Two Different Types
“How cyclical and bittersweet for a child to retrace the image of their mother. For a subject to turn back to document their archivist.”
― Michelle Zauner, Crying in H MartThis episode’s guest is Thomas Dunckley — fragrance expert, six-time Jasmine Award winner, and the voice behind the much-loved blog The Candy Perfume Boy. Thomas has made it his mission to make perfume accessible, joyful, and free from snobbery through his podcast Making Scents Make Sense.
Our conversation explores the deep connections between fragrance, memory, and identity. We talked about how scent can transport us through time, evoke powerful emotions, and reflect who we are — or who we want to be. Thomas shares his thoughts on the importance of inclusivity in the fragrance community and how personal experiences shape the way we interact with fragrance.
We also discussed Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, reflecting on the book’s themes of grief, cultural identity, and the mother-child bond. Thomas paired these themes with fragrance recommendations that speak to comfort, nostalgia, and the emotional resonance of scent.
Whether you're a seasoned perfume lover or just beginning to explore the world of fragrance, this episode is a celebration of scent as story — and the joy it brings to our lives.
Fragrances mentioned:
Concombre d'Inde et Menthe de Syrie - Officine Universelle Buly
Eau de Magnolia - Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle
Book mentioned:
Crying in the H Mart - Michelle Zauner
Find Thomas here:
Instagram: @makingscentsmakesense
Website: thomasdunckley.com
Find Japanese Breakfast here:
Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Paperback Perfumes
Welcome to Paperback Perfumes! The host Clare Presser is a Librarian with a fascination for fragrances and their capacity to evokes memories and experiences through the activation of the olfactory system. In this podcast she chats with guests about their connections with scents and stories through the pairing of perfumes and literary texts. Think of it as reader’s advisory for fragrance lovers, or fragrance recommendation for bibilophiles - whichever experience is your first priority. It’s fun exercise that allows a lovely discussion around people’s personal interpretation of experience, scent, and storyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- No. of episodes: 52
- Latest episode: 2025-06-17
- Arts Books Fashion & Beauty
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