It's Just Perfume

On this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve and Dana bask in the holiday glow and talk about their favorite warm, spicy, cozy scents to wear at festive parties or for quiet times at home. They discuss the biggest note trends of the year and smell through their favorite scents of 2025.

It's been a great year for perfume releases - what were some of your favorites in 2025?

Perfumes mentioned in this episode:
Bowmakers by DS and Durga
Ambre Liquide by Astier de Villatte
Hammersmith Tea & Biscuits by 4160 Tuesdays
Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene
Empire des Indes by Oriza Legrand
Myrrh Shadow by Bon Parfumeur
Molecule 01 + Cistus by Escentric Molecules
Ouarzazate by Comme des Garcons
Tobacco Memories by Chambre52
Encore Une Fois by Infiniment Coty
Japanese Whiskey by D'Annam
Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret
Carine by Carine Roitfeld
Venice Rococo by Arquiste
Green Vanille by Regime des Fleurs
Blood Spider Orchid by Regime des Fleurs
Apricot Innocence by Simone Andreoli
Cedrat Ceruse by L'Artisan Parfumeur
Witchery by Sorce
In Dreams & Fairytales by Sorce
Vampire Husband by Sorce
Joyeux by Sultan Pasha Perfumes
Nightchild by Epichron
Taipei by One Day
White Rice by d'Annam
Dirty Rice by Borntostandout
Rice Makgeolli by Villa Erbatium
Delicious Rice Milk by Federico Cantelli
The LIttle Mermaid by The Mischief Academy
Kyoto by Le Gout de Peau
African Rooibos by Chris Collins
Savant by Chris Collins
Milk & Matcha by Obvious
London Fog by Brandt
Jasmine Freak by Room 1015
Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana
R & B by Zernell Gillie
Cafe des Delices by Maison Mataha

Hosted by Steven Gontarski and Dana Buchanan
Produced by Emi Brown and Claire Jelinek
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve sits down with legendary master perfumer Olivier Cresp. They talk about his distinctive style, which Cresp refers to as minimalist and figurative, valuing simplicity with key ingredients.

They touch on Olivier's generational roots in the perfume industry and his upbringing in Grasse. He discusses the various steps of the creation of Thierry Mugler's Angel - an iconic perfume that forever changed the landscape of perfumery - and the various ideas that went into the formation of Akro, a brand Olivier started with his daughter Anais, celebrating life's guilty pleasures.

Perfumes mentioned in this episode:
Bake by Akro
Crush by Akro
Angel by Thierry Mugler
Juniper Sling by Penhaligon's
LIght Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
My Devotion by Dolce & Gabbana
Rise by Akro
Smoke by Akro

Hosted by Steven Gontarski
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve talks with actor, musician and member of the Scent Bar family, Ronald Prokeš. They talk about the scents Ronny wore as a teen in the Czech Republic and his more recent fascination with chypres, fougeres and vintage perfumes. He describes how he sometimes uses scent to disassociate from social settings and how "an empty bottle is a happy bottle."

Fragrances mentioned in this episode:
Fierce by Abercrombie and Fitch
Fahrenheit by Dior
Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant by Kenzo
Maai by Bogue Profumo
Cocoa Kimiya by Atelier des Ors
Eau Noire by Dior
Varuek by PRIN
Grand Chalet by Astier de Villatte
Memoir Man by Amouage
Nuit de Bakelite by Naomi Goodsir
Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens
Rauque by Roberto Greco
Oeilleres by Roberto Greco
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

Hosted by Steven Gontarski
Produced by Emi Foster and Claire Jelinek
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits with Chris Collins and asks him about his background in fashion and his pivot into perfume, one of his lifelong passions. He remembers the fragrances his father wore and the scents that inspired him to start his own brand. From knocking on the door of Robertet in Grasse to channeling his admiration for Prince's music into a new perfume, Chris shares many stories that describe the rewards and challenges of founding and directing a perfume line.

Fragrances mentioned in this episode:
Old Spice by Shulton Company
Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene
Blue Jeans by Versace
Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein
Polo by Ralph Lauren
L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake
Renaissance by Chris Collins
Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle
Straight to Heaven by By Kilian
African Rooibos by Chris Collins
Babycat by YSL
Lust Oud Delice by Chris Collins
Savant Manhattan Cherry by Chris Collins

Hosted by Steven Gontarski
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susannah Melvoin is known to many as a stellar musician and songwriter, having contributed to legendary albums by Prince and Madonna among others. Her passion for music is only rivalled by her passion for perfume. In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve sits with Susannah as they talk about the interplay between music and scent in creating atmospheres. She shares her earliest memories of her parents' perfumes, her first scent and her current go-to bottles while dropping some iconic stories. Want to know what the set for Prince's 'When Doves Cry' video smelled like?

Perfumes mentioned in this episode:
- Tihota by Indult
- Encore Une Fois by Infiniment Coty
- Molinard de Molinard by Molinard
- Salome by Papillon Artisan Perfumes
- Chanel No 19 by Chanel
- Perfect Veil by Sarah Horowitz
- Delulu by Oddity
- Carine by Carine Roitfeld
- Numero Uno (I) by Adamo Parfum
- Isvaraya by Indult
- Kagiroi by Di Ser
- Mortel Noir by Trudon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.