In this episode, Karen shares valuable insights on transitioning from experimentation to a more structured approach in perfumery. Karen discusses common challenges such as feeling overwhelmed by raw materials, creating balanced accords, and translating ideas into finished fragrances. She provides practical tips like simplifying your palette, starting small with accords, and focusing on fragrance structure and storytelling. Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on your fragrance creation journey and grab her special Black Friday offer: The Foundations of Fragrance Collection KEY TAKEAWAYS It's easy to feel stuck when you're trying to pull all of these pieces together by yourself, but it doesn't have to be that way.  Every successful perfumer has been where you are now. We all start out with the same basic challenges.  It's tempting to try everything, but without an understanding of the materials and the specific roles that different materials play, it's really easy to get completely lost or frustrated. Successful perfumery does not happen by accident. It's not just about throwing materials together and hoping for the best. It's about having a clear process and the knowledge to guide your decisions along the way. And that is why I have put together the Foundations of Fragrance Collection.   BEST MOMENTS  “Every successful perfumer started where you are now.” “Simplify your palette. Pick a few materials you are curious about and get to know them deeply.” “Using a mind map, brainstorm or mood board is a great starting point to help you map out your fragrance.”   EPISODE LINKS Foundations of Fragrance Collection VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by Viola Levy, journalist, founder of branding agency ‘Smart, Beauty Creative” and host of the Smart Beauty podcast, a show for beauty business owners who are looking to hone their brand voice. Getting the story of your brand and your products right is essential, and can be the difference between success and failure. That’s why, in this interview, Viola and Karen cover all you need to know about transforming your business from a retailer to a storyteller.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Viola started her career as a journalist and found that a lot of the companies she was writing about were in the beauty sector. Whilst doing this work she noticed a gap in the market which, as she explains here, led her to set up her own company. Karen and Viola discuss the incredible rise of indie brands over the last decade, what this means for consumers, but also, how the bigger designer brands have reacted to this growth. As Karen often states, and Viola agrees, creating a story around your scents is the most important thing you can do in terms of marketing. Viola explains why this is a ‘non negotiable’ and gives her insights into how to make this effective. Historically, brands have put all of their time and effort into creating a fragrance and then launched into the marketplace. However, as Viola explains, there is so much more value in bringing your customers along on the journey from day one.   BEST MOMENTS  “There’s so much choice out there now, and that’s a great thing. People like to change their perfume as often as they change their clothes.” “Brands have to have an opinion and a voice, they need to show they’re passionate about more than just selling their products.” “AI is a great tool, but it shouldn’t be in the driving seat. You’ll always need a human touch.” EPISODE LINKS Smart Beauty Website Smart Beauty Podcast Smart Beauty Instagram Smart Beauty Linkedin Smart Beauty Email VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide             Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Having worked in the beauty industry for over 15 years, Viola is an award-winning journalist, copywriter and brand consultant. As an established writer, Viola has contributed to all sectors of the beauty world, with articles appearing in Vogue, Glamour, The Evening Standard, and Refinery29. In addition she has written copy for several major beauty brands and retailers, including Aromatherapy Associates, 111SKIN, Cult Beauty, Boots, By Terry, and Superdrug, and in 2019, she won a Fragrance Foundation Jasmine Award for Best Short Piece and was shortlisted for Best Social Engagement. She has also written global trend reports for major forecasting agency WGSN, focusing on how consumer needs and habits have changed since the global pandemic. From her years of experience, Viola has seen the beauty world rapidly change over the past decade. The way brands speak to customers has evolved. It’s less about playing on women’s low self-esteem, inventing problems (and products to “solve” them) or peddling false promises and miracles in jars. It’s more about feeling better (not just by looking better), intelligent discussions and promoting inclusivity. Which is why she set up Smart Beauty Creative to create the next generation of forward-thinking, feminist brands, helping to pave the way for a new, diverse and more enlightened beauty industry. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email              

After receiving a couple of emails from people who were reluctant to join Karen’s online workshops because they were to be hosted on Facebook, Karen has been inspired to produce an episode on social media. Whilst social media is ever present in our lives and can be seen to have negative effects on our health and wellbeing, if you use it correctly, it can be an extremely powerful tool for business. In this episode, Karen gives a full overview of social media, its many platforms, the areas to be wary of and how you can leverage it to get the most out of it for your business.   KEY TAKEAWAYS ●      Karen started her first business long before social media existed. For those of you unsure of how much social media has benefited small business marketing, Karen outlines the differences between then and now. ●      Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest - There are so many social media platforms that could help you but, which one, or combination, is right for you? Karen breaks down the pros and cons of each. ●      Despite some people’s objections to social media Karen continues to use Facebook to deliver her training courses. She outlines why she thinks it's a platform that works. ●      Messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp are also considered social media. Karen details what these apps can do for your business and also their pros and cons.    BEST MOMENTS  “Social media is an incredible tool to help single person businesses reach millions of customers for pennies.” “It’s essential that you look at social media as a business tool and not as a consumer space.” “The best thing about social media - You don’t pay for advertising.”   EPISODE LINKS The Scent Shift VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide             Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email              

Running a successful perfume business doesn’t just require someone who can blend materials to create a sweet scent, or someone who can market effectively. A truly successful perfume business also requires someone with the right mindset. That’s why, this week on the show, Karen is taking a break from regular programming and presenting an interactive episode designed to change your mindset. With exercises on planning your future, overcoming fears and stepping into the unknown, this episode will give you the tools to be successful and elevate your journey as a perfumer to the next level.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Can any of us know what your future looks like? What if we could actually create the future we want for ourselves? Karen invites you to participate in an exercise that can help you create the future you want.  What are you afraid of? Lack of money? Time? Karen shares an exercise that encourages you to face your fear and, in doing so, may reveal that the thing you are afraid of is not what it first seems to be.  Nobody likes to fail, and we often partner failure with thoughts of quitting. However, as Karen explains, failure can be better than success for our long term growth. And, she shares an exercise for reframing your failures.  Stepping outside of our comfort zones is a daunting prospect, especially if we find ourselves in a place of relative success. Karen shares an exercise that will help you take a leap forward, and it’s not as scary as you first think.  BEST MOMENTS  “Let your vision be your anchor.” “When we start to make progress it is often our fear of failure that can hold us back.” “Our fears are there to keep us safe, but they can also keep us stuck, if we don’t acknowledge them.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Karen recently received an email asking for her advice on launching a perfume brand. However, the author of the email had only given themselves a 6 month deadline to get everything ready to launch. Karen’s instant reaction - “This is not enough time.” Perfume making is not just a science, it’s an art. And, like all art, it can’t be rushed. In this episode, Karen doubles down on the importance of taking your time to get where you want to go and explains the process and procedures for making sure you do it right.    KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s natural to want to jump to the end when starting your own business, after all, you want to start seeing the money coming in. But, as Karen explains, your role will change dramatically once your business is active so it is important to master one area before moving to the next.  Perfume making isn’t just about creativity, it’s about understanding the materials. Karen explains how this essential aspect of perfume making should not be rushed and the consequences if you do rush it.  When you launch into the perfume market, you compete with countless other brands. The one thing that can, and often does, set you apart is presenting a product made with care and attention. Karen explains how to do this without rushing.  Karen ends the episode by sharing her top tips on how to embrace and enjoy the process of perfume making, making sure you spend the right amount of time on the right things.  BEST MOMENTS  “The most important and enjoyable part of the perfume making journey is the learning and creating.” “The more time you spend trying things out, the more confident you’re going to become as a perfume maker.” “When you’ve taken the time to find your voice in your brand, it really shows in your work and that’s what will make you stand out.” EPISODE LINKS The Scent Design Challenge  Deep Work - Cal Newport  The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron (Morning Pages)   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is joined by Liz Grech, an alumni of Karen’s Artisan Perfumery Mastermind course and founder of Olentium, a perfume brand based in Malta. Liz started her career as a journalist before the birth of her son unexpectedly moved her into the world of fragrance. In this interview with Karen, she discusses her career trajectory, how it takes time to find your voice, what you can do as an indie brand to compete with the big boys and how it felt to be a finalist at the Art & Olfaction Awards in 2024.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Liz had a successful career in journalism. When her son was born she began to be interested in various skin care products and how they would affect a newborn. She explains to Karen how this eventually led her into the world of fragrance. Coming from a journalistic background, Liz has a deep understanding of the importance of having a story to your fragrances. She describes to Karen how she uses classic literature, the seasons and her home in Malta to create these stories.  Olentium wasn’t Liz’s first iteration of her business. She explains to Karen how her brand and philosophy have changed over the years and how she finally found her groove.  One of the restrictions all indie brands face is access to certain materials and packaging as suppliers will not sell in small quantities. Karen and Liz discuss these challenges and some unique ways they have found to work around them.    BEST MOMENTS  “One of the best pieces of advice I can give is ‘know when to stop tinkering’.” “Do what you can with social media, don’t think you have to be everywhere doing everything.” “The people that have opted into your email list are the ones that have said ‘I’m interested.’, so don’t ignore them.”   EPISODE LINKS Olentium Website Olentium Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Anglo-Maltese Olentium founder Liz Grech started out in magazine journalism and digital communications. Pivoting interests over the past decade, Liz gained a diploma in organic cosmetic formulation before taking up perfumery, training both with Karen Gilbert and teaching herself through experimentation. Liz uses a high percentage of botanicals in her mixed-media perfumes, drawing first on those ingredients native to the Mediterranean where she lives. She launched Olentium to merge her life-long passion for fragrance with her desire to capture the spirit and soul of the Mediterranean in scent stories. Her perfume Bal Baroque was a 2024 Finalist in the artisan category of the LA-based Institute of Art & Olfaction Awards.  Liz designs Olentium fragrances in her atelier-lab in a Maltese village house, and sells worldwide online as well as through a growing number of niche perfume stockists.   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show, Karen is taking a break from regular programming and presenting you all with a diary-style episode after spending the last week thinking about staying in alignment with your actions, not just in business, but in life. In this episode Karen covers what it means to stay true to your values and creative goals, the importance of avoiding the shoulds, and her top tips for achieving a work-life balance so that you can stay in perfect alignment.    KEY TAKEAWAYS What does it mean to take aligned action? From her experience, Karen discusses what this means to her and how you might be waiting for the right time when it’s now.  One of the best pieces of advice Karen received was to “Stay out of the shoulds.” But what does this mean? How can you do it? And, how can it impact your life? A work-life balance is incredibly important, especially when you work in a creative industry and your job can also be your hobby. Karen talks about how she achieves this balance and how important it is to have one.   Karen has recently lost one of her close friends. As with any bereavement, this has put things into perspective. Karen shares her thoughts on the importance of finding what’s important and living life for the now.   BEST MOMENTS  “Trust your gut, start with where you are and what you’ve got. You can always make changes further down the road.” “You are always going to get more opportunities, so don’t feel bad about the ones you turn down.” “There is no perfect time, the time is now.”   EPISODE LINKS October 5 Day Scent Design Workshop  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email  

This week marks the fourth and final part of Karen’s mini-series on fragrance families. And, she’s ending the series with one of the most important families - Fougere. Created over a century ago, Fougere has had an immense impact on the perfume industry, from its pioneering use of synthetics to its worldwide appeal with the launch of ‘Brut’. In this episode, Karen tells you all you need to know about Fougere, from why it's lasted so long, the key ingredients, and how to make your Fougere fragrance.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen gives a detailed overview of the history of Fougere fragrances, from its initial creation in 1882 by Paul Parquet of Houbigant, its pioneering use of synthetics, and its impact over the decades.  What makes a Fougere a Fougere? Karen breaks down which notes make up the main accord, what qualities each of them adds to the fragrance, and what other materials can be added to enhance the fragrance.  One of the most famous examples of a Fougere fragrance is Brut. But, underneath the marketing and packaging, it is a quite feminine fragrance. Karen talks about the crucial role marketing plays in selling your fragrance.  Karen give a breakdown of some of the most famous Fougere fragrances and how they impacted the family and its evolution.    BEST MOMENTS  “The success of Fougere Royale showed that synthetics could enhance and expand what was possible in perfumery.”  “If you’re studying music, you go back and look at the roots to understand it properly. The same is true for perfume.” “As long as you are creating safe perfumes there are no rules as to what a fragrance can be.” EPISODE LINKS Karen’s Book  October 5 Day Scent Design Workshop VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen can offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email  

Continuing her deep dive into fragrance families, this week sees Karen delving into the world of Amber fragrances. Known for their warmth, richness, and versatility, amber fragrances have remained incredibly popular from their inception in ancient Egypt to the modern day. Unique in their makeup and with an incredible number of variations, there is a lot to learn about amber fragrances. In this episode, Karen covers everything you need to know to get started on the road to understanding the wonderful world of amber.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Amber fragrances are unique in that they are actually a blend of notes rather than a single ingredient. Karen details the long history of Amber fragrances and how they have significantly developed over generations.  Amber fragrances are known for their warm, comforting smell. But, what gives them this quality? Karen breaks down the various materials that make up a classic amber fragrance.  Amber fragrances date back to ancient Egypt, and there have been hundreds of influential fragrances made over the years. Karen gives details of some of the most influential and encourages you to test them for yourself.  Due to its widespread popularity, there are so many subcategories of amber fragrances. Karen gives an overview of the main subcategories so that you can begin to explore them for yourself. BEST MOMENTS  “Amber fragrances are typically long-lasting because they focus on the base notes.”  “The strength of amber fragrances lies not only in its comforting quality but its ability to be rich and complex.”  “Niche brands have been incredibly influential in pushing the boundaries of what an amber fragrance can be.” EPISODE LINKS Karen’s Perfume Book VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher, and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online that demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory senses and create their personalized fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen can offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrances, room scents, and skincare/body care products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase their sense of well-being. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Karen is continuing her in-depth look at different fragrance families. This week, she’s taking a look at the misunderstood Chypre family. Created in 1917, the chypre family of fragrances has never been considered the best or most popular but has stood the test of time, and the family continues to grow with new subcategories being added year on year. In this episode, Karen details everything you need to know about this family of fragrances and explains why you might benefit from creating your very own chypre fragrance.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The chypre fragrance was first created in 1917 by Francois Coty, who was inspired by the island of Cyprus. What he didn’t know at the time was how influential it would be and all of the offshoots it would create, as Karen explains. What exactly is a chypre fragrance and why are they so unique? Karen breaks down what notes go into a chypre fragrance and how they all work together. Oakmoss is one of the main ingredients in chypre fragrances but, due to it causing allergies, its usage has been heavily restricted. Karen gives details on other materials that can be used to create an oakmoss scent. There are numerous subcategories of chypre. Karen details the main subcategories, how to identify them, what materials go into them, and gives you some real-world examples that you can sample for yourself. BEST MOMENTS “The interplay between the fresh, floral and earthly elements are what makes a chypre so fascinating.” “The thing that really defines a chypre is the fresh notes in the base.” “If you’re looking to make a fragrance that stands out from the crowd, then a chypre fragrance could be the way forward.” EPISODE LINKS Make a Natural Perfume Masterclass Exploring Aromachemicals Second Chance Perfume Book VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide             Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is continuing her series on fragrance families, looking at floral families. The largest and most varied family in fragrance production, florals have stood the test of time and are as popular today as they ever were. From key notes to the difference between soliflore and floral bouquets and a breakdown of some of the most popular notes, Karen covers everything you need to know about this famous family, and also, why they are so popular.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Florals are among the most popular fragrances in the world of perfume. Karen details the reasons behind this and how synthetic materials help creators keep up with demand.  One category of floral fragrances are ‘Floral Bouquets’. This is a fragrance where no single scent stands out above the others. Karen explains the background to these scents and offers some examples for you to sample.  In the 80’s it was ‘White Florals’ that were popular among consumers. Karen breaks down exactly what a white floral is and some of the classic fragrances that were inspired by them. Micheal Edward, and his fragrance wheel, categorise the subfamilies of florals and how they relate to each other in a unique way. Karen summarises his method and conclusions.   BEST MOMENTS  “Floral fragrances are the most expansive and versatile family in perfumery” “Keep in mind that fragrance classification is a guide, not a rule.” “Every floral note can have a unique part to play, whether they are used as part of a main focus or a complex blend.” EPISODE LINKS Natural Isolates Masterclass Make a Perfume Oil Masterclass Materials Mastery VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is starting a new mini series, looking at each of different fragrance families. And, to start, she’s looking at one of her personal favorites, Citrus. In this jam packed show Karen covers what materials go into a citrus fragrance, the right notes to add to make your scent last longer, key regulations to understand and the interesting history of citrus fragrances. And, on top of all of that, Karen also breaks down her step by step guide to help you create your very first citrus fragrance.  KEY TAKEAWAYS What materials go into a citrus fragrance to give it that bright and uplifting quality? Karen breaks down the best materials to achieve a citrus fragrance and gives some top tips on experimenting with different variations of notes.  Citrus notes will normally disappear on the skin within minutes, therefore, it is crucial to mix your fragrance with the right mid and base notes. Karen gives her recommendations for the best notes to make your fragrance last.  Making a citrus fragrance, like any fragrance, requires research. Karen breaks down the fascinating history of citrus fragrances and gives you recommendations of modern fragrances that you can sample and begin to learn from.  So, how do you actually make your own citrus fragrance? Karen explains the process step by step.  BEST MOMENTS  “A well balanced eau de cologne can’t just rely on citrus notes, otherwise it will last for 10 seconds on the skin.” “The beauty of a citrus fragrance lies in its simplicity, but achieving that can be a complex task.” “Just because you’re using natural materials doesn’t mean your product can be used by anyone, they are still packed full of allergens.” EPISODE LINKS Make a Citrus Fragrance Masterclass VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is joined by Kelly Colman, an award winning product expert. After developing and selling her own cosmetics products, Kelly now helps other entrepreneurs find their niche and sell their products on Amazon. Surprisingly, most people don’t consider the possibility of selling on Amazon for various reasons, such as the high levels of competition or fear or altering the perception of their brand. However, as Kelly explains in this episode, there are masses of customers already on the platform waiting to buy your products, and she’s about to share with you the secrets to accessing them.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Kelly shares with Karen the details of her incredible career journey from dancer to salon owner to product developer and, finally, to where she is today. So many people have developed products and are selling them online, but have never considered the possibility of selling on Amazon. Kelly breaks down what the first research steps are that people should consider before taking this leap. Selling on Amazon isn’t as easy as just uploading your product and setting the price. There are hundreds of factors to consider, and most of these, people are unaware of. Kelly explains to Karen the basics of a sales strategy and how you can target the right customers.  With the excessive number of products already on Amazon, how do you stand out? Even with a perfect sales strategy you still have to differentiate yourself from the competition. Kelly shares her top tips on how to rise to the top.   BEST MOMENTS  “There’s a really big piece of cake online for sellers and it’s accessible to everyone.” “People want perfection out of the gate, but if you haven’t done the research and it doesn’t sell, you’ve lost so much money and time.” “Amazon isn’t just about selling, it is also a great tool to direct customers to your brand website.” EPISODE LINKS Kelly’s Instagram Kelly’s Website VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Kelly Colman is the founder of New CID Cosmetics, a multi-award-winning brand she built from the ground up before selling it in 2018. An entrepreneur and industry expert, Kelly now runs One Winning Product, where she helps others create and launch successful products through Amazon and beyond. With a deep understanding of today’s fast-paced market, Kelly is passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show, Karen is talking to Kyle Fearn of Redolescent Fragrances. Kyle created his first fragrance as a way to make an emotional connection with his boyfriend who was travelling across the world. This creation started Kyle on a journey of developing fragrances that would tell a story which people could integrate into their lives. Focusing on wellbeing and mental health, Kyle’s fragrances have had an incredibly positive impact on the lives of many. And, when his grandmother died, Kyle saw a unique opportunity to turn his grief into love through his most bold creation.  KEY TAKEAWAYS During his time at university Kyle’s then boyfriend was moving to Japan to study. Determined to continue their special connection across the globe, Kyle was drawn to the idea of perfume. He explains to Karen how this idea led to the creation of his first fragrance and his future career.  Kyle was suffering from PTSD, having an average of 10 flashbacks a day. One day he climbed a mountain with his mother and, when he reached the summit, he was overcome with peace. He tells Karen how this inspired him to create scents that he hoped would create that sense of peace in others.  Toward the end of his life Kyle’s grandfather, David, was suffering with Alzheimer's. When his wife was taken into hospital David received a phone call to say she wouldn’t make it through the night. This led to Kyle creating his fragrance “What Time Will My Wife Die?” A fragrance designed to create a conversation around loss.  Karen and Kyle discuss the idea of using scent as a wellbeing tool and a functional fragrance and how choosing the right scent can vastly affect your mood and create a positive feeling within you.  BEST MOMENTS  “Perfume falls between art and science and the most interesting things happen between the intersection of the two.” “Historically, functional fragrances were laundry detergent and bathroom cleaners. But, they can be, and are, so much more now. They are powerful wellbeing tools.” “Smell forms an integral part of early memory structure. If utilised correctly, this can be a powerful tool to promote wellbeing.” EPISODE LINKS Redolescent Website Redolescent Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Kyle Fearn is the perfume maker and owner of Redolescent. Kyle has a degree in chemistry from the University of Cambridge, where he found his passion at the intersection of science and art. His mission? To tell stories through scent. Alongside fragrance, Kyle finds joy in pottery and onstage performances. He lives in the midlands with his husband and two dogs. Redolescent stems from the idea that scents possess the power to weave stories and rekindle memories. Kyle envisioned fragrances that resonated deeply, serving as companions throughout your day and accompanying pivotal moments in life. He also saw the potential to use fragrance as a platform to discuss other topics, such as mental health. Kyle’s desire to bridge the gap between fragrance and emotional connection gave rise to Redolescent. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

On this week's show, I'm joined by Ana Kaplan of Kaplan Communications, a PR company that works with beauty and holistic companies. Ana worked for a large PR company but increasingly felt like they didn’t match her values. So, during COVID-19, she took the brave move of leaving them behind and setting up her own company that has the unique approach of blending PR and marketing with holistic wellbeing. In this interview with Karen, Ana discusses the importance of creating stories, the all-important ‘hook’ and the crucial difference between PR and Marketing.   KEY TAKEAWAYS How do we know when a new venture is the right path to follow? Leading on from Ana sharing her story of how she began her company, we discuss the idea of following your heart and the green flags to look out for. Ana moved from working for a large PR firm to setting up her own. She talks about the lessons she learned from the big firm and how they have shaped her philosophy on both her work and selecting the clients she chooses to work with. What is the difference between PR and marketing? Ana explains, giving examples, so that you can organise and be efficient. ‘The Hook’ is one of the most important aspects of creating a piece of modern marketing. But what is a hook?, what makes a good one?, and how does the approach change for different types of media? Ana explains. BEST MOMENTS “When things feel natural and fluid, that’s how you know it’s meant for you.” “Are your goals coming from a place of ego or from alignment of where we want to be in the world?” “When you're writing a PR story make sure you’ve done your research on who you are sending it to, don’t just cut and paste.” EPISODE LINKS Website: https://www.kaplan-communications.com/about Yin Yoga: https://thepoweryogaco.com/hybrid-plugin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaplancommunications/ https://www.instagram.com/ana.stasia.maria/  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide             Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Ana Kaplan is a PR specialist focused on supporting wellbeing and beauty brands; she is also a yin yoga practitioner.  Ana holds space for healing yin yoga sessions incorporating galactic reiki to re-calibrate the nervous system as one melts into a deep meditative relaxed state.  From a young age Ana has always been attracted to spirituality and helping people holistically. The benefits of practising yin yoga has created an awareness of a different quality of being which she weaves into her unique PR approach. When she works with clients, Ana harnesses an intuitive edge to deliver valuable and recognised results. By working in alignment through her bespoke PR services, she is able to share her knowledge for all to benefit from her unique and effective PR philosophy.  ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Get your calculators, beakers and bottles ready because this week Karen is tackling the often talked about subject of perfume math, or more simply, the basic calculations involved in creating and scaling up perfume formulations. The idea of perfume math can fill most first timers with dread, especially when considering ratios, scaling up and concentration equations. But, Miss. Gilbert is here to give you the easiest math lesson of your life as she once and for all simplifies perfume math.  KEY TAKEAWAYS You've got your materials measured out, you’ve made your accords, but now you want to scale up or reproduce that scent. This is the part of perfume making that can stump a lot of people. But, Karen has created a spreadsheet to help you. She breaks down what her spreadsheet can do and how to use it.  Understanding percentages is essential for creating safe and consistent perfumes. But it’s easy to become stuck when you want your perfume to smell great but also add up to 100%. Karen shares her insights on how to tackle this problem.  Getting the ratio of your materials correct is key to making sure your scents blend well, but it can be a daunting aspect to learn. Karen shares some of the many tools to help you understand ratios. Complying with regulations and allergy needs requires complex calculations. But, as Karen explains, you might be worrying about something that isn’t essential to your production scale. BEST MOMENTS  “There’s a misconception that you have to be a math genius to make perfume.” “With practice, focus and the right tools you can master these skills without becoming a math expert.”  “A well balanced ratio ensures that fragrance components work together harmoniously.” EPISODE LINKS Perfume Calculations Spreadsheet - Use Coupon Code to get this for free: PODCAST-FS Episode on Diluting Episode on Jean Carles  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week’s show is inspired by a question Karen received from one of her listeners - “Can you give me your top tips on how to overcome the overwhelm of starting perfume making?”    This is a problem that most first timers encounter. That initial adrenaline rush of creating something new can easily be dampened when you start to dive into the world of perfume making and see just how big it is. But fear not, Karen is here to guide you through her top tips, from starting small to building a support network, so that you can tackle the art of perfume making and become a master.  KEY TAKEAWAYS People can become easily seduced by the appeal of something new and exciting. Karen details what is actually happening to the chemicals in your brain during this time and how you can harness this to your benefit.  When you're in a structured environment like a classroom it can feel easy to create a scent, however, when you're back at home on your own you suddenly find yourself without a plan. Karen breaks down how to create a simple plan you can stick to to avoid getting lost in the process.  It’s natural to want to jump to the end and create your magnum opus at the first attempt. However, this will only lead to frustration. Karen explains why creating simple goals is key to the process of becoming a master.  One aspect that can cause great overwhelm is the state of your workspace. Karen talks about the importance of not just having a dedicated workspace but also having it organised and fluid so that it works for you.  BEST MOMENTS  “The main thing that is going to make your career is consistent progress. Never stop moving forward.” “Every mistake you make is an opportunity to improve your skills.” “Engaging in continuous learning is a great way to combat fear." VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is talking to Anne Onwusowulu, an alumni of Karen’s Artisan Perfume Mastermind course. Anne is the founder of fragrance company House of Purple Rose and, along with her husband John, runs a second company, the Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub. However, both of Anne’s companies, and all the services they offer, were born out of personal tragedy or challenges she faced on her entrepreneurial journey. In this interview with Karen, Anne inspires as she details the way in which she took every challenge and turned it into an opportunity.   KEY TAKEAWAYS When Anne moved into her new house she found that the open plan nature of it led the smells of food to drift all through the house. She wanted to overcome this problem and started to research candles and diffusers; what she found, however, led her to set up her company, House of the Purple Rose.  When Anne tragically lost her mother, the stress she experienced from this led her to have problems with her skin. Determined to do something about it she went from trying a multitude of different skin care products to launching her own range.  When Anne started House of the Purple Rose she found it impossible to source suppliers that would give her small quantities of materials, as most demanded orders in the thousands. Once again, Anne took this problem and saw an opportunity and formed the Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub. Another of the many services that Anne’s companies offer is to formulate a product for indie brands. She talks about this process and some of the brands she has helped to launch. BEST MOMENTS  “People don’t realise the high level of technical skill involved in creating skin care products with a scent.” “When creating a fragrance for skin care the goal is to keep it small so that the notes don’t clash.” “Everyone needs to take notice of regulations, it is the best thing you can do for your clients.” EPISODE LINKS House of Purple Rose Website House of Purple Rose Instagram Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub Website Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub Instagram Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub YouTube VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Anne Onwusowulu is a seasoned cosmetic chemist and perfumer with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. She is the founder of the House of Purple Rose, a renowned skincare and home fragrance brand. In 2021, Anne and her husband launched the Skin and Hair Manufacturing Hub (SHMH), where she serves as the creative and scientific leader. Anne's extensive background as a cosmetic chemist, herbalist, and aromatherapist has enabled her to create successful products for independent brands. Her passion for discovering and blending the finest ingredients drives her work. Anne is dedicated to making high-quality beauty and home fragrance products accessible to everyone, leading pioneering changes in the industry. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by Michael Paul from Day 3 Fragrances. From childhood Michael was fascinated by magic. Supported by his father, he became a professional magician and toured the world. However, he would always turn to his hobby of perfumery when he was stuck. In time he realised that magic and perfumery were one and the same. During COVID his ability to perform magic ceased, and so his daughter inspired him to start a new form of magic ...perfume making. KEY TAKEAWAYS During Covid Michael's ability to travel and perform magic shows was taken away from him. It was during this time that his daughter inspired him to take his perfume ‘hobby’ seriously. Michael talks about letting go of his fears and taking the leap into a new world. From an early age, Michael was fascinated by magic. When he was stuck with a magic problem he would turn to perfumery as an escape. However, he soon realised that magic and perfumery shared many commonalities, some of which he discusses here. Michael has no relationship with his biological mother. When he met his wife, her mother began to treat Michael as her own son, so touched by this Micheal created his first perfume in her honour. He tells the story of how this launched his company.   The rise in the number of artisan perfumers has led to a rise in the number of online reviewers, especially on youtube. Michael talks about the positives and negatives of this trend and how the customer always reacts differently to the reviewers.  BEST MOMENTS  “There’s something to be said for telling yourself to stop making excuses and to just start.” “Being able to tell the story of your perfume tells the customer so much more than if they just read the list of ingredients.” “Break the rules. But know them first.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Day 3 Fragrances Day 3 Fragrances Instagram Michael Paul Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Michael Paul is a recipient of the prestigious Art and Olfaction Golden Pear award, and the creative force behind the viral new fragrance house, Day Three Fragrances. Before his transition into the perfume industry, Michael garnered acclaim as a world-renowned close up magician. Today, he uses the principles and philosophies learned from his time as a performer to shape his thoughts on the art of perfumery.Thanks to his unique approach to creative perfumery, Michael Paul has been featured in "Profiles in American Perfumery", and was invited to speak at the 2024 Experimental Scent Summit in Portugal.  This year, he was chosen to create a "Special Edition" perfume for the international ScentXplore fragrance convention in New York City, where he will also be a featured speaker. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

In this week's episode Karen is joined by Jaclyn Bellomo, a cosmetic industry professional with over a decade of experience in regulatory compliance. In the USA, up until now, the FDA has managed and maintained all fragrance industry regulations. However, the biggest overhaul in these regulations is about to occur with the introduction of  MOCRA. But these new regulations don’t just impact companies selling from the USA, but also companies selling into the USA. So, what is MOCRA, why is it being implemented and what does it mean to you? Find out on this week's show KEY TAKEAWAYS An overhaul like this does not happen without a great need for it. Jaclyn breaks down where the gaps are in the current FDA regulations and how MOCRA will fill these in.  One of the major changes that will come with MOCRA is how the ‘responsible person’ protocol works. Jaclyn explains the new system and how it will apply to companies based both in and out of the US. Jaclyn addresses the most significant changes to the new MOCRA system, adverse events. With examples, she breaks down what adverse events are and how these changes will affect you.  Safety substantiation is another aspect that will be given a complete overall with MOCRA, Jaclyn provides an in-depth overview of what the new system will look like. BEST MOMENTS  “It's always a good idea to get feedback from your customers, but even more so now as you can use this feedback for evidence.” “If you don’t comply with MOCRA, there are real world consequences.” “If you have a small artisan brand, working from home, one of the new requirements is that you have a learning period.”   EPISODE LINKS www.registrarcorp.com  KarenGilbert15 – code for your listeners to use to get 15% off our services Jaclyns E-mail  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Jaclyn Bellomo is a cosmetic industry professional with over a decade of experience in technical formulation, regulatory compliance, product development, and brand management. Jaclyn has spent the majority of her career in the private sector working with multinational brands, specializing in formulations for the beauty and personal care industry from concept to counter. Jaclyn is active on several committees across the industry that focus on education and compliance to ensure there is continued support for the cosmetic  industry.  In addition, Jaclyn works closely with our Cosmetri Product Manager and cGMP software to help streamline R&D processes, update compliance, and support customers in improving their current working operations. ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

On this very special one year anniversary episode of the Perfume Making Podcast, Karen is joined by Micheal Edwards, author and founder of Fragrances of the World and author of "Fragrance Legends" and his latest book "American Legends" Micheal, who has worked in the fragrance industry for over 4 decades is the creator of one of the first classification systems for commercial fragrances, which is still widely used today. Having classified more than 55,000 fragrances he is a walking, talking encyclopaedia of all things perfume. In this fascinating interview with Karen, Michael shares his life story, his philosophy to his work and an incredibly insightful history on the evolution of scent.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Historically, perfume brands described their scents differently, without a common language. Noticing this, Micheal set about creating a system that all brands could use. He outlines this process.  Michael's classification system began as a labour of love. However, concerned that the amount of work he was doing was not creating an income, he approached department stores with a copy of his guide. He tells the story of how this was the beginning of his incredible journey.  Due to the birth of the artisan & niche perfume industry the amount of scents released each year has risen from 300 to over 25,000. Micheal talks about the challenges his team has faced in continuing to classify these scents as the numbers rise. Michael's in-depth knowledge of scent places him as an historian also. He gives an overview of scents from the 1800’s and how consumer trends today are being influenced by early creations.  BEST MOMENTS  “The problem with perfume is that it was fascinating, but frustrating until we created a universal language.” “Women’s fragrances are described as romantic, men’s fragrances are described as macho. It’s total nonsense, but that is the way the industry likes it.”  “The problem with old classifications was that they were linear, there was no link between different notes. That needed to change.” EPISODE LINKS https://www.fragrancesoftheworld.com/AmericanLegends Wikiparfum VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by Natalie Napoleon, a world renowned visual branding strategist and product photographer with over 25 years of experience. An expert at creating strong, unique visuals for brands, Natalie is always asked by indie brands “How can I compete with the big companies?” Luckily, that’s where Natalie’s passion lies. In this interview with Karen, Natalie is going to reveal her deepest secrets so that you, and your brand, can stand out and stand tall next to the giants of the industry.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Most small companies don’t have the marketing budgets of the big hitters and this can create the perception that they can’t create impactful marketing campaigns. However, Natalie explains that money is not the boundary that people think it is and shares some tips on how you can create impactful images on a budget. Why is visual branding so important? Natalie shares her 7 key points on why it is so, including the ability to create brand recognition and an emotional connection with your audience. Creating a strong brand is so much more than just taking professional images. Natalie breaks down the elements that she delivers in her training course, such as how to build a consistent style, create a visual story and a repeatable system. The number one mistake people make is getting the product right and then thinking about branding. Natalie and Karen discuss the importance of making sure your branding is in place from day one, how to evolve it and how to engage your customers in that journey.   BEST MOMENTS “Regardless of the size of your company or the strength of your product, it’s your visual branding that sets you apart.” “75% of consumers make judgements on a company's credibility based on their visual assets.” “Images have what the written word doesn't - the ability to communicate complex ideas quickly and effectively.” The Shot Vault   Coupon Code: Enter PERFUME500 at checkout for $500 off Natalie’s Instagram   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide             Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE GUEST Natalie Napoleon is an in-demand marketing, advertising, and celebrity photographer who (over the span of her nearly 25 year career) has worked with people like Prince Albert of Monaco, Leslie Odom Jr., and Arnold Schwarzenegger and brands like Microsoft, Google, and OstomySecrets.     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way. Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.   With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by Liz Moores, founder of Papillon Perfumery. When Liz started her brand she was taking a huge gamble. Self-taught, inexperienced and jumping into an already heavily populated marketplace, Liz’s view was “I’ve got nothing to lose.” If her venture didn’t work out, she was prepared to sell her initial batch of fragrances at a car boot sale to recoup her investment. However, after some early positive reviews, Liz found great success and her brand has grown from strength to strength. In this interview with Karen, Liz details her unique approach to business and perfume making, how to deal with rumours and gossip and inspires you to take a leap of faith.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Like most perfumers, Liz was drawn into setting up her own business through her love of fragrance. After some initial high-praising reviews from bloggers, she was approached by retailers who wanted her perfume. She talks about how this early success has influenced her overall approach to business. Setting up your own business can be daunting, but it can also give you incredible freedom. Liz talks about how she embraced that freedom with her marketing and creations and how ‘being naive’ enough to do this has led to her success. In agreement with Karen, Liz believes that it is essential to have a strong story behind any scent you are creating. She details her process in creating stories and why, sometimes, it is essential to take a step back and not rush the process.  Karen and Liz discuss how the perfume industry has exploded over the last ten years as perfumery has turned from an artform to a consumer trend. How this has flooded the market with thousands of perfumes and how you can still stand out in the market if you have the right approach. BEST MOMENTS  “Create fragrances that you love yourself, everything after that is a bonus.” “If you don’t have a strong story all you’re doing is chucking materials together and there’s no guarantee that the process will work.” “It is crucial, as an artisan perfumer, to forge strong relationships with your suppliers and customers. Your reputation is everything.”   EPISODE LINKS Papillon Perfumery Website Papillon Perfumery Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is giving a history lesson on the life and work of Jean Carles. Founder of the first ever perfumery school, today known as the Givaudan, and the father of the most influential method of perfume making, his influence is still felt far and wide in the perfume industry today. Jean Carles lived an incredible life, created some of the industries most iconic scents and influenced some of the great perfumes of all time. In this episode, Karen takes you through his life's work and gives you a valuable insight into the now legendary ‘Jean Carles Method.’ KEY TAKEAWAYS Jean Carles had both a unique approach to creating perfumes and to teachings. He is the father of many iconic scents as well as the teacher of many prolific perfumeres. Karen details some of his greatest creations and influences.  Jean Carles developed a revolutionary method for perfume creation based on a systematic approach to understanding raw materials. Karen breaks down his method step by step. His method for creating accords was also considered to be groundbreaking. Whilst complex, it is an incredible tool for you to understand. Karen gives an overview of his method and principles. The final part of Jean Carles’ method is that of constructing a fragrance, it is known as the pyramid method, which is creating a fragrance with base notes, heart notes and top notes. Karen gives examples of this method and how to implement it.   BEST MOMENTS  “The Jean Carles method of creating accords is a meticulous and structured approach that will provide a deep understanding of how different materials blend together.” “Jean Carles’ systematic approach to perfumery and his innovative techniques remain influential in guiding both new and seasoned perfumers in their craft.” “It’s recommended to learn the Jean Carles method but it is also essential for you to learn and adjust based on the materials that you are using and the type of fragrance you are creating.”   EPISODE LINKS Material Mastery  William Kaufman Book  The Jean Carles Method VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Karen is in the process of writing a new book on the many challenges that await those who want to create perfumes or set up their own perfume business. Inspired by this, Karen has decided to go over eight of the most crucial points in this week's episode. Looking at some of the myths of the perfume industry, such as a need for a chemistry degree or the need for industry validation, as well as the huge amount of knowledge you must learn, time management and imposter syndrome, Karen separates fact from fiction and shares her invaluable tips on how to overcome the beginners challenges.  KEY TAKEAWAYS As with most careers, perfumers seek validation from the wider industry, especially when starting out in their careers, and this lack of validation can make you feel like an outsider, however, Karen explains that validation does not equate to success.  When you step into a large industry like the fragrance industry it is natural to start out feeling like you’re not good enough. Karen talks about this and the bigger problem of imposter syndrome, and how you can overcome these feelings.  There are hundreds of materials that you can use to create your scents and the thought of learning and memorising them all can be a daunting one. However, Karen is here to reassure you that by working in artisan perfumery, you really don’t need to memorise all that knowledge from day one.  Time management is a huge challenge when you dive into a new career. Karen breaks down her top tips for achieving effective time management.  BEST MOMENTS  “Focus on your craft and your unique journey. Remember, that many renowned perfumers have succeeded without the industry stamp of approval.” “Fragrance creation is deeply personal, it’s like creating a piece of art. When someone criticises your work it can feel like a personal rejection.” “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”   EPISODE LINKE Materials Mastery Mindset Magic VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by one of her Artisan perfumery mastermind alumni, Earl Williams, founder of ESW Perfume Bar. Through Earl’s unique business he creates bespoke scents for private clients as well as hosting pop up perfume bars at public and private events. But what really sets Earl apart is his determination and drive to keep moving forward no matter how many times the chips are stacked against him. In this interview with Karen, Earl shares his journey which will inspire you to keep moving forward and keep learning so that tomorrow, your dreams can come true. KEY TAKEAWAYS Earl details his journey in the fragrance industry and how his promising start was cut short by Covid but, instead of giving up, he decided to scale up. When Earl launched his business he was sure that he was offering the right products to the right people but, this confidence only came after a lot of preparation work, a process he outlines here.  A chance meeting at an event led Earl to open his business into a new area. He discusses the way he approached this opportunity and why you should be open to exploring new avenues.  Having a unique business model is one thing but having your own style is what sets you apart. Earl talks about the journey he embarked upon to find his own unique style.  BEST MOMENTS  “Before you put something out into the world, make sure you’re ready. You’ll achieve nothing if you rush the process.”  “Something that feels difficult today will feel easy tomorrow if you just keep learning and growing.” “If you don’t take the opportunities when they are presented to you, you’ll never move forward.”   EPISODE LINKS ESP PerfumeBar Website ESP PerfumeBar Instagram ESP PerfumeBar Tik Tok VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

As regular listeners will know, one of Karen’s favorite materials is sandalwood, that’s why she’s genuinely excited to welcome Sophie and Vanessa from Quintis on the show this week.  Certain varieties of sandalwood become endangered over the years, so, 30 years ago, Quintis decided to create new plantations so that sandalwood could thrive.  In this interview with Karen, the ladies talk about all things sandalwood from the therapeutic benefits, the growing and harvesting procedures and why, with the right approach, sandalwood will never be endangered again.   KEY TAKEAWAYS As well as producing an incredible scent, sandalwood also has some amazing therapeutic benefits, such as anti-aging. Vanessa breaks down these benefits and the research behind them. Vanessa outlines the history of sandalwood, its importance as an export for Australia and why, 30 years ago, Quintis decided to create plantations which, today, total over 4 million trees. Sophie discusses the importance of having strong relationships with the team that grow and harvest the sandalwood and how this creates transparency and trust with their clients.  Sandalwood was once endangered and Quintis are determined to make sure that never happens again. Sophie discusses the company's approach to making sure that sandalwood will be sustainable for the future.  BEST MOMENTS  “Sandalwood has the same effect on the brain as meditation. It has the ability to calm you and reduce anxiety.” “You have to make sure you are honest with your clients so they can be honest with their customers.” “Sandalwood  has an incredible ability to adapt to the other ingredients it blends with to give a wide range of scents.”   EPISODE LINKS Quintis Website Quintis Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by one of her Artisan Perfumery Mastermind Alumni, Nicole Brannan. Nicole has had a lifelong passion for fragrance and perfume which started when she was gifted a perfume making kit as a child. After a life of working in other creative areas, her passion for perfume never died but, it was during covid, when she found herself at a crossroads, that she decided to attend Karen’s class, and her life changed forever. In this interview with Karen, Nicole gives a detailed account of her journey over the last 3 years and will inspire you to do what she did….follow your dream.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Nicole recounts her journey which started with her beloved childhood perfume making kit, and how, during covid, Karen’s course reignited those memories which ultimately led her to launching her own perfume business.  Nicole explains the theory behind her workshops and how they are designed to encourage mindfulness and harmony in the participants, as well as bringing people closer to scent.  Nicole finally took the step to launch her own perfume business once covid hit and she found herself to be desperately unhappy. She details her process to Karen, the challenges she faced and how she ultimately overcame them. Karen and Nicole discuss the importance of obtaining objective feedback on your work, where to get it from and how, if done correctly, it can help you to grow.  BEST MOMENTS  “Being creative is not only fun, but it releases positive endorphins which helps to reduce stress and make you feel better.” “If you’re thinking about doing something, just go for it. If you have time to put barriers up, you’ll find a reason not to do it.” “Start small, test your market, test your audience. That's the best way to grow anything.”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   EPISODE LINKS: Elix Fragrance Website Elix Fragrance Instagram ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Karen is away on a yoga retreat this week and it has got her thinking about how important it is to incorporate mindfulness practices into perfume making. In this episode, Karen explains how adopting mindfulness practices can open up new avenues for creativity and expression in your work, as well as improve your mental and physical health. Sharing techniques tailored for perfume makers, Karen is here to guide you into the world of mindfulness practices so that you can achieve your full potential. KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen breaks down the science behind mindfulness and creativity, how we process both creativity and emotions and why practicing mindfulness techniques can enhance the key areas of our brain.  Karen walks you through a breathing technique that not only calms your mind, but engages your sense of smell, and shares the advantages of practicing this technique prior to any practical work. Are you conscious of how your workspace makes you feel? Karen talks about how you can incorporate mindfulness into your workspace to help improve your creativity and shares her top tips for doing this.  Being mindful in your working practices is key, but being mindful about your mindfulness is really what helps you to grow. Karen talks about the importance of being present in the moment and evaluating and refining your mindfulness practices.  BEST MOMENTS  “Mindfulness practices help calm the mind, clear mental clutter and improve our focus.” “By integrating mindfulness practices to your routine, you’re going to significantly enhance your ability to work with and understand a variety of different scented materials.” “It’s too easy to get to the end of the day and think that you haven’t achieved anything, but if you spend even a few minutes reflecting, you’ll be amazed and what you realise.”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   EPISODE LINKS The Scent Shift ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is joined by Josh and Samuel from Fiole, an online fragrance store for artisan brands. Having had previous careers in the entertainment world, the boys both drifted into the world of perfume and instantly fell in love with it. Four years ago they joined forces and launched Fiole, an online store with a difference. In this interview with Karen, they discuss their unique approach to online shopping, how they are mastering Tik-Tok to leverage their brand and the power of being independent.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Josh and Samuel talk through their process of creating their unique fragrance finder, which gives online customers the same experience of in store shopping, but with an exciting twist.  Josh explains the company’s approach to Tik-Tok, how they saw a way to make perfumery accessible to masses and the success they have achieved through this approach. Fiole specialises in selling artisan brands. But what is the difference between artisan and niche? Josh and Samuel explain.  Samuel talks about the strong position that Fiole finds itself in due to their unique nature and how this gives them the advantage when big fragrance houses approach them for collaboration.  BEST MOMENTS  “When you’re in a store the fragrance is doing the talking, but when you’re online, it’s packaging, images, ingredients.” “Tik-Tok is a great platform for education which ultimately drives customers to your website.” “Fragrances aren’t niche in terms of personal taste, they’re only niche in terms of availability.”   EPISODE LINKS Fiole Website Fiole Instagram Fiole TikTok VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is looking at the importance of running a pilot launch of your product. Launching your product with a full scale production into the market without knowing what to expect can be disastrous. But, Karen is here to help you avoid this major pitfall by sharing her 7 top tips on how to orchestrate a successful pilot and get your launch right the first time. From market research to understanding your goal to finding your ideal customer, it’s all covered in this episode so that you can hit the ground running.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The world of perfume marketing has changed. Brands no longer need to advertise in prestigious magazines, you can be successful just by using tiktok. But there are things to consider with this approach, which Karen explains.  Karen talks about how understanding what you want out of life, and not just within the confines of your perfume business, will help you to create a clear definition of success and, in turn, a tangible goal to work toward.  Having a strong understanding of costs is crucial to success. But this isn’t just about how much you charge for your product, it’s about what you're spending too. As Karen explains, the beauty of a pilot launch is that you can create small batches to test costing on various items so you can find that sweet spot.  Karen talks about the importance of creating a potential market for your product before your launch and how the creation of ‘waiting list’ is an invaluable tool to help you do this.  BEST MOMENTS  “The perfume market is vast. To stand out, it’s not just about having a great product, it’s about understanding your audience and understanding there's a demand for your unique scent.” “Do you know who you're really trying to sell to? It’s so important to identify your dream customer.” “A small scale launch can act as a test to gather customer feedback without the full financial risk of a large inventory.”   EPISODE LINK Karen’s Business Launch Plan VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is joined by Daniela Carrasco, an alumni of Karen’s Perfumery Mastermind course and founder of her own perfume brand, Linen Tutu, a 100% natural fragrance brand. In this interview, Daniela shares her fascinating take on both the production of her fragrances and her branding and marketing. By using only natural materials, having total transparency with her customers and using visual and audio art in her own unique way, Daniela has created a company that feels new, fresh and exciting and is producing exquisite products.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Daniela shares her journey from aromatherapist and a student at design school to her current occupation as a perfumer, and how her previous roles have helped to shape her current one.  Daniela shares her research and learnings on sensory design, how she discovered all five senses do not operate in isolation and the relationship between these discoveries and her approach to perfume making.   Daniela details the extensive research and learning she conducted prior to launching her brand, how this helped her to prepare for her new venture, but also how she would have done things differently given the chance again.  Daniela, who only uses natural materials in her perfumes, details the ethical and moral considerations behind this decision and how she has achieved incredible results.  BEST MOMENTS  “Most people wear a fragrance for themselves, not for other people.” “Everyone has a right to know what materials are in the perfumes they are wearing.” “There is more than one way to communicate the message of your fragrance. Music, film and photography can all contribute to creating the story you want to tell.”   EPISODE LINKS Linentutu Website Linentutu Instagram Linentutu TikTok VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is covering the topic of creating a fragrance product range. When you make a range of products with the same branding there are so many important factors to consider, such as what materials to use, how different products interact to different scents and how to create and maintain consistency across the range. Karen gives you all the information you need to get started in planning and creating your very own fragrance product range.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen outlines the critical role of fragrance in product development and why you should have a deep understanding of it.  Karen details the importance of having a consistent scent across all products in your range and talks about some of the technical steps you need to take to achieve this.  The most important first step to take when making a product range is creating a fragrance brief. Karen outlines why this is so important and what you should include in your brief.  Karen talks about the importance of choosing the right fragrance type for your products.  BEST MOMENTS  “Scent is key. It’s not just about how it smells, but the message it conveys to the customer.” “When you’re building a product range, consistency is key.” “Each type of product interacts with scent in a new way.” EPISODE LINKS Creating Fragrance for Skincare Products Course VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

On this week's show, Karen is delving into the topic of bespoke perfumes, which are individual fragrances that cater to the specific preferences of an individual or company. But, there is so much more to them than that. Karen takes a deep dive into the subject, covering the different types of bespoke perfumes, the challenges you will face when creating them, how to make them and who buys them and the vital skills you can acquire by learning how to make bespoke perfumes.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen explains the skills that you can acquire from learning the practice of creating bespoke perfumes, and, even if you don’t plan on making them, how these skills are invaluable to perfume making in general.  Karen details some of the clients that are in the market for bespoke perfumes and how that market is a lot bigger than you think. There are actually three different categories of bespoke fragrances. Karen details the creative process of each three and their real world applications. Karen talks about the biggest challenges you will face when creating bespoke perfumes and give you the tools to overcome them. BEST MOMENTS  “We live in a world where there is so much choice and accessibility that it is only natural for people to look for something that really stands out.” “The fragrances we wear are a form of self expression, they’re a way to tell the world who we are. Bespoke perfumes offer exclusivity and personalisation in a world that is flooded with options.” “Clear communication is key to creating bespoke fragrances. What smells one way to one person may smell different to another, so create a common language.”   EPISODE LINKS Bespoke Perfumery Masterclass  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is talking to Helida Dodd from Marbella Perfumes. Helida is an alumni of Karen’s artisan Perfumery Mastermind course and an industrial engineer turned artisan perfumer. In this talk with Karen, Helida shares why she took the leap into the world of perfumery, how she learned an entirely new profession and the challenges she faced along the way. KEY TAKEAWAYS Moving from industrial engineering to perfumery isn’t something a lot of people do. Helida shares her story of this incredible transition.  Helida talks about her first steps into the world of perfumery, how her perception of the process completely changed and some of the incredible discoveries she made. Like most people that take a leap into a new career, Helida found herself overwhelmed by the amount of new information she had to learn. She details her process of overcoming this hurdle. In another unconventional career move, Helida is now using her understanding of the perfume making process to deliver team building workshops. She details how this works.  BEST MOMENTS  “Before every perfume formula there is a story, and that is the fascinating unknown aspect of perfumery.”  “People say that age gives you wisdom, but launching into entrepreneurship is what really gives you wisdom.” “A perfumer smells a perfume the same way a musician hears a symphony, not by hearing the whole piece, but by hearing the individual notes.”   EPISODE LINKS Marbella Perfumes Marbella Perfumes Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is delving into the subject of pricing your perfume. Pricing is something that may seem straightforward, but is in fact an area that most people fall down on. So how do you put a price on your work? Are you falling into the trap of simply adding the cost of your materials to your time and creating your price point from there? And, are you even aware of some of the factors that you should be considering to make up your price? KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen talks about the basic factors you should consider when pricing your perfume and these are not just time and materials.  Brand positioning plays an important part in your pricing strategy. Karen details how understanding where you want to position your brand can influence your pricing strategy. When it comes to materials, where should you prioritize your spending? Karen gives some pointers on achieving  maximum efficiency. Karen breaks down two different pricing strategies - cost plus pricing and value based pricing - so that you can understand which approach works best for you.  BEST MOMENTS  “Pricing isn’t just about numbers, it’s about value, perception and your position in the market.” “Through thoughtful pricing you can communicate the worth of your creations, aligning your products with the audience that will cherish them the most.” “Strategic promotions or limited time offers can create a sense of urgency and attract new customers without diluting your brand's luxury status.”   EPISODE LINKS Perfume Business Plan Launch Bespoke Perfumery Masterclass VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by Jamie Frater of Frater Works, a company that creates and sells perfume materials and bases. When Jamie bought a bottle of vintage perfume on ebay, that arrived broken, he became fascinated with the scent and how it was created. This led him into a journey of discovery and the realisation that some perfume bases are no longer manufactured. He decided to put this right and set about recreating them. He then launched ‘Frater Works’, a company that creates classic bases with a modern twist as well as curating the best perfume materials for the indie perfumer.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Jamie shares the story of how a broken bottle of perfume he bought on ebay transported him into the world of perfume making Jamie talks about how his fascination with fragrance led him to take a deep dive into the creation process which, in turn, led him to create classic bases with a modern context.  Jamie details his process of creating basses, both from a scientific and artistic perspective. Jamie talks about selling his own business and moving into the world of perfume, the risks that came with that, but also the rewards. BEST MOMENTS  “Running your own business is a lot of hard work and a lot of learning, but it’s worth it for the love you get.” “The incredible thing about perfume is that every smell transports you to a time or place in your past that evokes wonderful emotions.” “It’s important to bring something of yourself to the fragrances you make.”   EPISODE LINKS Frater Works Materials Frater Works Perfumes VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is taking a look at the importance of precision when measuring out perfume materials.  Most people that are new to perfume making measure in drops or milliliters, but this can lead to all kinds of problems with consistency and accuracy.  The tried and tested method is using scales. In this episode, Karen explains in depth why scales are the way forward and how, by embracing them and using them correctly, you will become a superior perfume maker.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen talks about measuring materials using drops and the problems most people don’t realise are associated with this method One alternative to drops is using milliliters but, certain factors like density, concentration and temperature can cause all kinds of problems with this method, as Karen explains.  Karen explains why using scales is the best method for consistency and precision in perfume making. Karen goes into detail on how to use scales, why they are the best method of measurements and what scales might be best for you. BEST MOMENTS  “If you've created a fragrance you love and you want to make more of it, you need to understand, with precision, how to measure materials.” “Perfume making is as much as science as it is an art and getting consistent results means being able to replicate your process exactly.” “In the delicate balance of perfume making inconsistencies can be the difference between a fragrance that works and one that totally misses the mark.”   EPISODE LINKS Inexpensive Beginners Scales Diluting Perfume Materials Natural Perfume Masterclass   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is taking a look at the phenomenon of dupes, copycats and designer inspired scents. But what really is a dupe, why and how are they created and, most importantly, why are they bad not just for the perfume industry but for the essence of perfumery.  KEY TAKEAWAYS What exactly is a dupe and why are they created? Karen explains.  Karen talks about why dupes and copycat scents are not just bad for the perfume industry but are bad practice for perfumers.  Karen breaks down the process companies go through to create scents based on pre-existing, successful perfumes. Karen talks about the rise in dupes in the marketplace and why they have become so popular. BEST MOMENTS  “Perfumery is an art form, an expression of emotion. To replicate somebody else's fragrance is to overlook the essence of what makes perfumery so special.” “When we buy an original scent we’re supporting the art and artist behind it,  we’re acknowledging the journey from inspiration to creation.” “By understanding classic perfume, aspiring perfumers can decode the magic behind particular scent combinations that have stood the test of time.”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by one of her Artisan Perfumery Mastermind Alumni, Delphine Fant. A French native, Delphine moved to Australia when she was 18 and now runs her own perfume brand, Gandha Temple, as well as running workshops for residents of her hometown. In this chat with Karen, Delphine talks about her inspirations, her journey and her secrets to success.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Delphine talks about how she fell in love with perfumery and her inspiration for starting her own brand. Delphine found great therapeutic benefits to creating perfumes, she expands on this and how it led her to develop and deliver her own workshops so that others could experience what she had.  Delphine talks about the positives and negatives of the Australian perfume market and how they have influenced some of her business decisions.  Delphine details some of the challenges she has faced whilst setting up her company and how she overcame them. BEST MOMENTS  “Once you have an understanding of who you are selling to, you can build your branding around that idea, and making it beautiful is key.” “Never stop learning. There is always room for growth, no matter how far you’ve come.” “The best way to learn a skill is to teach it to other people.”   EPISODE LINKS Gandha Temple Website Gandha Temple Instagram VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week, Karen is continuing on from the previous episode by looking at the main materials that have made an impact in modern perfumery. Focusing on the synthetics ambroxan, hedione, iso E super and calone, Karen goes into depth about their evolution, role in modern perfumery and how you can use them to create beautiful smelling scents.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen gives an in depth history of ambroxian and how this material opened the door to a new world of perfume making. Karen talks about iso E super, its development and how and why it became the first synthetic to be known to the wider public.  Karen gives examples of some of the well known fragrances that use these synthetic materials and how their use has helped to make the fragrances popular. How do you incorporate synthetic materials into your perfumes? Karen gives her advice and details some of the aspects that people often overlook. BEST MOMENTS  “When you’re working in the perfume industry, sometimes you have to step outside of your own preferences and look at what the customer wants.” “The strength of using synthetics is not just using them, but weaving them into your scent profile.”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Natural Isolates Masterclass Material Mastery   VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind     ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.   CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Over the next two weeks, Karen is taking a deep dive into the materials that are used in perfumery and how to get started. This week Karen will be focusing on classic ingredients,   Bergamot, Rose, Jasmine and Sandalwood. Looking at their history, usage and famous fragrances that use these ingredients, Karen gives you everything you need to start your journey into mastering these classic ingredients.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen gives a brief history of each of the classic ingredients and shares some surprising facts about each one.  Karen discusses the individual scent profiles of each ingredient and their roles in perfume compositions, including their strength and compliance with regulations. Karen gives examples of well known fragrances that contain the classic ingredients and explains how they are used to maximize effect.  Karen talks about the recent trend in perfume making of using fewer ingredients for greater impact and how this is bringing out the nuance in classic ingredients.  BEST MOMENTS  “Each ingredient is a character in the story of your fragrance.” “understanding the application of materials is going to give you an insight into how you can use them in your formulations.” “Whilst the essence of these ingredients is timeless, their potential in scent creation is limitless.”   Material Mastery VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is talking about the concept of a ‘Commonplace Book’, which is a personal journal used to collect knowledge, discoveries and ideas. Karen breaks down how applying this concept to perfume making can really help you grow and learn as a perfume maker. Sharing her top tips, recommendations for equipment and everything you need to include in your book, Karen leaves no stone unturned so that you can get ahead and begin your very own book today. KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen gives a brief history of the commonplace book, how they have evolved with the introduction of the digital age and how the concept can be applied to perfume making. Karen talks about some of the considerations when creating a commonplace book and the importance of choosing a format that works for you. Karen gives tips on what to include in your commonplace book and how and why you shouldn’t just include technical details. Karen shares her top tips on making your commonplace book a central part of your perfume making practice. BEST MOMENTS  “Perfume making isn’t just about creating a pleasant scent, it’s about mastering the science behind it.” “There’s no right or wrong way to fill in your commonplace book, it’s your personal space for exploration and creativity.” “Make it a habit to regularly update your book. Consistency is the key to success.”   EPISODE LINKS Remarkable Tablet VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Perfume making is a perfect balance between science and art. With that in mind, this week's show is all about balancing theoretical knowledge with practical skills when creating fragrances. Karen lays out which rules are set in stone, which are open to interpretation and how you can harness this knowledge to create stunning scents and further your career.  KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the questions new perfume makers ask themselves is; “Is this the correct ingredient for my fragrance?” Karen explains how this is not as simple a question as it first appears.  Karen talks about the safety regulations attached to the perfume industry and the importance of following them.  How do you know if a certain ingredient is suitable for your fragrance? Karen breaks down the factors involved in making that decision.  You don’t learn unless you do…and make mistakes. Karen discusses this theory and talks about the importance of hands-on practical learning. BEST MOMENTS  “Mastering the art of perfumery is not just about learning the rules it’s also about when and where to adjust them.” “In the art of perfumery the lines are often blurred and the answer is not a simple black or white.” “Perfume making is where creativity meets science.”  EPISODE LINKS Karen’s Studio Classes  VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week on the show Karen is joined by MISKEO founder Marie-Pierre Blanchette. MISKEO is a small batch artisan perfume company founded by Marie after she re-evaluated her life during covid. In this interview, she shares the secrets of her creative approach, her tips to success and the joy she gets from TikTok.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Marie talks about her journey to becoming a perfumer and founder of MISKEO and how her earlier experiences in life have played a part in her current success.  Marie explains her creative approach and what inspires her to make great perfumes.  Marie talks about her experience on TikTok, her approach to making content and the benefits she sees to her business.  Using an example of a scent she launched last year, Marie talks about her process and the emotions she experiences when she achieves success.  BEST MOMENTS  “I like to make scents that represent what my version of a badass woman is.” “Don’t get swayed by trends, create your own.” “You can be creative running a perfume business, but you have to remember that you’re still running a business.” EPISODE LINKS MISKEO Website MISKEO Instagram MISKEO TikTok The War of Art VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen follows on from last week's episode around creating your vision for the year ahead. The questions Karen puts to you this week are ‘What is the one thing that would move everything else forward?” and “What does your 5 year, 1 year, 90 day and 30 day vision look like?” Full of practical tips, this episode will help set you up for a successful future.  KEY TAKEAWAYS What is the one big thing? Karen breaks down what this question actually means and why it’s important to approach it logically and not think too far ahead and end up creating a big list of tasks.  Karen talks about the benefits from joining a community of like minded people where you can share success, give encouragement to others and share best practice. Karen explains her logic around starting your goal creation with a 5 year plan and how seeing it as a big picture can help you break it down into smaller chunks.  Karen walks through her process of breaking down your 5 visions into manageable chunks and how you can factor in accountability and opportunities to review your progress. BEST MOMENTS  “You don’t need to do everything at once. Choose one thing and do it well before moving on to the next.” “We underestimate what we can achieve in 5 years, but we overestimate what we can achieve in 1 year.” “If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll never know if you’ve got there.” EPISODE LINKS Natural Perfume Masterclass 5 Day Challenge VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

Welcome to the first show of the New Year. The start of the year can be overwhelming with so many promises we make to ourselves and often break or forget within a few weeks. So, to help kickstart your year, Karen is here to share some nuggets of advice about how you can make lasting plans for your year, and your career, without putting too much pressure on yourself.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen talks about her ‘word of the year’ and the process of having one and checking back on it at regular intervals can help you get back on track if you lose focus. We all tell ourselves there are things we ‘should’ be doing and often they can drag us down. Karen explores ways we can free up our mind by letting go of our ‘shoulds’. Do you know what your ideal life looks like? Karen shares hers and how important it is to know and visualize this regularly if you want to be successful. What if you knew you couldn’t fail? If you ask yourself this question you might be surprised what you dream up and how your goals for the year, and your life, will change.  BEST MOMENTS  “Taking your time and being precise can lead to something great.” “One of the things that is going to set you up for success is to learn everything you can yourself.” “Sometimes we create our vision based on what we feel is achievable for us, not on what we would love to do.” VALUABLE RESOURCES Mindset Magic Masterclass Online Course Getting Started Guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOST Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILS Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Email

This week Karen is taking a little bit of a side step from perfume making and talking about how you can incorporate scents into your daily rituals to enhance your self care. In this episode Karen covers how the strategic use of scent can transform your daily routines into moments of tranquility and care and how scents affect your mood and well being. KEY TAKEAWAYS Karen discusses aromatherapy, its history, its benefits and how it enhances physiological and psychological well being. Different scents can be used to trigger different emotional states. Karen goes into detail about what scents can be used to invoke different needs.  Karen details the practical ways different scents can be incorporated into your daily routine to get the most out of their benefits.  Karen shares a short visualization that people can use if they do not have time to participate in actual routines.  BEST MOMENTS “Scented self care can offer a sanctuary of calm amidst the seasonal chaos.” “By choosing scents that align with our desired emotional state we can create a conducive  environment for our needs.” “Experimenting with different scents and methods can help you transform your daily routine into something that is more mindful and pleasurable.” EPISODE LINKSThe Scent ShiftPerfume Oil MasterclassRoom Fragrance MasterclassStudio Classes VALUABLE RESOURCESGetting Started GuideArtisan Perfumery Mastermind   ABOUT THE HOSTFragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.  Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances. With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques. Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing. CONTACT DETAILSWebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeEmail