Olfactive Melbourne

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we welcome back Trung Vu, the founder and perfumer behind Grimoire Parfums, the independent Melbourne house building a body of work one Volume at a time. Trung first joined us in Season 1 to take us through Nephilim, Volume I of the Ex Fabularum collection. He returns with two new releases, Wú Gāng and Batonebi, and a conversation about what has changed in his practice since the debut five.Grimoire is a house built on story. Wú Gāng takes its name from the mortal exiled to the moon, condemned to cut down an osmanthus tree that heals itself with every stroke. Batonebi turns to the Caucasus and to the folk spirits that Georgian tradition holds must be soothed rather than driven out.Wú Gāng, Volume VI, is set in Huáxià and revisited from one of Trung's earliest formulas. It opens on raspberry leaf, apricot, tea and mandarin, lifted by Sichuan pepper, cardamom and davana. The heart turns to osmanthus at its centre, threaded with magnolia, maté, aglaia, jasmine sambac, cinnamon and carnation. The drydown takes a sharper turn into tobacco, cedar, birch tar and patchouli, grounded by wool, castoreum and asparagus in a base that is dry, mineralic and deliberately unresolved.Batonebi, Volume VII, is the newest release and the softer of the two. Aldehydes, pear leaf, yeast, barberry and chamomile open it, before a heart of milk, rose raduga, honey, tuberose, wild flowers and silk vine settles in. Musk, sandalwood, sweet clover, dark chocolate, butter, benzoin and vanilla carry it through to the base.We explore how the Volumes work, how Trung's approach has shifted since Ex Fabularum, and the craft behind two very different compositions. Watch or listen now for a note by note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfumers.https://www.grimoireparfums.com.au/

In this returning episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we welcome back Rhiannon Mapstone, the artisan behind Cosmic Witch Society, to guide us through her latest spellwork, Viriditas Magica - a Woody Floral musk that studies the magic of nature and all that is living green, Since her first appearance with the shadowy, forest-bound Midnight Grove, Cosmic Witch Society has continued weaving celestial mysticism, botanical alchemy, and personal ritual into every creation. This latest work draws its name and spirit from the medieval mystic, poet, composer, philosopher, healer and nun Hildegard von Bingen — a cosmic baddie for the ages, and the source of viriditas, her word for the “greening power” that moves through all living things.In this note-by-note masterclass, we explore Viriditas Magica. It opens with white musk, oak tree, and orange blossom, before revealing a heart of tuberose, jasmine, and fresh picked wildflowers. It settles into a base of cardamom, cloves, and flowery musk — a composition that stays rooted, green, and quietly alive from first spray to dry down.Beyond the bottle, we catch up on what’s evolved for Cosmic Witch Society since we last spoke, and how Hildegard’s vision of nature as a living, sacred force continues to shape Rhiannon’s practice.https://www.cosmicwitchsociety.com

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Alina Tadevosyan, the founder and perfumer behind ARAKYÁL, an Australian fragrance house where Armenian heritage, memory, and identity converge.Founded in 2025 and handcrafted in Sydney, ARAKYÁL takes its name from the Armenian word for apostle, with each fragrance composed as a messenger carrying story, culture, and belonging. Alina's creative path moved through classical singing, fashion, and art direction before arriving at perfumery, and that multidisciplinary instinct shapes a house built slowly and intentionally, with Armenia at the heart of every creation. From the sacred traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the pomegranate as a symbol of life and rebirth, each composition draws on the history, poetry, and spirit of her homeland.In this note by note masterclass, we explore Elixir, a fragrance inspired by Armenian brandy. It opens with a heady pour of brandy and dried fruits before moving into a rich heart of dark chocolate, cocoa, and vanilla. As the fragrance settles, it reveals a grounding base of woody oak, patchouli, Peru balsam, and labdanum, designed to capture the warmth and depth of its namesake.https://www.arakyal.co/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Gillian Wall, the founder behind Mudie Cow, an independent Australian house built on a simple idea: a scent that shifts your mood rather than simply matching it.A marketing professional turned self-described wannabe nose, Gillian spent years helping lifestyle brands find their voice before deciding to build one of her own. What drew her in was the science of scent, the connection between fragrance and the limbic system, and the way different olfactive families wake up different parts of the brain. Mudie Cow is the result, a tight edit of carefully curated fine fragrance mists designed to be functional, taking you from flat to flirty, passive to passionate, and chaos to calm. The name is a nod to "moody cow", the phrase every difficult teenager has heard, reclaimed here as something to embrace rather than apologise for. Every fragrance is cruelty free, vegan friendly, and paraben free.In this note by note masterclass, we explore Chaos to Calm, a woody, floral and spicy composition made for the moments when life gets loud. It opens with pear sparkle, cardamom and violet leaves, before moving into a green, cooling heart of orris, cypress and amyris. The base settles into sandalwood, blonde cedar and vetiver Madagascar, a grounding, creamy finish that lingers quietly on the skin. Alongside the fragrance itself, we dive into mood enhancing perfumery with Gillian, and how scent can be used deliberately to bring you back to the present.Watch or listen now for a note by note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfume houses, and a conversation about scent, mood, and the science of feeling better.https://mudiecow.com.au/

In this returning episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we welcome back Callum Mitchell, founder and perfumer behind Perdrisât Perfume, to explore the next chapter in one of Australia’s most distinctive independent fragrance houses.Since his first appearance, Perdrisât has continued to evolve with the release of two highly anticipated fragrances, Hush Money and Crocodile Tears. We discuss the stories behind these new creations, the unconventional materials that bring them to life, and Callum’s unique approach to revealing just enough of a fragrance while leaving room for discovery.Join us for another note-by-note masterclass as Callum guides us through Hush Money, unpacking its unexpected composition, the creative decisions behind its many iterations, and the emotions woven throughout its development. We also catch up on Callum’s creative journey beyond perfumery, including his upcoming film project and how filmmaking and fragrance continue to influence one another.https://www.perdrisatperfume.com/https://www.olfactiveperfumery.com/

In this special mid-season episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we pause to reflect on the journey so far, celebrating the perfumers, founders, and creative directors who have shared their artistry, passion, and stories with us across the first half of Season 2.From intimate note by note masterclasses to explorations of brand identity, craftsmanship, and the power of scent to connect us to memory, culture, and place, every conversation this season has offered something unique and unforgettable. We revisit standout moments, key technical insights, and the fragrances that have left the deepest impressions on our olfactory journey, from the coastlines and cities of the mainland to the rainforests of Tasmania.Watch or listen now as we look back on the first half of the season, celebrating the creativity and vision shaping Australia's perfume landscape, and setting the stage for the inspiring conversations still to come.

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Prashant Khanna, known as PK, the founder and perfumer behind Vararoha Perfumery, an independent Australian house whose name comes from the Sanskrit for ready to offer boons or gifts.Working solo from Woodend in the Macedon Ranges, PK carries the scents of his childhood in India into everything he makes, composing in a way he describes as a quiet rebellion in fragrance, for the beautifully unbothered. His process is deliberate and meditative, often beginning with an observation or a fragment of memory caught in a journal and chased into scent over months, sometimes years. In this note by note masterclass, we explore Seas of Inciver, a fragrance shaped by the duality of the ocean and the legacy of the pearl divers who slipped beneath the surface in search of what the water chose to reveal. It opens on oysters and watermelon, settles into a heart of brown sugar, ginger, and liquorice, then deepens into a base of ambergris, oakmoss, and sandalwood.Watch or listen now for a note-by-note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfume houses, and a conversation about memory, the pull of the ocean, and the quiet rebellion of letting an off note make a fragrance your own.https://vararohaperfumery.com/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Louis Calmet, the founder behind Maison Le Garçon, an independent Australian house built on olfactive memories of the places and aromas of southern France.Raised on his father's vineyard in the south of France and shaped by years working alongside established niche houses before striking out on his own, Louis builds each fragrance as a piece of the world, a memory or a place captured in scent. Maison Le Garçon is one hundred percent handmade in small batches, with a cruelty-free practice and a belief in luxury that respects the planet and the people behind it. The collection is designed to move with you across the day, from morning to evening.In this note by note masterclass, we explore Bois de Chêne No.3, a woody and sophisticated composition that takes its name and its heart from oak, the same wood where wine rests through its long refinement in the chais. It opens on fig and prune, settles into a heart of amber and earthy patchouli, then deepens into a base of smoked oak wood, cedar, vanilla, and musk.Watch or listen now for a note-by-note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfume houses, and a conversation about memory, place, and turning the south of France into something you can wear.https://maisonlegarcon.com/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Yusef Al Kilani, the perfumer, artisan, and collector behind Kilani Essence, an independent Australian house where modern perfumery meets traditional Arabic technique.Built from the ground up and shaped by time spent learning in Dubai, Kilani Essence is the work of a single maker pouring art, science, and obsession into every bottle. Drawing on a personally chosen palette of naturals and synthetics selected for their quality and safety, each fragrance is handcrafted in small batches as extrait de parfum, with storytelling and emotional connection at its heart. The house is built on responsible sourcing and conscious creation, honouring the materials, the craft, and the people behind them.In this note by note masterclass, we explore Electric Fumo (Spark), a fragrance that moves from bright, electric energy into smoke, resin, and depth. It opens with ginger, grapefruit, bergamot, and juniper berries before moving into a heart of green tea, cardamom, Mysore sandalwood, and olibanum. As the fragrance settles, it reveals a grounding base of Choya Nakh, patchouli, ambergris, cashmeran, agarwood, cedarwood, and Siberian fir, threaded with sea notes and sea salt.Watch or listen now for a note-by-note masterclass with one of Australia's most colourful and heartfelt independent perfumers, and a conversation about culture, history, inspiration and the unmistakable identity of Kilani Essence.https://www.kilaniessence.com/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we welcome back Sophie Marcoux, founder and creative force behind Ficifolia Fragrances, for a closer look at her latest release, Best in Show. A gourmand Extrait de Parfum at 25% concentration, the fragrance draws its inspiration from one of the most beloved (and quietly competitive) corners of Australian country life: the vanilla slice rivalry of the regional show bake-off.Sophie returns to the show with a fragrance that is at once playful and deeply considered. Glazed sugar, jasmine, muguet and praline open into a heart of vanilla custard cream, tonka bean and rose, before settling on a base of cashmere musk, patchouli and vetiver. We unpack the composition note by note as we experience it on skin, exploring how each layer reveals a different chapter of the story she set out to tell.Beyond the bottle, we spend time on the wider creative direction behind Best in Show. Sophie shares the thinking behind the campaign's stylised country bake-off world, the confidence required to enter the saturated vanilla category, and the relationship between fashion, fragrance and creative identity that runs through everything she does. We also revisit her briefing process, her evolving collaboration with her formulator, and what has changed for Ficifolia in the year since we last spoke.https://ficifolia.com/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Amanda Thompson, founder of Siuno Fragrances—a brand deeply rooted in the language of botanicals, memory, and place.We delve into Amanda’s journey into the world of perfumery, her passion for working with whole botanicals, and the inspiration behind the creation of Siuno. She shares her diverse background and deep interest in mythology and the human spirit, and how it informs the brand’s identity and vision.This episode also features a note-by-note masterclass on “Ullyses”, a standout fragrance from the Siuno range. Together, we explore its structure, materials, and the emotional narrative it evokes—offering listeners a guided sensory experience.To discover more, visit: www.siuno.com.au