Changing your career late in life can be a very daunting prospect, but Gabrielle was determined to succeed. In this inspirational interview with Karen, Gabrielle takes us, step by step, on her journey from day job to dream job.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Gabrielle had a long and successful career in HR, however the bug to be a perfumer was one that hadn’t left her since childhood. She recounts to Karen how a chance encounter with online learning led her into her dream career at the tender age of 50.
• Gabrielle started making perfumes as a test. Confident that she could make it into a business, it wasn’t until her friend and family started asking for refills that she realised other people were taking it seriously too. She explains to Karen how this spurred her on to take the leap into full time perfumery.
• The lessons Gabrielle learned in the corporate world served her well when she launched her new perfume business. She details how she used her learnings to make sure her brand was ready to launch and how it allowed her to communicate her style and vision effectively.
• A lot of people carry around the misconception that it’s too late to try something new. Gabrielle, who came to perfumery in her 50’s, explains to listeners why it’s never too late to make a change.

BEST MOMENTS

“It's not just about getting your product to a customer, it’s about making that experience valuable and memorable.”

“In a year, you’re going to be a year older and you’re still going to be questioning if you should make a change. So do it now.”

“It’s not just about getting the perfume right, it’s also about getting the packaging and design right.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Perfume Business Launch Plan

Bespoke Perfumery Masterclass

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

Getting Started Guide

EPISODE LINKS

On The Nose Perfumes

On The Nose Perfumes Instagram

Sniffing Out The Details blog

ABOUT THE GUEST

Gabrielle Durand is the founder of On The Nose Perfumes, a natural luxury brand for those who believe natural shouldn’t mean simple. A self-professed maximalist at heart, she creates complex, high-impact fragrances using only pure, natural materials - no shortcuts, no synthetics.
Her work blends craftsmanship, creativity, and a deep respect for nature to offer a new vision of what luxury perfumery can be.

ABOUT THE HOST

Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.

Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.

With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques.

Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Email

This week Karen is joined by Kate Beavis, a social media strategist and content expert. Kate has been working with Karen since 2018 on her social media presence to make her brand feel authentic and not overwhelming. And, after Karen’s initial reluctance to use social media, Kate has shown her the many benefits that can come from embracing your online presence. In this interview, Kate spills the many secrets, tips and tricks she has learned over the years, from which social media platform you should use to how to drive engagement with your posts, so that you can grow your online presence and, ultimately, your brand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When Kate started working with Karen they both agreed that Karen’s social media profile was well below average, because she was making some of the most common mistakes. Kate breaks down what those mistakes are and how to avoid them.
• With so many social media platforms these days it’s hard to know which ones to join. Do you pick one or join multiple? Kate explains her method for discovering which is the best platform for you.
• For all its advantages, social media can be a difficult tool if you are looking to create direct sales of your product. Kate discusses how to overcome this hurdle and use the tools available to you to your advantage.
• The idea of creating a new post every day for your social media feeds can be exhausting. However, repurposing old posts can be an invaluable solution to this problem. Kate shares how to repurpose your content and the benefits that can come from this.

BEST MOMENTS

“Most people only show up on social media when they have something to sell or have something personal to say. The trick is to get a mix of both.”

“Don’t chase perfectionism. Building a community is infinitely more important than having a perfect feed.”

“The aim of every post is to get your audience and other people to interact.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

EPISODE LINKS

The Indie Practice

Bossing Midlife

Kate's Instagram

ABOUT THE HOST

Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.

Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.

With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques.

Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Email

The world of indie perfumes has become extremely crowded, leading people to wonder if there is space for their product in a marketplace full to the brim. And, that is the question Karen is here to address this week. Entering any marketplace as a beginner can feel daunting, but facing one that is over-saturated and full of high end brands posing as independent can easily be enough to give you second thoughts. However, in this week's episode, Karen is here to tell you that you have nothing to fear and, there is space for you, as long as you find your niche…

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Gatekeeping will tell you there is only one way to become a perfumer and if you don’t follow that path, you’re doomed to fail. However, Karen does not buy into this theory and explains how there are in fact many routes into the perfume industry.
• A lot of people reverse engineer their product by looking for something that doesn’t exist in the marketplace and then creating a product to fit that space. But, as Karen explains, the real niche is already inside of you, you just have to find it.
• But, how do you find that niche? Karen shares her personal journey on how she discovered hers and gives you some guidance on how you might find yours.
• To help you find your place in the perfume world, Karen has created a set of journal prompts and an accompanying audio guide. She explains how they work and what you will achieve by using them.

BEST MOMENTS

“It’s not always the flashiest branding or fanciest bottle that creates lasting impact. What really cuts through the noise is the work that feels intentional.”

“What the world doesn’t need is more generic.”

“The thing that feels the most ‘you’ is often the thing that you have been dismissing as too weird or too impractical.”

EPISODE LINKS:

Free Journal Prompts + Audio Guide

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

ABOUT THE HOST

Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.

Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.

With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques.

Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Email

Last week Karen took the time to reflect but, as most of us do after we have a brief rest bite, she now feels the pressure to act with urgency creeping up on her. So, what happens when ambition and energy are at complete odds? The pressure we place on ourselves to be instantly successful, coupled with the pressure from society, is very real and can cause us to doubt our every move. However, the one thing that society doesn't teach us is that success is subjective. In this week's episode, Karen is here to tell you that you’re doing great, that you don’t have to conform, and shares with you the secrets to finding your own path.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• One common thought people have after a period of reflection is that you “have missed your moment”, which is only enhanced by the current culture of ‘early success is the best success’ However, Karen suggests that, if you pause and look, you might actually be exactly where you need to be.
• Finding your own rhythm and way of working is the key to success. Karen shares some tips, and a valuable resource on how to find the working method that works for you.
• Karen has discovered that the best working method for her is what she calls ‘Clarity and Flow.’ She explains what this means, how she achieves it and the benefits she receives from working this way.
• As much as you can perfect your working methods by yourself, there is still one component that everyone needs…external help. Karen explains the importance of asking for help and suggests some places to look.

BEST MOMENTS

“You have to learn how to move forward differently with compassion and support in a way that works for you.”

“The truth is that most meaningful work takes time.”

“The path of creativity is not linear.”

“Rest is not a reward, it's a requirement.”

EPISODE LINKS

Free Journal Prompts and Audio Guide

Mindset Course

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

ABOUT THE HOST

Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online, which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.

Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.

With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques.

Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Email

Karen has just returned from a four week trip around Australia where she attended a family wedding and spent time catching up with old friends. However, what struck her unexpectedly, was what she discovered about herself, and her creative process, once she actually stopped and got off the hamster wheel. On this week’s episode, Karen shares both her travel experiences and what they revealed to her in the larger scheme of things, once she had time to look back and reflect.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Karen spent some time catching up with old friends in Australia. However, when she was there she realised that the friendships had stood the test of time because of the similar career paths they had all taken. She reflects on this and explains the importance of ‘finding your tribe.’
• One of Karen’s friends had recently moved back to Australia and was embarking on a new career, but was doubting herself. Karen talks about these transition phases and how it is easy to question if we have made the right choice, but shares tools that you can use to evaluate.
• Karen’s next visit was to an artist friend that lives on a farm and uses discarded materials for her artwork. This led Karen to the realisation that we often fall into a trap of thinking we need a perfect plan and all the best tools to start creating, but, as she explains, you might just need what is already there.
• One of the big things that Karen did when she was away was not work. But, she also found herself not checking social media or worrying about her regular day to day activities. She talks about how this enabled her inspiration to return as she was no longer pressured to create from the pressure of being on the hamster wheel.

BEST MOMENTS

“When we travel there are some really valuable insights that we can stumble upon.”

“We are allowed to evolve and we are allowed to do it in our own time.”

“There are infinite ways to live and create, find the one that works for you.”

EPISODE LINKS

🎧 Ready to reconnect with your creative clarity?
Grab my free journal prompts + private podcast here.

Miss Libby Rose

Terina Smith Recycling Artist Instagram

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 on the show by Karen Haller, an expert in behavioural colour psychology and author of ‘The Little Book of Colour’, to discuss how colour shapes our experience of scent. The first thing any consumer sees when they interact with your product is the colours, and whether you mean it or not, the consumer will have an emotional response to that colour. In this fascinating interview, Karen shares her vast knowledge on the use of colour, how it makes us feel and behave and how you can use colour to maximum effect to influence your customers and elevate your brand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Karen tried a variety of careers before she arrived at colour psychology. She explains how an epiphany moment with a brown hat and teal feathers opened a whole new world to her.
• Karen discusses how brands use colour, both its hue and saturation, to form consumers' preconceptions around the scent and taste of a product.
• Whether we want to or not, we make assumptions on products as soon as we see the colours. Karen explains why this happens and the importance of aligning the colours of your brand to your product.
• Karen outlines how you can use colour to add aspects to your branding that you might not otherwise be able to afford.

BEST MOMENTS

“One of the biggest myths of colour psychology is that all hues of the same colour give us the same response.”

“We see colour before anything else and colour is an emotion.”

“If your branding and ethos doesn’t align with your colours then your customers will be turned off.”

EPISODE LINKS

Karen Haller Website

The Little Book of Colour

Karen Haller Instagram

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 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