Man In The Mirror

It’s your weekly ‘Man in the Mirror’ fix and this week’s guest is someone I’ve wanted to get on the show for a long time - it’s Geza Schoen, co-founder & perfumer at Escentric Molecules.The brand turns 20 years old this year and is about to open their first stand-alone store in Berlin. It was the perfect chance to chat to Geza about his background, his work, the brand and the plans for the future. There’s a brand new fragrance pillar called ‘Cologne One’ that has just been released and it fits seamlessly into the range. Bright, refreshing, optimistic and a riff on a Gin & Tonic. It has the signature Escentric Molecules ease-of-wear and a dry down of ambroxan, Iso E Super and musk that helps it linger on the skin. I’ve been loving wearing it over the last few weeks. https://www.escentric.com/products/cologne-oneGeza mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Biotherm Homme - Aquapower Creamhttps://int.biotherm.com/en_GB/mens-grooming/by-mens-collection/aquapower/Eccentric Molecules - 01, 03, 05 Body Lotionhttps://www.escentric.com/collections/body-lotionSebastian - Craft Clayhttps://www.sebastianprofessional.com/en-GB/products/specialists/craft-clay-texturizing-and-flexible-styling-clayDavidoff Cool Water - Deodorant Stickhttps://www.justmylook.com/products/davidoff-cool-water-for-men-deodorant-stick-75gYou can find out more here:Brand website:https://www.escentric.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/escentric_molecules/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a brand new season of Man in the Mirror! There’s been a slight hiatus between seasons, slightly longer than planned, to be honest - but I’m back! Thanks so much for joining me for this first episode in season 11, with perfumer Nicolas Bonneville.Nicolas is a perfumer with DSM Firmenich, one of the major fragrance houses. He was in London recently to talk about the Harrods exclusive ‘London Confidential’ for Givenchy. We met in Harrods and chatted about his background, how he got into fragrance and of course the beautiful fragrance he’s created to celebrate the brand new Givenchy boutique within Harrods, London. It draws on the luxury brand’s heritage and its connection to the famous Knightsbridge department store. You can find more information here:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/c/givenchy-la-collection-particuliereNicolas mentioned the following products/services from his morning and evening routines:L’Oreal Men Expert - Moisturiserhttps://www.loreal-paris.co.uk/men-expert-hydra-energetic/men-expert-hydra-energetic-anti-fatigue-moisturiserHair Wax - VariousYou can find Nicolas on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/bonneville.nicolas/Brand website:https://www.givenchybeauty.com/gbBrand Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/givenchybeauty/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the joys of this job is learning about new brands - and one of my favourites fragrance discoveries of 2025 is Nosu. I met the co-founders, Jacob Grainger & Lucy Webster at the Barnes Fragrance Fair earlier in the year and it was a pleasure to re-connect with Jacob recently for the podcast.Jacob is the co-founder and self-taught perfumer of Nosu, a British indie perfume house. There are currently 3 fragrances in the collection, made in North London and each one is accompanied by an original artwork created by Lucy, inspired by the textures and themes within the scent. Together, these elements blur the lines between the visual and the olfactory worlds, offering a full sensory experience.Lucy & Jacob are part of a new wave of talented indie brands who are doing things their own way and working collaboratively. In line with that ethos, Nosu are taking part in the first ‘Pop Up Perfumery’ where various brands will take over a temporary space at 69 York Street, London W1 from 13-16th Nov 2025, alongside Eau de Boujee, Soul Notes and Sainte Cellier. https://www.instagram.com/thepopupperfumery/They have also created a bespoke scent for the ‘Passengers’ exhibition at Parallel LDN Gallery, which is running until the end of November in Devonshire Square in London. https://www.instagram.com/parallellondon/Jacob mentioned the following products/services from his morning and evening routines:Tocobo - Moisturiserhttps://www.boots.com/tocobo-multi-ceramide-cream-50ml-10359710The Ouai - The Wave Salt Sprayhttps://theouai.co.uk/products/wave-spray?variant=54933620228478George Northwood Barbers - Shoreditch, Londonhttps://www.georgenorthwood.com/You can find Nosu on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/nosuparfum/?hl=enBrand website:https://www.nosuparfum.com/Nosu Fragrances are available from the following stores:https://www.instagram.com/roullierwhite/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/parfumledanceuk/?hl=en- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production and Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Man in the Mirror went overseas for the first time last month! I was the guest of the Santa Eulalia Perfumes brand, which is part of the stunning Santa Eulalia department store in Barcelona, Spain. The original shop was founded in 1843 and today, on a different site, is the premium multi-brand fashion store in the city.Santa Eulalia stock some of the finest designer brands including Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Chloe, Jil Sander to name just a few. They also create their own made-to-measure suits, menswear and tailoring under the Santa Eulalia name. Luis Sans is the President of store and the fragrance house, he’s the fourth generation of his family to be custodians of the brand and he very kindly agreed to take part in ‘Man in The Mirror’ in September 2025. Santa Eulalia Perfumes represent the essence of Barcelona - showcasing both the traditional and the cosmopolitan sides of the city. There is a new intense, more powerful collection of some of the classic fragrances under the ‘Forte’ banner. They are available in some of the best perfume boutiques globally, as well as in the Santa Eulalia shop itself. In the UK the range is in Liberty. Luis mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Proraso - Shaving Soap:https://proraso.com/en/products/shaving/Santa Eulalia Perfumes - 175, Obscuro, Marinis:https://www.santaeulalia.com/en-gb/collections/perfumes-santa-eulalia/perfumesIn the UK:https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/s/santa-eulalia/You can find Santa Eulalia Perfumes on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/santaeulaliaperfumes/Santa Eulalia Store on IG:https://www.instagram.com/santaeulalia1843/Brand website:https://www.santaeulaliaperfumes.com/en/(PR trip) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc-Antoine Barrois is a guest I’ve been wanting to feature on the podcast for a long while, so I was thrilled when we got the opportunity to spend some time together this summer at the brand’s flagship UK store in central London. Marc-Antoine is a couturier, as well as the Founder & Artistic Director of his eponymous Maison. He designs beautiful tuxedos, crisp white shirts and jewellery, but is equally well known for his collection of fragrances, created in collaboration with perfumer and friend Quentin Bisch. The perfumes have won countless awards, been critically acclaimed and found a loyal and ever-growing audience. I can’t think of any perfume that gets me as many comments and compliments as ‘Ganymede’ from Marc-Antoine Barrois.The house is still independent and has a dedicated team (including Marc-Antoine’s younger brother, another Quentin!) who carefully plot the brand’s course and slowly, but surely introduce new products and new markets. Here in the UK there is a must-see shop in the Piccadilly Arcade that gives a tantalising glimpse into the ‘Marc-Antoine Barrois universe’ - complete with an upside down blue rabbit in the window! They also have a presence in Harrods and Selfridges. Marc-Antoine mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Augustinus Bader - Hand Creamhttps://augustinusbader.com/uk/en/the-hand-treatmentB683 Fragrance - Marc-Antoine Barroishttps://marcantoinebarrois.com/en-gb/products/b683You can find Marc-Antoine Barrois on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/marcantoinebarrois/Marc-Antoine’s personal IG:https://www.instagram.com/mabarrois/Brand website:https://marcantoinebarrois.com/en-gb- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that brands and products are a result of life choices and decisions that may have seemed insignificant at the time. One such decision led Craig Andrade to leave work early to attend a candle making workshop. He fell in love with the craft, the creativity and the connection with olfaction and he decided to make a change and quit his corporate law role. Craig’s ‘Act II’ began when he studied perfumery at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and eventually he founded his own brand, Raconteur in Australia - focusing on native botanicals. There are now three stores in Australia and the brand is stocked globally, including at Bloom in London. Craig says:“My perfumery practice straddles beauty, art, history, science, botany, geography, and physiology. It comprises rich layers of storytelling and meaning. My focus is on making natural fragrances that combine these elements and provide both pleasure and purpose.”Craig mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Sodashi - Cleanser Clay, Face Polish and Sleek Moisturiserhttps://www.sodashi.co.uk/products/Cancer Council of Australia - Sunscreenhttps://www.cancercouncilshop.org.au/collections/sunscreenRaconteur fragrances are available here in the UK at Bloom - and via the Raconteur website globally. https://bloomperfume.co.uk/collections/raconteurYou can find Raconteur on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/the_rac_on_teur/Raconteur website:https://theraconteur.co/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 3 in the new season. I’m following up one perfumer with another, this time a young, exciting perfumer who is really making waves at the moment. It’s Florian Gallo, who works for the fragrance house DSM-Firmenich. We spoke particularly in relation to a beautiful fragrance Florian has created for luxury Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli called ‘Sofio Zenit’, a study in white fig and aromatics that’s been a huge favourite of mine all summer. It’s part of the’ ‘Icanti Poetici’ collection from the brand which also features fragrances from Alberto Morillas (last week’s guest!) as well as Quentin Bisch and Jordi Fernandez.Florian mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:DOP - Douche Creme - Bonbon Colahttps://www.naturalfrenchsoap.com/dop-douche-creme-bonbon-cola-250mlSofio Zenit from Brunello Cucinelli is out now:https://www.harrods.com/en-ua/p/brunello-cucinelli-soffio-zenit-parfum-100ml-000000000007732451You can find Brunello Cucinelli on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/brunellocucinelli_brand/Florian Gallo is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/floriangallo_perfumer/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for joining me for episode 2 of the brand new season of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ It’s a very special episode this week and something of a career highlight - my guest is none other than Master Perfumer and Founder of niche house Mizensir, Alberto Morillas.Alberto is the nose behind many of the most iconic fragrances of the last 50 years - ck One, Acqua di Gio, Marc Jacobs ‘Daisy’, Kenzo ’Flower’, to name just a handful. He also founded his own brand Mizensir in 1999 in Geneva. Alberto and I chatted in July 2025 before I hosted his masterclass at Harrods, for new Mizensir fragrance ‘Ylang Spirit.’ Morillas has been working with the same fragrance house, DSM Firmenich for over 50 years and we spoke about this relationship, his fragrances, work, travel, his family, garden and his morning routine.Alberto was every bit as charming and engaging as I hoped he would be, with a huge zest for life and a twinkle is his eye! What’s more, his love for his work was evident in everything he said. I hope you enjoy our conversation. He mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Pure Altitude - Edelweiss No. 1 creamhttps://pure-altitude.com/en/products/creme-edelweiss-n-1-universelle-hydratante-protectriceYlang Spirit from Mizensir is out now and available in Harrods:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/mizensir-ylang-spirit-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007810779You can find Mizensir online at:https://www.mizensir.com/en-gbOn Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/mizensirAlberto is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/morillas.alberto/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you miss me?! Welcome back to the new season of ‘Man in the Mirror’… and somehow we’ve made it to season 10! This season promises to be the best one yet and I’m kicking things off with a guest I’ve wanted to chat to for such a long time - it’s Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at Amouage. Renaud has been with the Omani house of Amouage since 2019 and leads a team that has delivered huge success for the brand in recent years. Just last week Renaud was named as one of the ‘100 Innovators’ of 2025 by Vogue Business. The brand has seen an increase in their global footprint - and there have been critically and commercially successful launches such as The Odyssey Collection (including Guidance) and the Essences Collection.  Salmon is reknowned for his excellent working relationship with perfumers and has created fragrances with the likes of Quentin Bisch, Julien Rasquinet, Cécile Zarokian and Bertrand Duchaufour, to name just a few.I sat down with Renaud in July ’25 in Harrods, London. He was in the store for the release of a Harrods exclusive fragrance, ‘Reception’, created with (former podcast guest) perfumer, Pierre Negrin. The research work Renaud did in the Harrods archive and the way he’s attempted to bring together the ideas of Omani hospitality with the welcome you get at the world’s most famous department store highlights his unique approach to being a Creative Director. I found Salmon to be thoughtful, inquisitive and humble. In our wide ranging conversation we talk about craft, creativity, luxury and innovation, as well as what he thinks when he looks in the mirror. Renaud mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:Sulwhasoo - Daily Fluid Sunscreenhttps://int.sulwhasoo.com/products/uv-daily-fluid-sunscreenAugustinus Bader Productshttps://augustinusbader.com/uk/enDr Levy Switzerland Products https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/c/brands/dr-levy-switzerland/shop-all/‘Reception’ (part of the ‘Essences Collection’) is out now, exclusively at Harrodshttps://www.harrods.com/en-ua/p/amouage-reception-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007810739You can find Amouage online at:https://amouage.com/en-ukOn Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/amouageofficial/Renaud is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/renaudsalmon/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the last episode in the current season of ‘Man in the Mirror’ and this one is just me for a change! I wanted to highlight the Barnes Fragrance Fair that is taking place this Saturday 17th May 2025 in Barnes, West London. I’ll be hosting 2 talks during the fair, the first at 9.30a.m. is called ‘Scents & Songs’ and I’ll be hosting alongside Olympic Studios archivist Roger Miles. We’ll be delving into the rich legacy of the world famous Olympic Studios in Barnes and I’ll be matching a fragrance to 6 iconic songs that were recorded there. Think of it as ‘musical sniff-along’ and there will be plenty of chance for interaction and questions. The auditorium is within the Olympic Studios complex, which is now an independent cinema. Ticket info below.Then at 2pm I’ll be hosting a panel talk called ‘Men Smell’ featuring 4 guests (including 2 former guests from the podcast!) I’ll be joined by journalist Adam Hurly, retail buyer Vesa Kalho, content creator TJ Talks Scents and writer and YouTube creator Persolaise. It promises to be a lively and interactive conversation, I do hope you can join us! There are also loads of other workshops and talks from other leading fragrance writers, presenters and podcast hosts. It’s free to attend the main fair - the talks and workshops are ticketed and the tickets can be bought via the link below. Ticket details are here:https://www.barnesfragrancefair.com/talks-2025I also mentioned the following products that I’ve been loving recently:Jo Malone London - Black Cedarwood & Juniper Shaving Cream and Aftershave Moisturiserhttps://www.jomalone.co.uk/gents/groomingJo Malone London - Care Collection - (Exclusive to Selfridges)https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/jo-malone-london/collection-care2dcollection/Acqua di Parma - Buongiorno Eau de Parfumhttps://www.johnlewis.com/acqua-di-parma-buongiorno-eau-de-parfum/p113439344Aesop - Eleos Body Cleanserhttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/body-hand/body-cleansers-and-scrubs/eleos-nourishing-body-cleanser/Kiehls - Routinehttps://www.kiehls.co.uk/mensAdam Reed Arkive - Shampoo and Conditionerhttps://arkiveheadcare.com/collections/cleanse-treatVeronique Gabai - Eau D’Azur (EDP) https://veroniquegabai.com/collections/eau-dazurSee you in the summer for season 10. Thanks for all your support and thanks for listening!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I heard about a collaboration between British menswear specialist MOSS (formerly Moss Bros) and Happy Paul, a mood-lifting skincare and fragrance brand, I thought it would be the perfect thing to discuss on Man in the Mirror. I was invited to record this episode at the MOSS HQ in Camden where I met Robbi Hicks, the MOSS Head of Visual Development and Paul Gerrard, Founder of Happy Paul. You’ll probably know MOSS for occasion wear and suits, but if you haven’t visited a store recently you may not be as aware of the excellent range of casualwear, linens, shirts as well as contemporary tailoring. Recently the brand added Happy Paul’s mood-boosting skincare and fragrance products into 10 MOSS shops, to try to help men feel their best and to open up discussions around self-care and mental wellness.During the conversation Paul talked about Happy Paul supporting the Young Minds charity. More info and ways to donate can be found here. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/(MOSS kindly gifted items for us to wear for the podcast and for the pictures. I’m in a two-piece dark grey linen suit, available in store and online now.)Robbi & Paul mentioned the following products during our conversation:(Robbi)Le Labo - Another 13https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/le-labo-another-13-eau-de-parfum-rm-50ml/13319645/Comme des Garçons - Wonderwoodhttps://comme-des-garcons-parfum.com/products/wonderwoodByredo - Body Wash https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/b/byredo/body/(Paul)Jack Black - Energising Face Scrubhttps://www.maleskin.co.uk/jack-black-face-buff-energising-scrub.htmlCreed - Aventus https://www.creedfragrances.co.uk/products/aventus?variant=46601626845494Happy Paul - Bright Spice Fragrance https://www.moss.co.uk/bright-spice-edp-50ml-bell-967011700MOSS on IG:https://www.instagram.com/mossbros/Online at: https://www.moss.co.uk/Happy Paul on IG:https://www.instagram.com/we_are_happypaul/Online at: https://happypaul.co.uk/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorFollow me on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last few months I’ve seen posts from ‘Teddy the Perfumer’ crop up on my socials and have really enjoyed his videos and his take on the fragrance industry, so I got in touch and he kindly agreed to come on the show. Teddy Haugen is (unsurprisingly!) a perfumer and is the co-founder of the eponymous independent brand based just outside San Francisco. He’s unusual in that he’s compelling and instinctive on social media - Teddy doesn’t just plug his own creations, he lifts the curtain on his creative process, demystifies the industry and is not afraid to be controversial. Clearly a perfume lover and collector, Teddy’s social posts are just as likely to be his hot take on other brands - or even style and grooming tips. Basically he’s the perfect guest for the podcast!There are currently 3 fragrances in the Teddy the Perfumer line-up, Banane Au Chocolat, Passing Stranger and Summer in Love, with more in development. It was great to talk to Teddy and he was every bit as engaging and open as I’d hoped he would be. https://www.teddytheperfumer.com/Teddy mentioned the following products during our conversation:Dae - Prickly Pear Hair Oilhttps://daehair.com/products/prickly-pear-hair-oil?_pos=2&_sid=2a5cd288b&_ss=rGummy Professional - Wax Extreme https://gummyprofessional.com/collections/hair-styling/products/gummy-styling-wax-150-ml-ultra-hold?variant=39906322251857Phillips - One Bladehttps://www.philips.co.uk/c-m-pe/oneblade-trim-edge-and-shave/oneblade-360-with-connectivityTend Skin https://tendskin.com/It Cosmetics - Bye, Bye Under Eyehttps://www.boots.com/it-cosmetics-bye-bye-under-eye-concealer-10267973Teddy The Perfumer - Banane Au Chocolathttps://www.teddytheperfumer.com/products/banane-au-chocolatYou can find Teddy on IG:https://www.instagram.com/teddy_haugen/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@teddy.haugenOnline at: https://www.teddytheperfumer.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may remember a previous guest from season 7, the wonderful Adam Hurly, who is a journalist and the man behind the ‘Blue Print’ channel. He mentioned a U.S. grooming brand that I didn’t know called Brightside and then kindly connected us. Brightside have now launched in the UK and EU, so I took the opportunity to chat to co-founder Chris Hjerling about the inception and the ethos of the brand, the influence of his coastal location in San Diego, California and what’s next for Brightside (hint, it may include fragrance and more body products!ñChris was a fascinating guest, with real insight into the joys and the challenges of developing a brand from scratch. Along with his co-founder Landon, they have created men’s hair products that have been lauded by GQ (as well Adam Hurly!) and are all about elevating personal care and styling using clean, premium ingredients. The products are high performance, but low-maintenance - now that’s something we can all get behind…Chris mentioned the following products during our conversation:Acure - Facial Scrubhttps://acure.com/products/brightening-facial-scrubWahl - Beard Trimmerhttps://www.wahl.co.uk/product-category/personal-care/mens-grooming/beard-trimmers-mens-grooming/Brightside - Hair productshttps://brightsidestyle.com/collections/all https://slickstyles.co.uk/product-category/brands/brightside/ (U.K stockist)Kiehls - Facial Cleanserhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/cleansers/cleanser/ultra-facial-cleanser-MUK200003314.htmlSalt & Stone - Body Misthttps://www.saltandstone.com/en-gb/products/body-mist?variant=45052090876154You can find Brightside on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/brightside.styleOnline at: https://brightsidestyle.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a real treat to talk to Thomas Dunckley this week on the podcast. He was one of the first accounts I followed when I got into fragrance and has an incredible ability to make his content accessible, relatable and fun. Thomas is a hugely experienced and knowledgeable writer, blogger, speaker and podcaster. He used to write using the name ‘the candy perfume boy’ (changing the gender of the title of a Madonna song!) but now goes under the name ‘making scents make sense.’ This seems to neatly encapsulate his ethos - democratising fragrance and bringing it to life.Thomas’ new podcast will start in April 2025, also called ‘making scents make sense’ and it sounds like he has some great guests and topics lined up. He mentioned the following products during our conversation:Pixie - Glow Tonichttps://pixibeauty.co.uk/products/glow-tonic-250mlPixie - Rose Ceramide Creamhttps://pixibeauty.co.uk/products/rose-ceramide-creamChanel - Hydra Beauty Micro-Serum.https://www.chanel.com/gb/skincare/p/143180/hydra-beauty-micro-serum-intense-replenishing-hydration/Bedhead for Men - Shampoo/Conditionerhttps://escentual.com/products/tigi-bed-head-for-men-clean-up-shampoo-and-conditioner-tween-duo-2-x-750ml?variant=49266697896260Roger & Gallet - Fleur de Figuierhttps://escentual.com/products/roger-gallet-fleur-de-figuier-wellbeing-shower-gel?variant=49265921294660Bon Parfumeur - 403 Myrrh Shadowhttps://www.bonparfumeur.com/en-gb/products/403-timut-pepper-myrrh-benzoinYou can find Thomas on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/makingscentsmakesenseOnline at: https://www.thomasdunckley.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I had the pleasure of talking to Rodrigo Nikaido who is co-owner and Global Growth Director at Mexican luxury interior fragrance brand Aromaria. Aromaria recently opened their flagship European store on Regent Street in London and it’s a stunning expression of Mexican creativity and flair fused with an elegant, minimalist aesthetic. The brand is known for candles, room sprays and giant ‘perfume sticks’, which are available as 50cm (M) & 1.2m (XL) incense sticks in a variety of scents. All the fragrances are developed in Grasse, France and the products are crafted in Mexico. If you’re ever in Central London the Aromaria store is well worth a visit, you can even craft your own bespoke fragrance. Rodrigo mentioned the following products during our conversation:Aromaria - Cabinet de Curiosities Incense Sticks https://www.aromaria.co.uk/products/buddhas-apprentice-pure-perfume-stick-collectionAromaria - Fresh White Room Spray, Grapefruit Room Sprayhttps://www.aromaria.co.uk/collections/room-spraysLa Mer - Lip Balmhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/lipcare/lip-balm/the-lip-balm-MUK200034795.htmlRodrigo uses fragrances from - Amouage, Byredo, MFK, Orto Parisi - as well as fine fragrance that Aromaria is developing for release soon.You can find Aromaria on IG here:https://www.instagram.com/aromariamxOnline at: https://www.aromaria.co.uk/ (UK)https://aromaria.mx/ (Rest of the world) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Special thanks to Bacchus Agency for arranging the interview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very special episode this week with not one, but two hugely talented and in-demand perfumers. I am joined by (friend of the show!) Julien Rasquinet along with Paul Guerlain. The two of them were at Harrods in London to discuss ‘Lustre’, a fragrance they co-created for the house of Amouage. ‘Lustre’ is one of a trio of fragrances that make up ‘The Essences’ and each one is double-infused and aged for 6 months. The other two fragrances in the new collection are ‘Reasons’ and ‘Outlands.’ They have all been created using a high concentration of 30% perfume oil, along with many other technical and aesthetic innovations that we discuss during our conversation. We had chance to talk about ‘The Essences’, the opportunity to work with the prestigious Amouage, how they approached working as two perfumers on one fragrance and also (for Paul) what it means to be part of the Guerlain family.Paul mentioned the following products in his routine:Abeille Royale Day Cream - Guerlainhttps://www.guerlain.com/uk/en-uk/p/abeille-royale-day-cream-P061500.htmlAbeille Royale Night Cream - Guerlain https://www.guerlain.com/uk/en-uk/p/abeille-royale-honey-treatment-night-cream-P061850.htmlJulien is a man of simple pleasures and uses bar soap and anti-dandruff shampoo!You can find Amouage on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/amouageofficial/?hl=enOnline at: https://amouage.com/en-uk/pages/the-amouage-essences‘The Essences’ are available in the UK at Harrods:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/amouage-lustre-essence-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007713693Julien is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/julienrasquinet/?hl=enPaul is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/paulguerlain/?hl=en- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Special thanks to KGA for arranging the interview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! This is the first ‘Man in the Mirror’ of 2025, we’re in March so I’m WAY too late to say ‘Happy New Year’ to you, but I hope the year has got off to a great start. I’m delighted to be back with more new episodes, there’s some amazing guests to come this season…My guest in episode 1 is Stuart Williams-Philp, who describes himself as a ‘Liberty veteran and retail survivor!’ Stuart has been a sales specialist in the Ground Floor fragrance department at the world famous Liberty in London, UK for over 20 years. There can’t be many people who know the retail space, the trends and most importantly, what the customer wants better than Stuart. I first ‘met’ Stuart via his Instagram channel @Stubieblessed. If you aren’t following him, you should do so immediately. It’s a (rare) positive, joyful and fun account where he talks about his love of interiors, design, beauty and of course fragrance. Oh - and he also has a ‘Monday moan’, so you can see what gets on his nerves each week! I subsequently met him IRL in the Liberty store and I can confirm he’s just as friendly and fabulous in the flesh! Stuart mentioned the following products in his routine:Augustinus Bader - The Rich Creamhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/the-rich-cream-30ml-000725185.html#pos=2Aesop - Facial Cleanserhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/purifying-facial-cream-cleanser-100ml-304141.html#pos=34Sam McKnight - Shampoohttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/rich-cleanse-nourishing-shampoo--250ml-000783331.html#pos=11Ultra Violette - SPF50https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/u/ultra-violette/Escentric Molecules - Molecule 01https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/u/ultra-violette/?algq=escentric%20molNew Notes - Latte di Cherryhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/n/new-notes/You can find Liberty on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/LibertyLondon/Online at: https://www.libertylondon.com/Stuart is on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/stubieblessed/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprise! A cheeky Christmas mini-pod episode with me/Santa recommending a few festive gifts in fragrance and grooming at various price points. Hopefully there’s something to suit your budget to either buy for someone (or to ask for yourself!)I’ll be back with a brand new season in January with lots of great guests. Have a great Christmas break, thanks for listening in 2024 and I look forward to your company in the new year.Brioni - Suave EDP - £76 (60ml) https://www.debenhams.com/product/brioni-brioni-eau-de-parfum-suave_ydd17333?colour=miscHerlum - Hand & Body Duo - £56https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/herlum-hand-and-body-wash-and-lotion-duo-sandalwood-and-grapefruit-500ml/13950834/Arkive by Adam Reed - No One Elsie Scent for Hair & Body - £30https://arkivehea£dcare.com/products/no-one-elsieRoger & Gallet - Cologne Twist Eau de Cologne - £34.96https://escentual.com/products/roger-gallet-twist-eau-de-cologne-spray-100ml?variant=49266671419716AKT - Deodorant Balm - £21https://www.aktlondon.com/Acqua di Parma - Caminetto Candle 200g - £63.75https://www.johnlewis.com/acqua-di-parma-caminetto-scented-candle-200g/p112520183Murdock London - Quince & Oakmoss Shampoo/Conditioner Gift Set - £35.70https://www.murdocklondon.com/products/quince-oakmoss-shampoo-conditioner(Please note - some of the above items were gifted to me, with no obligation to post or review. Some of them I bought myself.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the show this week is Sebastien Tissot, the founder of Nissaba, a Swiss fragrance brand that arrived in Selfridges here in the UK earlier this year. Each of the fragrances combines natural ingredients from a single origin and showcases that area or region in olfactory form. The range is absolutely stunning and my personal favourite is a beautiful example of a patchouli fragrance called ‘Sulawesi’. If you get chance to sample Nissaba near you, I really recommend you do so!I had a fascinating conversation with Sebastien, whose previous role was Head of Sustainable Sourcing at one of the world’s largest fragrance manufacturers, DSM Firmenich, so he has a wealth of experience around materials and ingredients. When he started Nissaba he wanted it to be about doing good as well as smelling good. To that end, the company invests 5% of its turnover in supporting young people in communities of perfume plant growers, enabling them to put in place practices that are resilient to climate change and can adapt to local conditions. They fund young farmers and vocational schools in communities where they source ingredients and they aim to be a ‘positive-impact brand.’This also extends to the products themselves - Nissaba fragrances are designed according to the principles of circularity and essentiality. All components are either recyclable or reusable, and the quantity of raw materials used is minimal, to keep the overall carbon footprint to a minimum. Bio-sourced, recycled, and/or certified materials have been chosen wherever possible. Sebastien mentioned using hand cream, (natural) menthol toothpaste and Déclaration by Cartier in his daily routines. Nissaba is available in the UK in Selfridgeshttps://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/nissaba/Brand website:https://nissaba.com/Also on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nissaba.fragrances/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the show this week is James Read, founder of sunless tanning range ‘Self Glow by James Read.’ James started his career in retail, then went on to become one of the UK’s top tanning artists, working with celebrities, models and customers who wanted a healthy glow, applied using the best products.This lead to James creating his own brand using all the experience he amassed during his career. ‘Self Glow by James Read’ has a ’skincare-first’ philosophy and combines natural cacao with high-performance active and fermented ingredients. The formulas work with all skin tones and skin types. As we discussed during our conversation, I was a self-tan novice, but I started using James’ ‘Sunblush’ tan mist once a week - and it’s SO easy to apply, literally a few sprays on my face and I’m done. No lines, no weird smell, so I’m a convert :)https://www.jamesreadglow.com/products/sunblush-hydrating-tan-mist-100mlSelf Glow is available in the UK in - Space NK, Liberty, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Lookfantastic and via the James Read ‘Self Glow’ website.https://www.jamesreadglow.com/James mentioned the following brands/products from his routine:Medik8 - Vit C SPF, Hyaluronic Acid, Cleanserhttps://www.medik8.com/La Prairie - https://www.spacenk.com/uk/brands/l/la-prairieREN - https://www.renskincare.co.uk/Fragrances from - Diptyque, Byredo, Floral StreetYou can find Self Glow by James Read on the web:https://www.jamesreadglow.com/Also on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jamesreadtan/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the show this week is Forat Al Haider, who is Creative Director of Ghawali, a fragrance brand from the UAE. Ghawali combines the art of Middle Eastern perfumery with a modern, niche touch, crafting unique, long-lasting fragrances that evoke a sense of elegance and sophistication. It is part of the Chalhoub Group, which is a family owned luxury goods retailer and distributor and is the largest retail operator in the Middle East. I met Forat a couple of months ago in London when he was introducing people to the brand here at Selfridges. I really enjoyed his company and fell hard for some of the Ghawali fragrances, particularly ‘4 Walls’, which has become a regular wear for me. It seems to me Ghawali represents a really interesting intersection of the Middle Eastern and European-styles of perfumery - and this is probably no surprise at Forat grew up in Sweden, was born in Iraq and now lives in Dubai! I hope you enjoy our conversation - and a special thank you to Forat for making time to do this from his office in Dubai.Forat mentioned the following brands/products from his routine:The Ordinary - Skin carehttps://theordinary.com/en-gbThe Inkey List - Skin carehttps://uk.theinkeylist.com/Kevin Murphy - Hair Care & ‘Doo.over Hair Powder’https://www.kevinmurphystore.com/kevin-murphy-doo-over/K18 - Hair carehttps://www.k18hair.co.uk/Ghawali Fragrances You can find Ghawali on the web:https://ae.ghawali.com/Available in Selfridges:https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/ghawali/Ghawali on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ghawaliofficial/The Chalhoub Group:https://www.chalhoubgroup.com/en- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week my guest is one of UK’s top hairdressers, Adam Reed. Adam has been nominated for Hairdresser of the Year multiple times, he has worked with superstars such as Madonna and One Direction as well as the great and good in fashion and editorial over the last 30 + years. He is also a brand ambassador for ghd and L’Oréal Professional. Adam has just launched 4 perfumes for hair & skin that are part of his 'Arkive Makes Scents' range. He is a huge fragrance fan and, in fact, has a ‘fragrance library’ as part of his Arkive by Adam Reed salon in Covent Garden, London. I’ve never met anyone that has such an encyclopaedic knowledge of products and brands and his list of favourites from his daily routines is probably the most extensive ever!We also spoke about Adam’s neurodiversity (he was diagnosed as having ADHD fairly recently) as well as the struggles he’s had with his mental health in the past. This episode was recorded in early November 2024 in Adam’s Arkive salon in London. I really appreciated how open and candid Adam was and I hope you take something from the conversation we had.Adam mentioned too many products for me to link them all here, so due to word count restrictions it’s probably better that I just list them:Marvis - Liquorice ToothpasteFenjal, Vaseline Intensive Care & AKT - DeodorantsEstée Lauder - Advanced Night RepairImperial Leather - Hand SoapSkin Rocks by Caroline Hirons - Gel CleanserKiehls - Facial Fuel range, Beard OilBadedas - Bath GelDiptyque - Tuberose Candle, Tam Dao FragranceMason Pearson - HairbrushCharlotte Tilbury - Magic CreamThis Works - Sleep OilSanta Maria Novella - Jojoba OilReome - Active Recovery BrothYSL - Nu ConcealerHaeckels - Various productsGloved by Tom Daxon - Hand SoapsBoots - Eye MistYou can find Arkive Hair & Skin Fragrances here:https://arkiveheadcare.com/collections/fragrancesThe Arkive hair products are here:https://arkiveheadcare.com/Arkive on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/arkivebyadamreed/Adam’s personal Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/adamreedhair/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week my guest is Jun Lim, Creative Director and Founder of South Korean fragrance brand BORN TO STAND OUT. I met Jun a couple of months ago at Jovoy in London. He was introducing the brand to some of the UK media and I was struck by his singular vision and his mission to do things differently. It’s fair to say that South Korea is well known for skincare, but less so for niche fragrance brands. In just over 2 years BORN TO STAND OUT has made real waves, both in Jun’s home market and around the world. There are over 20 fragrances in the range, all in a bold (of course!) red and white bottle. There is an emphasis on gourmand notes, musks and ‘pleasures of the flesh’. Popular perfumes include Dirty Rice, Drunk Saffron, Fig Porn and Filthy Musk. See what I mean? This is not your typical brand, both in terms of the names, the aesthetic and the juice inside. Jun has created BORN TO STAND OUT in his own vision. The products are inspired by HIS dreams, memories and experiences. It was a real honour to spend time with him and fascinating to get a different perspective away from the prevailing (and my own!) Euro-centric views.Some of the products Jun mentioned were:Vaselinehttps://www.boots.com/vaseline-original-petrolium-jelly-50ml-10226343Baby S.O.S Cremehttps://www.ohfeliz.co.uk/penaten-baby/little-helpers-sos-cream-with-dexpanthenolAlpecin Shampoohttps://www.boots.com/alpecin-caffeine-shampoo-250ml-10081360BORN TO STAND OUT FragrancesYou can find Born To Stand Out on the web at:https://borntostandout.com/BTSO on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/borntostandout.official/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for joining me for the third episode in the new series (8.) This week I'm building on a wonderful conversation I had over lunch at a Creed launch last month with model and content creator Ben James. We happened to be seated next to each other and I found him to be so engaging and illuminating I thought I had to ask him to come on the podcast! Ben is a ‘plus size’/‘big & tall’ model, which he explains in more depth in our chat. He is 6’ 6 and has a 42” chest, so is not traditional ’sample size’. He models for brands such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Jacamo as well as cultivating a huge following (275K) on TikTok for his outfit advice and content about watches. Ben is also a photographer who has shot campaigns for brands here in the UK and U.S. Whilst Ben is now at a stage where he’s using his height as a positive force in his career, he was over 6 ft as a young teenager. Standing out - and the adverse attention that attracted when you’re so young had a real impact on his weight and his mental health, which he says more about during our conversation. Ben was a really frank, honest and articulate guest who made me re-evaluate my attitude to height and stature - and made me realise it can be a more complex and nuanced thing to deal with, especially as a young man.Some of the products Ben mentioned were:Cerave - Cleanser https://www.boots.com/cerave-foaming-cleanser-236ml-10246702#BVRRContainerHeath - Eye Serumhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/collections/face/products/eye-serumFjor - Hydrolytic Moisturiserhttps://www.fjor.life/products/hydrolytic-moisturizerSPF, Sea Salt Spray and Jade Roller/Gua Sha Penhaligons Helfeti https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/product/halfeti-000000000065188931Christian Dior - Oud Rosewoodhttps://www.dior.com/en_gb/beauty/products/oud-rosewood-Y0996414.htmlMolton Brown - Clementine & Vetiverhttps://www.moltonbrown.co.uk/store/fragrance/citrus-fragrances/sunlit-clementine-vetiver-eau-de-parfum-100ml/NMR342Ben is on TikTok athttps://www.tiktok.com/@ben_jjamesAnd on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/ben_jjames- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG: https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi and thanks for checking out episode 2 of the new series. This one is a very freewheeling conversation that took place on a narrow boat (the ‘Disco Volante’) near King’s Cross, London. The Disco Volante is a floating lab and the spiritual home of new fragrance brand Vallense. I sat down with founder Will Borrell and discussed the brand, the debut collection, Will’s background, why he moved into perfume - and everything in between! I really hope you enjoy our chat, I found Will to be brilliant company - fascinating, funny, charming and a real zest for life. Thanks for inviting me on board, Will!Some of the products Will mentioned were:Dermalogica - Micro-scrub Folianthttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/cleansers/scrubs-exfoliants/daily-microfoliant-MUK200030223.htmlThe Ordinary - Niacinamidehttps://theordinary.com/en-gb/niacinamide-10-zinc-1-serum-100436.htmlDr David Jack - All Day Long Moisturiser https://drdavidjack.com/collections/moisturisers-spfs/products/all-day-longNo. 7 - Energising Moisturiserhttps://www.boots.com/no7-men-energising-moisturiser-50ml-10334936Vallense fragrances can be found at:https://vallensefragrances.com/On Instagram Vallense is at:https://www.instagram.com/vallensefragrance/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the first episode of season 8, so ‘welcome back’ if you’re a regular listener and ‘hello’ if this is your first time! I recorded this episode in late August at Harrods, the world famous department store in London. I had the opportunity to host an event there with one of my favourite brands, Jusbox and to introduce their new fragrance ’54’ to press and to customers. The creative team who worked on the launch joined me on stage and so it seemed like the perfect chance to record this podcast while we were all together. ‘’54’ is a collaboration between Jusbox, perfumer Julien Rasquinet and U.S. content creator and YouTuber Sebastian Jara, a.k.a ‘The Perfume Guy.’ So I sat down with the trio of Andrea Valdo (Jusbox co-founder, an old friend of the podcast and previous guest!) Julien and Sebastian and talked about ’54’, how they worked together, the inspirations and how it all came about. If you were there at Harrods you’ll know that the event also featured Chiara Valdo, Andrea’s sister and fellow Jusbox Co-founder. She is a massive part of the ’54’ story. As always on the podcast I like to chat to the guests about the products they love in their morning and evening routines. Admittedly, there wasn’t time to make it a massive part of this particular episode, however these are the products mentioned.Reuzel - Strong Hold Pomade (Sebastian’s choice) https://reuzel.uk/collections/pomade/products/blue-pomade-strong-hold-high-shineLigne St Barth - Facial Fluid (Andrea’s choice) https://www.parfumdreams.co.uk/LIGNE-ST-BARTH/Care/HOMME/Moisturising-facial-fluid-Homme/index_39740.aspx?variation=53152Lightly scented soap and anti-dandruff shampoo (Julien’s choice) Jusbox can be found at:https://www.jusboxperfumes.com/On Instagram Jusbox is:https://www.instagram.com/jusboxperfumes/Julien is at:https://www.instagram.com/julienrasquinet/Sebastian is on IG and YouTube as follows:https://www.instagram.com/theperfumeguy/https://www.youtube.com/@ThePerfumeGuy’54’ from Jusbox is out now and can be found in the UK at:https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/jusbox-fifty-four-eau-de-parfum-78ml-24190525- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the final episode of season 7 and I’m ending with a guest I’ve wanted to get on the podcast for a long while. Adam Hurly is an American journalist (now based in Portugal) who writes about grooming, fragrance and lifestyle. As a grooming writer you will have seen Adan’s bylines in GQ, Robb Report, Forbes, to name but a few. He’s about to embark on his own brand new project called ‘Blue Print’, which is going to be a content hub and community for all things grooming and will launch in the autumn/fall this year (2024.) You can sign up for more info now at the following address:www.grooming.tipsIt was a real pleasure to connect with Adam again after our meeting in London. I’m a big fan of his work, I’m in awe of his knowledge and writing style, but more than any of that he’s such a warm, positive ‘radiator’ person who has been so generous with his time and expertise. There’s no one better to discuss products and routines with, so here’s his current edit (it will have changed next week, for sure!) Cardon - Clay Cleanser https://cardonskin.com/products/purifying-clay-cleanserCardon - Daily SPF + Moisturiserhttps://cardonskin.com/products/cardon-daily-spf2Horace - Hydrating Serumhttps://horace.com/en/product/hyaluronic-acid-panthenol-serumUrsa Major - Force Field SPFhttps://www.alyaka.com/products/ursa-major-force-field-spf-30-50mlDavines - Love Smoothing shampoo, conditionerhttps://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/c/brands/davines/Tretinoin - available on prescription, so seek medical advice on this.Le Labo - Cedrat 37 and Thé Matcha 26https://www.lelabofragrances.com/fine-fragrances-2.htmlBianco Profumo - Neroli Pomodorohttps://biancoprofumo.com/products/neroli-pomodoroOn Instagram Adam is at:https://www.instagram.com/adamhurly- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is Nick Buckley, the Co-founder and Commercial Director at fragrance & beauty distribution company, Phoenix Beauty.Sales & distribution is a key part of the industry and a company like Phoenix Beauty acts as the bridge between the brands, the retailers and us as the end-consumers. Much of the work goes on behind the scenes, but it was fascinating to spend some time with Nick where he shed light on how some of the process works - the retail exclusive products, working with ‘celebrity’ brands, the cost of doing business and the current market trends.Phoenix Beauty distribute a wide range of brands from the designer fragrances (Banana Republic, Steve Madden) celebrity fragrances/beauty (Eilish, by Billie Eilish, Florence by Mills) and niche brands (including bdk, Goldfield & Banks, Les Eaux Primordiales, Jusbox etc) Many of the brands and the founders have featured on the podcast over the years, so it’s definitely worth going back and revisiting some of those episodes!In the episode Nick mentioned the following products in his routine:Temple Spa - Cleanser, Truffle Moisturiser, Eye Creamhttps://www.templespa.com/shopAlmora Botanica - Cleanserhttps://almorabotanica.com/collections/cleanserBdk - Gris Charnel Extraithttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/bdk-parfums-gris-charnel-extrait-de-parfum-100ml-18178727Les Eaux Primordiales - Ambre Superfluidehttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/les-eaux-primordiales-ambre-supermassive-perfume-extrait-50ml-24219840Goldfield & Banks - Bohemian Limehttps://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/goldfield-banks-bohemian-lime-perfume-concentrate-100ml_R03649248/Jusbox - Cheeky Smilehttps://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/jusbox-cheeky-smile-eau-de-parfum-78ml_496-3004815-6711E101/NOYZ - Monochromehttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/noyz-x-damon-baker-monochrome-parfum-50ml-23921760Ojar - Wood Whisperhttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/ojar-wood-whisper-eau-de-parfum-100ml-19164596You can find out more about Phoenix Beauty here:https://www.phoenixbeauty.co.uk/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/phoenixbeautyltd/You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for joining me for the ‘Man in the Mirror’ podcast. My guest this week Arnaud Poulain, the Founder and Artistic Director of French fragrance brand Les Eaux Primordiales. I recently spent the morning with Arnaud, firstly listening to him being interviewed by my journalist friend Suzy Nightingale at Harrods and then the two of us got to spend some time recording this week’s episode at a nearby hotel.Arnaud was in London to talk about the new Harrods exclusive fragrance ‘Ambre Supermassive’, which he has created alongside his longtime perfumer, teacher and friend Amelie Bourgeois. Arnaud is unusual in that he is a trained perfumer, as well as the brand founder. He came to perfumery in his early twenties after studying engineering and embraced the new career with a real energy and fervour. He’s achieved a huge amount in that short time, working first for Byredo and then eventually setting up his own brand in 2015.Les Eaux Primordiales is the sum of all his education and experience. There’s elements of his engineering background, his love of architecture, his need to make things with his hands and of course his desire ’to dream’. All of this is located in the brand’s own ‘domaine’, and chateau in Northern France. It’s an atelier where everything to do with Les Eaux Primordiales happens - the creation, bottling, the carpentry, the point of sale and metalwork. In the episode Arnaud mentioned the following products:Clarins - Cleanser face washhttps://www.clarins.co.uk/clarinsmen-active-face-wash/80085184.htmlClarins - Double serumhttps://www.clarins.co.uk/double-serum/80025862.htmlLes Eaux Primordiales - Washing Chantilly (Body Wash) https://www.leseauxprimordiales.com/collections/soin-primordial/products/chantilly-lavante-250mlLes Eaux Primordiales - Hand Washhttps://www.leseauxprimordiales.com/collections/soin-primordial/products/gel-mains-exfoliant-400mlAmerican Crew Wax- https://www.johnlewis.com/american-crew-fiber-85g/p110198890American Crew Fiber Cream  https://www.johnlewis.com/american-crew-fiber-cream-100ml/p3316794Chanel No. 5 - EDPhttps://www.chanel.com/gb/fragrance/p/125430/n5-eau-de-parfum-spray/You can find the whole Les Eaux Primordiales product range online at:https://www.leseauxprimordiales.com/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/leseauxprimordiales/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for checking out the latest ‘Man in the Mirror’ podcast. My guest this week is Graham Clarke, the CEO of British barbershop brand Murdock London. I met Graham a few months back and had such an interesting conversation with him that I thought I need to get him on the show!If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of the brand and I use many Murdock London items in my own daily routines. Graham talked about his morning and evening routines, the new products coming down the line and he also speaks very candidly about childhood bullying and his experience of coming out later in life.In the episode Graham mentioned the following products in his routine:Image Skincare - Foaming cleanser, Cream cleanser, hyaluronic acid, serum/primerhttps://imageskincare.co.uk/Murdock London:Shaving cream, Bolin Webb Generation Razorhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/shaveBlack Tea Body Washhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/face-bodyVetiver Cologne, Napier Colognehttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/cologneSea Salt Spray, Texture Pastehttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/hairHorace - Eye Creamhttps://horace.com/en/product/moisturizing-eye-creamYou can find the whole Murdock London product range and barber services online at:https://www.murdocklondon.com/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/murdocklondon/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for checking out this episode of ‘Man in the Mirror’ podcast. My guest this week is self-styled ‘perfume author’ Jonathan Ward, who is founder of his eponymous brand, well known for exquisite home fragrance and now fine fragrance too. I first got a Jonathan Ward ‘Kartushya’ candle a few years ago and now and I think it’s still one of the best I’ve ever had. A room-filling, rich fragrance, aesthetically beautiful, a smooth, even burn and using only the finest organic waxes. It’s no wonder his products are sought by the great and the good and can be found in many high-end restaurants, hotels and boutiques. During our chat Jonathan tells me about his creative process, the move into fine fragrance, what’s coming up this year and some of the recent changes he’s made to his life.It was a really honest, open and revealing conversation and I’m so grateful to Jonathan for trusting me. You’ll hear how candid he is about past addictions and issues and how determined he is to make this next chapter of his life his most fulfilling and successful yet. I have no doubt he will do it.In the episode Jonathan mentioned the following products in his routine:Neal’s Yard Remedies - Frankincense Cleansing Melthttps://www.nealsyardremedies.com/products/frankincense-intense-cleansing-melt-100mlNars - Radiance Primerhttps://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/radiance-primer-spf-35/0607845022312.htmlNars - Bronzing Powderhttps://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/mini-laguna-bronzing-powder/0194251137650.htmlMoroccanoil - Moroccan Argan Oil https://uk.moroccanoil.com/products/pure-argan-oilJonathan Ward - Untopia EDP Fragrancehttps://www.thejonathanward.com/u-n-t-o-p-i-a/edpYou can find the whole Jonathan Ward range online at:https://www.thejonathanward.com/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/thejonathanward/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 3 of the latest season of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ My guest this week is creative, designer, entrepreneur and founder of anatomē, Brendan Murdock. anatomē are a wellness brand and a contemporary take on the apothecary. The formulations and products support sleep, gut health, and emotional wellbeing and attempt to bring balance to modern lifestyles. The brand has just launched a range of wellbeing parfums with four available now and 2 more to come in mid-August 2024.Brendan has also published a book with Gabriel Weil entitled ’The Modern Apothecary’, all about the power of botanicals and what they can do to improve your wellbeing:https://www.anatome.co/products/the-modern-apothecary?_pos=2&_sid=6914000ff&_ss=rIn this episode Brendan mentioned the following products in his routine:Illuminating Face OilFace & Hand WashMuscle Ease Body OilUltra Hydrating Face MoisturiserSleep Oil - all from anatomēAvailable here:https://www.anatome.co/anatomē - Expression’ Parfum:https://www.anatome.co/products/expression-eau-de-parfumFragrances from Cire Trudon:https://trudon.co.uk/eaux-de-parfum/eaux-de-parfum-100ml.htmlAcqua di Cuba - Santa Maria Novella:https://uk.smnovella.com/products/7010384You can find the whole anatomē range instore and online at:https://www.anatome.co/On Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/anatomelondon/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for listening to episode 2 of the new series! My guest this week is Austin Mutti-Mewse, the brand manager at the oldest barbershop in the world, Truefitt & Hill. The brand has served monarchs, prime ministers, military leaders and the great and the good for over 200 years. They are now based in the St James area of central London.Truefitt & Hill are known for their range of colognes, splashes and grooming products, as well as the barbering services. I was lucky enough to get my hair cut by Aldo in the store ahead of my chat with Austin and it definitely was a ‘cut-above’ (sorry, I can’t resist a hair-based pun!) I highly recommend the calm, unhurried professionalism of the team, the quality of the cut and the refined atmosphere. Austin & I also discuss the ways the brand has modernised, including collabs with Netflix’s ‘The Gentlemen’ and with The King’s Foundation on the Highgrove rangeIn this episode Austin mentioned the following products:Truefitt & Hill:Pre-shave oilSandalwood shaving cream Sandalwood beard oilhttps://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/collections/shavingSandalwood aftershave balmHighgrove colognehttps://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/collections/fragrancesYou can find the whole Truefitt & Hill range instore and online at:https://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/and on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/truefittandhillofficial/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Season 7! Something a bit different to kick things off - I recorded this first episode in front of an audience of fragrance lovers at the world famous Liberty department store, London in June 2024. I was lucky enough to get some time with world renowned perfumer Pierre Negrin, the man behind Black Orchid for Tom Ford, many fragrances for Amouage and Ralph Lauren - and he has now created ‘Tudor’ for Liberty’s LBTY fragrance line. It seemed appropriate to talk about the fragrance in the building that inspired it. It was a huge pleasure to talk to Pierre about his life, his work and his inspirations in Liberty - and I hope to do more live events in future! In this episode Pierre mentioned the following products:LBTY - Tudorhttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/tudor-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000785499.htmlSavon De Marseille Soaphttps://www.frenchsoaps.co.uk/collections/savon-de-marseilleAesop Fragranceshttps://www.aesop.com/uk/You can find the whole LBTY fragrance range exclusively instore and online at Liberty:https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/department/beauty/perfume/The brand new Liberty Fragrance Lounge that we refer to in the podcast is on the Lower Ground Floor, for the concierge service, a spacious, thoughtful layout and a whole new way to shop for fragrance. The OG ground floor perfume department still stocks an extensive range of the best brands and has the most brilliant staff, so be sure to visit both areas if you’re in the store. Liberty can be found at: Regent St, London W1B 5AH.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on Insta:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/On TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Liz, Sophie and Hannah at Liberty for looking after us so well and organising a brilliant event, Andrew and Giancarlo for a great job on the AV in store. Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is, err, me! I thought as an ‘end of term’ episode I could tell you a bit more about me - and some of the products I’ve been enjoying recently. Rather than talk to myself, which might be weird, I remembered that I’m married to an ex-radio DJ, so I enlisted the help of my wife Ali to turn the tables and pose the questions for one week only. She also has the honour of being the first female voice on the podcast, ha ha! Huge thanks to Ali - she did a great job and if I don’t watch out she’ll be coming for my job and will be back on the mic each week!I talk a little bit about my other work in the music industry and how I got into writing/blogging and now podcasting about fragrance, skincare and grooming. Thanks for joining me this season and hope to see you back in June. Normal service will be resumed next season, don’t worry - I won’t make a habit of this!In this episode I mention the following products:Horace - Orange Blossom & Petitgrain Shower Gelhttps://horace.com/en/product/orange-blossom-petitgrain-shower-gelHeath - Face Wash, Cream Shave, Eye Serumhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/Shake Up - Face Forward Tonerhttps://shakeupcosmetics.com/products/face-4ward-tonerPatricks - AM1 Moisturiserhttps://patricksproducts.co.uk/collections/skincare/products/am1-moisturizer-normal-to-dry-skinLa Roche Posay - SPF 50 Oil Controlhttps://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-oil-control-invisible-fluid/LRP_930.htmlMurdock London - Beard Moisturiser, Sea Salt Spray, Textured Hair Creamhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/Vyrao - Magnetic 70https://www.spacenk.com/uk/fragrance/personal-fragrance/fragrance/magnetic-70-eau-de-parfum-MUK200048685.htmlMurdock London - Black Teahttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/cologne/products/black-tea-cologne-50mlTom Daxon - Laconiahttps://www.tomdaxon.com/products/laconia- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!):https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/--------------------------------Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. See you next season!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is Alex Oprey, who is the Marketing and E-Commerce Director at British fragrance brand Miller Harris. Alex lifts the lid on the creative process once the actual perfume is made. We speak about the task of bringing the product to life and inspiring customers to find out more - and then ultimately purchase! It’s quite a challenge, if the work is too enigmatic and vague it risks saying nothing, if it’s too specific there’s a danger it won’t ’speak’ to a broad enough audience. Alex has been responsible for some of my favourite creative work over the last few years, campaigns like Hydra Figue, shot with an almost ‘reportage’ photo-journalistic style, showing the sedate beauty of Hydra via tantalising moments of real life. It just happens to look like a stunning place and fulfils the job of making me want to find out more. Link below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeXyMZHOHUHuge thanks to Alex for a fascinating and insightful glimpse behind the curtain of a modern fragrance brand. Alex mentioned the following products from his routine:Baz & Co - Exfoliating Cleanser https://bazandcoskincare.com/products/brightening-2-in-1-exfoliator-cleanserMiller Harris - Body Washhttps://www.millerharris.com/collections/body-washAesop - Eye Creamhttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/skin/mature-skin-concern/parsley-seed-anti-oxidant-eye-cream/Aesop - Antioxidant Face Treatmenthttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/skin/parsley-seed-range/parsley-seed-anti-oxidant-facial-treatment/Moosehead - Grubby Puttyhttps://www.krystaldirect.co.uk/MooseHead-Grubby-Putty-100g-p/moom03.htmAmouage - Boundlesshttps://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/amouage-boundless-eau-de-parfum-100ml-18963693Kilian - Fievre Vertehttps://www.bykilian.co.uk/product/19797/124136/perfume/fievre-verte-by-kilian/the-liquors#/sku/181487You can find the Miller Harris range on their website here. Look out for some exciting new products in May:https://www.millerharris.com/You can find Miller Harris on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/millerharris/You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs: https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week on ‘Man in the Mirror’ is Carlos Huber, who is the fragrance developer and founder of fragrance brand Arquiste. I met Carlos earlier this year when he hosted an event with Fiole and I knew I needed to get him on the podcast to find out more about the brand - and the man himself!Arquiste is the result of the inquisitive and thoughtful approach that Carlos takes to fragrance. It is definitely infused with his fascination and knowledge of history, architecture and historic preservation, but not in an overly academic or stuffy way. You may have seen (or even smelled) perfumes such as Architects Club, Sydney Rock Pool or Anima Dulcis, all of which are beautifully composed and possess a real sense of place and time. However, these are not recreations of bygone perfumes or museum pieces - they are energetic, modern and vibrant takes on what fragrance can be in 2024. There are some incredible new launches coming this year and Carlos tells me more about them in the podcast.Carlos mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Mary Allan - Beauty Waterhttps://maryallan.com/collections/mists-essences/products/infused-beautywaterMary Allan - Vit C Cold Pressed Oilhttps://maryallan.com/collections/face-treatment-oils/products/vitamin-c-cold-pressed-oilBeekman - Moisturizerhttps://beekman1802.com/collections/moisturizers/products/bloom-cream-moisturizerArt of Shaving - Sandalwood Creamhttps://www.theartofshaving.com/products/creams-soaps/sandalwood-shaving-cream-5-oz/Harry - Razorhttps://www.harrys.com/en/gb/productsChanel - Platinum Egositehttps://www.chanel.com/gb/fragrance/men/c/7x1x2x33/platinum-egoiste/You can find Arquiste on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arquiste/You can find the Arquiste range on their website here:https://arquiste.com/Arquiste are also available online here in the UK via Fiole:https://fiole.co.uk/collections/arquisteAlso via Liberty and Bloom Perfumery.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can also follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week on ‘Man in the Mirror’ is Tajinder Hayer (Taj), the founder and editor of print & digital luxury mens fashion magazine, ‘The Rakish Gent’. I’ve always loved reading the magazine. Taj has a clear sense of his audience and he super-serves them with beautifully shot fashion, grooming and lifestyle content. Taj has South-Asian heritage and it’s important to him that the brand showcases diverse faces and stories - and that it is representative of contemporary Britain. So for example, in the latest issue of Rakish Paper (issue 6 out now!) you’ll find comedian Mo Gilligan on the cover, a punjabi music star, Raf-Saperra and a refugee from Afghanistan, Karanjee Singh Gaba, who is now a male model working with brands such as Louis Vuitton. I should also declare that my feature on French couturier and fragrance brand owner Marc-Antoine Barrois is in this latest issue! So I may be slightly biased, but there’s lots of great features - and coverage of fascinating people you may not hear about or see in other publications. Taj & I talk about The Rakish Gent brand, fashion, style, grooming and the challenges around being an independent magazine publisher in 2024. He mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Kiehls - Clearly Corrective Cleanserhttps://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/cleansers-scrubs/clearly-correctivetm-brightening-exfoliating-daily-cleanser/WW0050KIE.htmlFace Gym - Multi Sculpt https://facegym.com/products/multi-sculptAesop - Facial Oilhttps://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/treatment/face-oils/fabulous-face-oil-UK300055864.htmlOliviere Wilson - LED Maskhttps://olivierewilson.com/products/led-glow-mask#Zaza Barbershttps://www.instagram.com/zazabarbers/?hl=en-gbRoads - Harmattanhttps://roads.co/product/harmattan/Side Story - Third Datehttps://www.libertylondon.com/uk/third-date-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000800483.htmlYou can find The Rakish Gent on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/the_rakish_gent/You can buy print copies and check out the website here:https://www.therakishgent.co.uk/paper-6- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorI'm on IG here @maninthemirrorpod :https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for joining me for episode 4 in season 6 of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ My guest this week is Vesa Kalho, the Head of Beauty Buying for UK department store group, Fenwick. Vesa is originally from Finland, but moved to the UK over 20 years ago and had a long career at Harrods, working his way up through various retail & buying roles before his current position at Fenwick.Buying is an area of the industry I don’t know much about and always seems quite mysterious! Who better to lift the lid on how it all works, than one of the most well regarded beauty buyers in the UK. Huge thanks to Vesa for joining me and sharing his passion and knowledge. Vesa mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Dior - On/Off Cleanserhttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/cleansers-and-toners/make-up-removers/la-mousse-off%2Fon-foaming-cleanser/2530021691539.htmlBIOEFFECT - EGF Serumhttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/skincare/serums-and-oils/serums/egf-serum/2500004922240.htmlDaimon Barber - Texture Tonic, Shampoo, Conditionerhttps://www.daimonbarber.com/products/texture-tonicEscentric Molecule - 01 + Irishttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/fragrance/mens-fragrances/molecule-01-iris-100ml/2530020526092.htmlAtelier Cologne - Silver Irishttps://www.ateliercologne.com/us_en/silver-iris-100-mlGlossier - Youhttps://uk.glossier.com/products/glossier-you?variant=41719194681391Bleu de Chanel - (EDP)https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/fragrance/mens-fragrances/bleu-de-chanel-eau-de-parfum-spray-50ml/2500001364579.htmlYou can find Vesa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vesakalho/Fenwick are on Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/fenwickofficial/You can find their website herehttps://www.fenwick.co.uk/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for joining me for this third episode in season 6 of 'Man In The Mirror.' My guest this week is Nick Gilbert. Nick, along with his colleague Pia Long, is the co-founder of Boujee Bougies, a UK based fine fragrance and candle brand and the pair also run Olfiction - a fragrance consultancy. During the podcast we discussed Nick’s background in perfume retail with Boots, Les Senteurs and Penhaligons and then his move into forming his own company with Pia. Last year their own brand Boujee Bougies launched their first range of fine fragrances after a successful debut in the home fragrance category. Boujee Bougies seems to encapsulate all of Nick’s past experience into one forward looking brand with a story to tell and definite point of view. I absolutely love their fragrance ‘Gilded’, which Nick described as “Light, space, serenity, incense resin dipped in gold.” The whole range is worth checking out via their website, with new physical retail partners coming on board soon. It was a pleasure to spend time in Nick’s company and (as you can tell) he’s extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the job he does.Nick mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:The Body Shop - Pink Grapefruit Shower Gelhttps://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/shower-gels/pink-grapefruit-shower-gel/p/p083057CeraVe - Hydrating Oil Cleanserhttps://www.cerave.co.uk/skincare/moisturisers/hydrating-foaming-oil-cleanserLa Roche Posay - Hyrda Phase Moisturiserhttps://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/hydraphase-uv-spf-25-light-daily-protective-hyaluronic-acid-moisturiser/LRP_172.htmlHada Labo - Eye Creamhttps://www.superdrug.com/skin/face-skin-care/anti-ageing-face-cream/hada-labo-tokyo-smoothing-anti-fatigue-eye-cream-15ml/p/798292Biore - Aqua Rich SPFhttps://www.superdrug.com/skin/sun-care/face-sun-cream/biore-uv-aqua-water-essence-sunscreen-spf30-50ml/p/830899Evening routine - Hyaluronic Acid Toner & Retinol SerumBoujee Bougies - Gildedhttps://boujeebougies.com/products/gildedYou can find Boujee Bougies on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/boujeebougiesYou can find their website herehttps://boujeebougies.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to episode 2 in the new season. It was my huge pleasure to chat to men’s stylist & image consultant Phill Tarling recently. Phill styles celebrities such as Ben Shephard, but he also offers image consultancy, styling and wardrobe edits to anyone who wants to be empowered by the clothes they wear. We all know how feeling good about our exterior appearance can engender a sense of confidence within. This applies to men of any age - and as we discuss on the podcast, men in their 40s and beyond don’t have to ‘give up’ and think that good style is something that has passed them by. Phill is (proudly) in his early 50s and looks super-sharp!Phill was a fun, inspirational interviewee and such good company. He has delightfully strong views on the products and treatments he likes - and also on the coffee he drinks. I have first-hand experience of his machine at home and it’s a beast that makes a damn fine cup of coffee!He mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Clarins For Men - Active Face Washhttps://www.clarins.co.uk/clarinsmen-active-face-wash/80085184.htmlRose Water Toner Sprayhttps://www.boots.com/mario-badescu-facial-spray-with-aloe-herb--rose-water-118ml-1032118547 Skin - Repair Moisturiserhttps://47skin.com/products/anti-blemish-scar-repair-moisturiser47 Skin - Repair Serumhttps://47skin.com/products/anti-blemish-scar-repair-serumPhilips - One Bladehttps://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/QP2734_20/oneblade-faceWahl - Wet/Dry Trimmerhttps://www.wahl.co.uk/product/aqua-blade-wet-dry-stubble-beard-trimmer/Penhaligons - Halfetihttps://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/product/halfeti-000000000065188931Penhaligons - Halfeti Leather https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/categories/fragrances/gents/halfeti-leather-000000000065188927You can find Phill on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/philltarling/You can find his website herehttps://philltarling.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!):https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m back with season 6! Sorry it’s slightly later than planned - it took longer than anticipated to schedule guests for this season and then life got in the way! Anyway - we’re kicking off with someone I’ve been wanting to talk to for a long time. It’s Steven Gontarski, who is the manager of the Scent Bar niche/indie fragrance store in L.A. - and also a regular presenter & contributor to the brand’s e-commerce and social platform ’luckyscent’. I’ve been watching his live videos and posts for the last few years and in my humble opinion, Steven is one of the best communicators in fragrance. Passionate, knowledgeable, articulate - and all of this just transmits through the screen to the viewer.It was an absolute pleasure to find out more about Steven - his background as an artist and sculptor, his post-punk band, his love of musicals (!) and of course his passion for perfumery. I hope you enjoy our conversation, it took a place in mid-January 2024 with Steven in L.A and me in London, using the Riverside platform.Steven mentioned the following products he uses in his morning/evening routines:Clarins - Gentle Foaming cleanserhttps://www.clarins.co.uk/purifying-gentle-foaming-cleanser/80071906.htmlLa Roche Posay - Anthelios SPF30https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-ultra-light-invisible-fluid-spf30/LRP_020.htmlMiss Jessie’s - Multicultural Curlshttps://www.naturalisticproducts.co.uk/products/miss-jessie-s-multicultural-curls-8-5ozCeraVE - PM Moisturising Lotionhttps://www.boots.com/cerave-facial-moisturising-lotion-52ml-10258275Current scent choices:Dior - Bois D’Argenthttps://www.dior.com/en_gb/beauty/products/bois-dargent-Y0959160.htmlChasing Scents - Rain Teahttps://chasingscents.com/products/rain-teaYou can find Lucky Scent on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/luckyscent/You can find the e-commerce store here:https://www.luckyscent.com/Steven’s IG channel:https://www.instagram.com/stevengontarski/Steven’s band:https://www.instagram.com/faintingparty/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -You can also ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirrorYou can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Thibaud Crivelli, the founder of Maison Crivelli - a fragrance brand for modern-day explorers. The brand is (only) five years old, but is already making massive waves with perfumes such as Oud Maracujá, Iris Malikhân and Santal Volcanique, to name but three. Maison Crivelli is a contemporary brand with a pared-back aesthetic and a focus on high quality raw materials. There’s a real sense of artistry about the parfums and extraits and always an element of surprise, such as pairing passion fruit with oud (in Oud Maracujá.) https://maisoncrivelli.com/en/parfums/oud-maracuja/It was a pleasure to chat with Thibaud and during our chat he mentioned the following products he uses in his routine:Sunday Riley - Ceramic Slip Cleanser https://sundayriley.uk/products/ceramic-slip-cleanserLa Roche Posay - Vit C10 Serumhttps://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/pure-vitamin-c10-serum-for-sensitive-skin-30ml/LRP_114.htmlLa Roche Posay - Cicablast Balmhttps://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/cicaplast-baume-b5-repairing-balm/LRP_035.htmlLa Roche Posay - Anthelios SPF50https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-invisible-fluid-spf50-sun-cream-for-sensitive-skin-50ml/LRP_026.htmlVintners Daughter - Active Botanical Serumhttps://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/vintner-s-daughter-active-botanical-serum/13350277.htmlYou can find Maison Crivelli on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/maisoncrivelli/You can find the Maison Crivelli range online here:https://maisoncrivelli.com/en/home/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This episode is the last in the current season, but I’ll be back in January with lots more guests. Hope you can join me then!You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Chris Wyatt, the V.P. Global Education for Jo Malone London. I sat down with Chris at the Jo Malone London Townhouse to talk about the brand, his role as an educator around the world, his favourite products - and what he thinks about the man that looks back at him in the mirror. Huge thanks to Chris and the whole Jo Malone London team for making me so welcome and if you want to find the perfect gift (or self-gift!) this Christmas, then Jo Malone London have you covered! https://www.jomalone.co.uk/christmas-giftsDuring our chat Chris mentioned the following products:The Ordinary - Foaming Gel https://theordinary.com/en-gb/glucoside-foaming-face-cleanser-100616.htmlLa Mer - Micropeel Essence - https://www.cremedelamer.co.uk/product/20657/82050/collections/the-specialists/the-micro-peelLa Mer - Cooling Gel Creamhttps://www.cremedelamer.co.uk/product/5834/52333/face/moisturisers/the-moisturizing-cool-gel-cream#/sku/85317Clinique - City Block SPF50https://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1667/102387/skin-care/superdefensetm-city-block-spf-50-daily-energy-face-protector?size=40mlEstée Lauder - Advance Night Repairhttps://www.esteelauder.co.uk/product/689/77491/product-catalog/skincare/repair-serum/advanced-night-repair-serum/synchronized-multi-recovery-complexBumble & Bumble - Sumotechttps://www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk/product/19062/217/style/waxes/sumotechJo Malone London - Violet & Amber Absoluhttps://www.jomalone.co.uk/product/25946/63484/colognes/violet-amber-absoluJo Malone London - Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intensehttps://www.jomalone.co.uk/product/25946/110444/colognes/cypress-grapevine-cologne-intenseJo Malone London - Earl Grey & Cucumber Body & Hand Wash (currently unavailable)Jo Malone London - Christmas 2023 Gingerbread Landhttps://www.jomalone.co.uk/christmas-giftsYou can find Jo Malone London on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jomalonelondon/You can find the brand online here:https://www.jomalone.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Vicken Arslanian, the ‘re-founder’ of Commodity, a modern U.S. fragrance brand. Commodity focus on clean, contemporary design, names that instantly make sense (!) and a simple, jargon-free way to understand the projection of your scent. You may well have seen the brand online or in store and their fragrances such as ‘Milk’, ‘Book’ and ‘Paper’ have created a real buzz with the beauty editors and the fragrance community over the last few years.‘Scent Space’ is Commodity’s term for the way you can select and control the projection of your fragrance. The whole range is available in 3 Scent Spaces - a close ‘Personal’ version, a balanced ‘Expressive’ version, and an amplified ‘Bold’ version. I really like this democratic approach because it removes some of the language around perfume that can seem alienating and confusing. Vicken has another business distributing European niche brands in the U.S and internationally and he clearly has a deep knowledge of the fragrance industry and a sharp eye on what the consumer really wants. He was a fascinating guest, fun, engaging - and as you’ll hear in the episode, his quest for the ultimate hair product goes on!Vicken mentioned:Shaving Soap & RazorClinique For Men - Bronzerhttps://maleskin.shop/collections/clinique-for-men/products/clinique-for-men-face-bronzerStryx - Men’s Tinted Moisturiserhttps://www.stryx.com/products/product-02-tinted-moisturizerA rotating combination of hair pomades, gels and waxes (!)Commodity - Paper (Bold)https://commodityfragrances.co.uk/collections/bold/products/paper-boldCommodity - Velvet (Bold)https://commodityfragrances.co.uk/collections/bold/products/velvet-boldYou can find Commodity on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/commodity/You can find them online here:https://commodityfragrances.co.uk/ (UK)https://commodityfragrances.com (US & Int’l)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Miles Wood-Smith, the Creative Director (and Master Barber) at London barber brand, Murdock.I’ve been visiting Murdock barber shops for the last ten years or so, so it was a real thrill to get to chat to Miles and hear more about the brand from his perspective. Murdock built a range of quality barber shops and then introduced a complementary line of hair, skin, shave and fragrance products. The brand have continued to evolve and introduce new services and have expanded into USA, Australia and other territories. In the episode Miles tells me more about his role as Creative Director, whereby he helps develop new products, runs training and acts as a brand ambassador in the international markets.I loved chatting to Miles this week. He has such a warm and friendly energy and is a brilliant advocate for the Murdock brand. If you get the chance to visit any of their London or New York barber shops you should and you’ll get great service and a warm welcome (and I’m sure Miles would particularly want you to visit Covent Garden where he works!) He mentioned the following products in his routine.Aesop - Face Cleanserhttps://www.aesop.com/uk/p/skin/sensitive-skin-concern/in-two-minds-facial-cleanser/Murdock Moisturiser (discontinued)Murdock - Sea Salt Sprayhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/hair/products/sea-salt-sprayMurdock - Hair Playhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/hair/products/hair-play?variant=37384466825374Murdock - Textured Hair Creamhttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/hair/products/textured-hair-creamMurdock - Black Tea Colognehttps://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/cologne/products/black-tea-cologne-50mlTom Ford - F***ing Fabuloushttps://www.tomford.co.uk/fucking-fabulous-eau-de-parfum/T6-FABULOUS.htmlMurdock - Napier Cologne (the latest release)https://www.murdocklondon.com/collections/cologne/products/napier-cologne-50mlYou can find Murdock on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/murdocklondon/You can find them online here, to buy products or book a visit:https://www.murdocklondon.com/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Jan Vilhelm Ahlgren, who, along with his wife Stina, is the co-founder of the brand BIBBI Parfum. Jan is a Swedish national, who is now lives in Paris with his Stina and their two young daughters. Eagle-eyed (eared?!) fragrance lovers may spot within his name another part of his CV. Jan was the founder of Vilhelm Parfumerie, an iconic brand he’s enormously proud of building, but one he went on to sell a few years back. Now BIBBI is his new baby! :) I met Jan and Stina last month as they were preparing to launch BIBBI and I was delighted Jan agreed to come on the podcast. I was struck both by the stunning collection of six fragrances and also the artistry and beauty in the presentation. Jan describes the creative process in our chat and I’ve never encountered anything like it. Safe to say, it’s a unique and bold approach. My favourite from the debut collection (and one that is part of the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar) is ‘Ghost of Tom’. It’s a stunning scent, featuring one of my favourite notes, black tea, along with bergamot and apple. The whole collection will be in Liberty and online from Oct 23rd 2023.You can find Bibbi on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bibbi.parfum/You can find them online:https://bibbi-parfum.com/Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar here (featuring ‘Ghost of Tom’) https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/liberty-beauty-advent-calendar-2023-000785490.html#pos=1- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Henry Wesson, one of the co-founders of zero-waste personal care brand Brother Earth. The brand set out to create a range of plastic-free, high quality bathroom products that fit the needs of active men. There’s a conditioning shampoo bar, a face and body bar - both of which come in an ‘indestructible tin’. Perfect for the shower, or to easily carry in a wash bag for the gym or on your travels. Then there’s a deodorant that comes in a cardboard tube and an eco-friendly, natural toothpaste in a fully recyclable aluminium tube .Henry and his two other co-founders Andy and Nick are active, outdoors guys, who were seeing the effects of plastic pollution when they were out running, hiking, surfing and biking. Brother Earth is their solution to the problem and it was fascinating to hear more from Henry about the issues and the practical steps they took - and we can take to reduce our use of plastics. The brand launched on Kickstarter this summer and is now available via their website. These were the items Henry uses in his morning and evening routines:Brother Earth - Shampoo/conditioner barBrother Earth - Face & body barBrother Earth - ToothpasteBrother Earth - Deodorant https://brotherearth.co/products/the-complete-bathroom-setLeaf Razor - https://agentshave.co.uk/leaf-shave/Lifejacket SPF Sun Gel - https://lifejacketskin.com/products/spf-50-sun-gel?variant=44454377783602E45 Moisturiser - https://www.boots.com/e45-moisturising-body-lotion-pump-500ml-10000677Acqua di Parma - Colonia Bath & Shower Gel https://www.escentual.com/acqua-di-parma/colonia/parma-colonia06/You can find Brother Earth on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/brotherearthco/You can find them online:https://brotherearth.co/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on the podcast this week is Harry Aaronson who, along with his father Denis, is the co-founder of men’s skincare brand Heath. Heath are all about fuss-free products with natural ingredients made in England. They see skincare as part of ‘wellness’ and they’re a brand that aim to serve the urban man with great quality products at a reasonable price. You can find Heath on the high street (just look for the racing green packaging!) they’re not an uber-luxury brand that only operates in the rarefied atmosphere of big department stores.Thanks to Harry and to the Heath team for inviting me to their office to record this episode and for making me so welcome (I can confirm there was an excellent plate of biscuits!) It’s timed to coincide with International Podcast Day, so if this is your first listen, welcome along! Below are the items Harry uses in his morning and evening routines:Heath - Facewashhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/collections/all/products/face-washHeath - Relax Hair + Body washhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/collections/all/products/relax-hair-and-body-washMarvis - Liquorice & Mint toothpastehttps://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/marvis-liquorice-mint-toothpaste-85ml/11660049.htmlHeath - Protect Serumhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/collections/face/products/protect-serumHeath - Oil Control Moisturiserhttps://www.heathlondon.co.uk/collections/face/products/oil-control-moisturiserHanz De Fuko - Hair styling clayhttps://www.mankind.co.uk/hanz-de-fuko-quicksand-56g/11029151.htmlFrederic Malle - Musc Ravageurhttps://www.fredericmalle.co.uk/product/19566/50126/perfume/musc-ravageur/by-maurice-roucel#/sku/99120You can find Heath on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/heath.skincare/You can find them online:https://www.heathlondon.co.uk/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! My guest on the first episode of Season 5 is Nicola Pozzani. Nicola is a perfumer, educator and is the Creative Director of luxury Italian fragrance house, The Merchant of Venice. The brand has a flagship store in Venice and also a Perfume Museum in Palazzo Mocenigo in the city. Nicola was a fascinating and delightful man to chat to - interested in perfume, of course, but also yoga, meditation, art, history and education. I hope you enjoy our conversation, which took place this summer (2023.) The incredible new fragrance 'Gold Regatta' is out now and available in the UK from Harrods. During our chat Nicola mentioned the following products:Estée Lauder - ANR Serumhttps://www.boots.com/estee-lauder-advanced-night-repair-synchronized-multi-recovery-complex-30ml--10283343The Merchant Venice - Pre-Shave Oilhttps://www.themerchantofvenice.com/en/nobil-homo-care/230-colonia-veneziana-pre-shave-oil-50-.htmlThe Merchant of Venice - Gold Regatta.The brand new fragrance, is available now from Harrods in the UK.https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/the-merchant-of-venice-nobil-homo-gold-regatta-eau-de-parfum-100ml-20952605You can find The Merchant of Venice on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/themerchantofvenice/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/——————————————————————————————————Special thanks to: Anders Sundberg for sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.