This week Karen is delivering the first of a two-part interview with Pia Long, head perfumer at Olfiction. Pia has worked in almost all areas of the perfume industry from sales and marketing to product development and quality control. She has, to use a cliche, seen and done it all. In the first part of this interview, Pia goes into depth about her incredible journey from student to master and talks with Karen about the changes she has seen in the industry over the years that give her hope that the budding perfumers of today may not have to journey the long, hard road she faced.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Pia breaks down her fascinating journey that led her from a language school in Finland to working in TV and film in London and how a very early mid-life crisis led her into the world of perfumery.
• Karen and Pia discuss how the vast number of roles within the creative industry often teach you transferable skills that may not be instantly recognisable.
• The ladies discuss how much the online community of perfumers has changed over the years and how, unlike when they both began, there is a world of knowledge and support at your fingertips.
• Despite the advances in the accessibility to education and resources it still can be extremely difficult to break into the perfume industry. Karen and Pia discuss the concept of gatekeeping and what you can do to get past it.

BEST MOMENTS

“It's extremely difficult to break into the perfume industry, but if you have passion and determination it is possible.”

“The process itself should give you a kick, it shouldn't be about wanting to become famous or being known as a genius.”

“What most people don’t realise is that problem solving is very much a feature of the job when you’re a perfumer.”

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 final episode in Karen’s back to basics mini series, and as a special treat, she is focusing on something that often gets overlooked - fragrance journaling. Although many people don’t have one, a fragrance journal is a key tool to helping you progress as a perfumer. Whether its notes on your formulation or mood boards for inspiration, your journal should be your personal bible for your perfume making journey. In this episode, Karen breaks down why you should have one, what to put in it and how you can then use that information to take your perfume making skills to the next level.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A fragrance journal is an underused tool in perfume making, but Karen aims to change that as she explains the many invaluable reasons for having one.
• What exactly do you write in a fragrance journal? Karen details the many wonderful and important pieces of information that should go into your journal to help you progress.
• It’s not just notes that go into your journal. Karen explains how you can utilise digital technology to take your journal to the next level.
• Once you’ve added information to your journal, then what? As Karen reveals, this is only half of the process, and, where the real learning starts.

BEST MOMENTS

“A journal helps you sharpen your skills and create perfumes with more confidence.”

“A journal means you're not relying on your own memory. It gives you a record of what works and what doesn’t.”

“If you regularly review your entries and apply what you have learnt, it will help you to become a better perfumer.

EPISODE LINKS

Master your materials

Fast Track Your perfume making with an in person class

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

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 back for part three of her ‘Back to Basics’ mini series and this week she is taking a look at how to set up your workspace so you can create perfume safely and efficiently. When we start something new, diving in and trying everything at once is exciting and refreshing, but without proper preparation and organisation this way of working can lead to headaches down the road. In this episode Karen is here to explain not only how to organise your workspace, but why it is essential to do it in a safe and organised manner so that you can start your perfume making journey 100% prepared.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When you first start making perfume it can be exciting and you can easily find yourself trying a hundred things at once. But, as Karen explains, there can be some drastic consequences to not handling your materials correctly.
• From ventilation to goggles and surface cleaner to storage, Karen goes into detail on the basics you need to have a safe workspace.
• Once you’ve got your workspace all set it is a good time to revisit dilution. Karen discusses how correct dilution practices can assist you in having efficient working practices.
• When you’re in ‘flow’ it can be easy to make simple mistakes. Karen talks about the importance of labelling, not just your materials, but also your blends. And, what you should put on those labels.

BEST MOMENTS

“Getting into good safety habits from the get go is going to make your perfume making journey so much easier.”

“If you are selling your fragrances, or even just thinking about giving them to your friends and family, it is so important to understand basic safety rules.”

“Storage isn’t just about keeping your materials fresh, it’s about avoiding spillages and making sure your materials don’t oxidise.”

EPISODE LINKS

Master your materials

Set Up your Workspace

Make A Perfume Oil

Fast Track Your perfume making with an in person class

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

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