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The Perfume Making Podcast

The Perfume Making Podcast

By: Karen Gilbert
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 Discover the captivating art of perfumery and learn how to turn your passion into a business. Join Karen as she shares step-by-step instructions and occasional interviews, guiding you through the intricacies of fragrance creation. This podcast goes beyond the technical aspects of perfumery. Explore the fascinating connections between scent, mindset, and wellbeing. Learn about scent psychology, meditation practices, and the profound impact of fragrances on our emotions and overall wellness. Whether you're interested in natural perfumery, commercial perfumery, or starting your own venture, Karen provides valuable insights and business advice to help you succeed. Unleash your creativity, tap into your senses, and discover the secrets of this enchanting world. Start creating your signature scents today and unlock the transformative power of fragrance in your life. Art Science
Episodes
  • Layering Like a Pro (or a Rebel): From TikTok Hacks to Indie Perfume

    Layering Like a Pro (or a Rebel): From TikTok Hacks to Indie Perfume
    Dec 15 2025
    Ever wondered why everyone’s suddenly talking about layering their favourite scents? In this special year-end episode, Karen dives into the layered world of fragrance - examining the trend that’s gone from perfume-enthusiast secret to must-try for, indie creators, everyday scent lovers and brands. Discover how scent layering is shaking up traditions, what it means for your personal perfume wardrobe, and why this mix-and-match approach is more than just a passing fad. KEY TAKEAWAYS Scent layering isn’t a passing fad, it’s transforming how we wear perfume, from “one signature scent” to full fragrance wardrobes. This new layering culture is about ownership: making scents personal, playful, and aligned with who you are, not what a brand tells you to wear. TikTok and social media have blown layering wide open, but not every “hack” is safe or even smells good. Mixing random perfumes together can lead to skin issues. Purpose-made layering scents are safer and smarter. They are building blocks that home users can combine to create their own unique scents. Being a scent minimalist can make layering easier. A small, well-chosen collection often works better than shelves of half-loved bottles. Sustainability, biotech, wellness, healing, and ritual will all play bigger roles in the future of fragrance. AI and online tools can inspire ideas, but they can’t yet replace real perfumery skills or safety knowledge. Take the time to stay up to date with this and other tech. BEST MOMENTS “There's some interesting stuff going on with how people relate to scent now, as opposed to how they used to five, ten years ago.” “There are companies that create, I suppose, what you would call a cord - simple fragrances that they actually actively sell as being able to be combined together.” “It's about fragrance becoming something that people participate in, like cooking or mixology, rather than something that they are relying on an expert to tell them what to buy.” EPISODE RESOURCES In Person Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes EPC layering sets - https://experimentalperfumeclub.com/pages/perfume-creation-sets VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/artisan-perfumery-mastermind Website: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk 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 - https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karengilbert/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenGilbert.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarenGilbertPerfumeMaking Email - karen@karengilbert.co.uk This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    48 mins
  • Don’t Sell Yourself Short! Building a Perfume Business Without the Discount Spiral

    Don’t Sell Yourself Short! Building a Perfume Business Without the Discount Spiral
    Dec 8 2025
    It’s easy to think that the best way to stay ahead in business is by watching your competitors and lowering your prices when they do. But as Karen explains in this episode, that common fear-driven reaction often backfires. Responding to competition by undercutting your value can leave you overwhelmed, undervalued, and unsure of your direction. Karen breaks down why “cheaper” is rarely the answer, how to build a business rooted in confidence and authenticity, and what it really takes to attract the right customers, whether you’re a perfumer or creative entrepreneur. KEY TAKEAWAYS Don’t let fear of competition dictate your choices. Competing on price is a race to the bottom; focus on your quality and what sets you apart. When each business focuses on its unique strengths and client experience, they can all thrive. True customer loyalty comes from trust, quality, and connection. Not from your being the cheapest. If you are struggling to resist the temptation to lower your prices, learn from those who have been where you are now. Seek out courses, community, or mentoring to strengthen your mindset and business skills. BEST MOMENTS “Please, for the love of everything, don't compete on price ever. It never works. It always falls flat.” “Cheap perfumes aren’t true competitors to original, high-quality fragrances—each attracts a different customer and fulfils a different need in the market.” “Fear often shows up when you are not fully sold on your own value yet. It's never about the competition.” EPISODE RESOURCES In Person Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes Bespoke Perfumery Course: https://karengilbert.info/bespoke-perfumery-masterclass Mindset Course (included with The Artisan Perfumery Mastermind): https://www.onlineperfumeschool.com/mindset-magic-masterclass-online-course VALUABLE RESOURCES Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/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 - https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karengilbert/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenGilbert.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarenGilbertPerfumeMaking Email - karen@karengilbert.co.uk This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    31 mins
  • Making a Mod: Embracing Iteration in Perfume Making and Doing It Right

    Making a Mod: Embracing Iteration in Perfume Making and Doing It Right
    Dec 1 2025
    This week Karen follows on from the conversation she had about learning to evaluate your perfumes. She covers something that is done as a matter of course in the industry. It's something a lot of people, especially when they're new, don't really get - making more than one version of your fragrance. Or, in industry terms, making a mod. Karen explains why learning to be patient and tweaking your perfume gradually is an essential skillset and how to perfect the art of iteration. KEY TAKEAWAYS Feeling disappointed with your first perfume draft is normal; instead of interpreting your setbacks as a lack of talent, treat each version as a learning step that even experienced perfumers face. Change only one element at a time and refrain from altering your original batch. Record each change and its impact on a spreadsheet so you can clearly track what makes things better or makes things worse. If you reach a creative block after many iterations, it’s fine to set a project aside and return later with a fresh perspective. Sometimes, solutions only emerge with time and new experience. Perfumery is a journey of constant learning and self-improvement. Make use of community resources and classes as needed, and keep up the habit of practice and iteration. BEST MOMENTS “The truth is nobody makes a perfect perfume in one go….you are creating your first draft.” “Without a clear direction (a brief) you are not going to be able to evaluate anything - if you can't evaluate it, you are not going to be able to improve it.” “The whole point of creating mods, or iterations of a fragrance, is comparison.” VALUABLE RESOURCES In-Person Classes: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/studio-classes Fragrance For Skincare Course: https://www.onlineperfumeschool.com/creating-fragrance-for-skincare-products-online-course Fragrance Formulation blog post - ⁠https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/fragrance-formulation⁠ Last week´s evaluating your perfume episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evaluating-your-fragrances-how-to-judge-your-scent/id1693602939?i=1000738045728 Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/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 - https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karengilbert/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenGilbert.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarenGilbertPerfumeMaking Email - karen@karengilbert.co.uk This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    27 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I really liked the variety of topics which covers fragrance more broadly and not just perfume and industry insights.

great podcast for budding perfumists or scent makers

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