A Perfume of News
These past months had all the notes.
TOP NOTES - UPLIFTING NEWS
Transforming Reclaimed Coal Mine Land Into Thriving Lavender Fields
I’ll begin with something that isn’t so much in the news, but certainly is uplifting! I recently sat down with Jocelyn Sheppard, founder of the Appalachian Botanical Company, on my podcast An Aromatic Life to talk about how she helped transform reclaimed coal mine land in West Virginia into thriving lavender fields. It’s an incredibly inspiring story about second chances for both land and people. Jocelyn shares the challenges of starting an agricultural business in Appalachia, the reward of creating job opportunities for people in the region, the joy in working with local communities, the importance of zero-waste practices, and the future of Appalachian lavender in both regional and national markets. Have a listen to take a break from the regular doomsday news out there. Go to Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. And then go to her website and try out some of her products. Use the code AROMATIC15 for 15% off your total purchase (valid through 11/30/2025).
Helping Prisoners Connect With Scent Memories
In Liverpool, lecturer Michael O’Shaughnessy has been running workshops called Perfume Stories inside local prisons, using scent as a bridge to memory. Participants are given small vials of fragrance and asked to write or draw the memories those smells unlock. For many, it’s the first time they’ve reflected on their past in years. The project aims to take prisoners back to happier times.
HEART NOTES - DEFINING NEWS
The Future of Medicine? An E-Nose That Can Detect Disease
Scientists are actively building “electronic noses” that can sniff out diseases from the chemicals our bodies naturally give off. Using lab-grown human smell sensors and AI, these devices can detect illnesses like Parkinson’s, cancer, diabetes, and brain injuries, sometimes years before symptoms appear. Specially trained dogs can already do this with amazing accuracy, but having machines could be game-changing. It’s possible that one day a quick breath or skin swab might replace needles, hospital visits, and even catch diseases before you feel sick.
Can GLP-1 Drugs Change Our Sense of Smell?
I came across this article, My GLP-1 Medication Changed the Way Perfume Smells to Me, in April and I found it so intriguing. The author noticed a significant change in her sense of smell, for the worse: vanilla scents made her nauseous, musky scents smelled metallic, floral notes felt heavy and sticky. On Reddit forums, too, people were reporting phantom smells, greater disgust for particular foods they were eating, and terrible body odors. Even the NY Times’ The Daily Podcast recently had an episode about how those on the drug have seen a change in their mood and interest in sex. So far these are all anecdotal accounts - no scientific studies have been done yet - so we can’t be sure there’s a link to the sense of smell. But it sure seems intriguing, and is something I’ll continue to monitor. I still might write a separate article about it in the future.
BASE NOTES - LASTING NEWS
Smell Loss May Be More Widespread Than We Think
A systemic review (July 2025) pooled data from more than 175,000 people and found that about 29% of them showed measurable smell dysfunction, yet only 9.5% self-reported any problem! That’s a huge gap between how many people actually have smell loss and how few realize it. This suggests that millions may be living with reduced sensory awareness, which of course affects their nutrition, mood, and safety, without connecting those changes to their sense of smell. The authors point to this discrepancy as one of the biggest barriers to diagnosis and treatment, and as a sign of how underappreciated smell still is in both medicine and everyday life.
Shalimar by Guerlain Celebrates Its 100 Year Anniversary
Speaking of lasting, the iconic perfume Shalimar celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Launched in 1925 and inspired by the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, it was one of the first perfumes to fully embrace the “amber” style, blending rich vanilla, smoky incense, and delicate floral notes into a sensual, enduring composition.
Renowned Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas of Calvin Klein CK One, Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò and Marc Jacobs Daisy fame once said, “If you ask me what is the greatest fragrance ever created, I’d say Guerlain Shalimar.”
The fragrance was famously ador(n)ed by the likes of Rita Hayworth, Frida Kahlo, Louise Brooks, Brigitte Bardot, and Bianca Jagger, and helped define modern perfumery by setting a standard for elegance, mystery, and romance that still resonates today. Proof that true classics never fade!
I’ll leave you with a funny cartoon that’s in the spirit of the season:
Great roundup! Thank you! ☺️