One of the joys of this job is learning about new brands - and one of my favourites fragrance discoveries of 2025 is Nosu. I met the co-founders, Jacob Grainger & Lucy Webster at the Barnes Fragrance Fair earlier in the year and it was a pleasure to re-connect with Jacob recently for the podcast.

Jacob is the co-founder and self-taught perfumer of Nosu, a British indie perfume house. There are currently 3 fragrances in the collection, made in North London and each one is accompanied by an original artwork created by Lucy, inspired by the textures and themes within the scent. Together, these elements blur the lines between the visual and the olfactory worlds, offering a full sensory experience.

Lucy & Jacob are part of a new wave of talented indie brands who are doing things their own way and working collaboratively. In line with that ethos, Nosu are taking part in the first ‘Pop Up Perfumery’ where various brands will take over a temporary space at 69 York Street, London W1 from 13-16th Nov 2025, alongside Eau de Boujee, Soul Notes and Sainte Cellier. https://www.instagram.com/thepopupperfumery/

They have also created a bespoke scent for the ‘Passengers’ exhibition at Parallel LDN Gallery, which is running until the end of November in Devonshire Square in London.

https://www.instagram.com/parallellondon/

Jacob mentioned the following products/services from his morning and evening routines:

Tocobo - Moisturiser

https://www.boots.com/tocobo-multi-ceramide-cream-50ml-10359710

The Ouai - The Wave Salt Spray

https://theouai.co.uk/products/wave-spray?variant=54933620228478

George Northwood Barbers - Shoreditch, London

https://www.georgenorthwood.com/

You can find Nosu on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/nosuparfum/?hl=en

Brand website:

https://www.nosuparfum.com/

Nosu Fragrances are available from the following stores:

https://www.instagram.com/roullierwhite/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/parfumledanceuk/?hl=en

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production and Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork.

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Man in the Mirror went overseas for the first time last month! I was the guest of the Santa Eulalia Perfumes brand, which is part of the stunning Santa Eulalia department store in Barcelona, Spain. The original shop was founded in 1843 and today, on a different site, is the premium multi-brand fashion store in the city.

Santa Eulalia stock some of the finest designer brands including Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Chloe, Jil Sander to name just a few. They also create their own made-to-measure suits, menswear and tailoring under the Santa Eulalia name. Luis Sans is the President of store and the fragrance house, he’s the fourth generation of his family to be custodians of the brand and he very kindly agreed to take part in ‘Man in The Mirror’ in September 2025.

Santa Eulalia Perfumes represent the essence of Barcelona - showcasing both the traditional and the cosmopolitan sides of the city. There is a new intense, more powerful collection of some of the classic fragrances under the ‘Forte’ banner. They are available in some of the best perfume boutiques globally, as well as in the Santa Eulalia shop itself. In the UK the range is in Liberty.

Luis mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

Proraso - Shaving Soap:

https://proraso.com/en/products/shaving/

Santa Eulalia Perfumes - 175, Obscuro, Marinis:

https://www.santaeulalia.com/en-gb/collections/perfumes-santa-eulalia/perfumes

In the UK:

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/brands/s/santa-eulalia/

You can find Santa Eulalia Perfumes on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/santaeulaliaperfumes/

Santa Eulalia Store on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/santaeulalia1843/

Brand website:

https://www.santaeulaliaperfumes.com/en/

(PR trip)

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

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https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

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Marc-Antoine Barrois is a guest I’ve been wanting to feature on the podcast for a long while, so I was thrilled when we got the opportunity to spend some time together this summer at the brand’s flagship UK store in central London.

Marc-Antoine is a couturier, as well as the Founder & Artistic Director of his eponymous Maison. He designs beautiful tuxedos, crisp white shirts and jewellery, but is equally well known for his collection of fragrances, created in collaboration with perfumer and friend Quentin Bisch. The perfumes have won countless awards, been critically acclaimed and found a loyal and ever-growing audience. I can’t think of any perfume that gets me as many comments and compliments as ‘Ganymede’ from Marc-Antoine Barrois.

The house is still independent and has a dedicated team (including Marc-Antoine’s younger brother, another Quentin!) who carefully plot the brand’s course and slowly, but surely introduce new products and new markets. Here in the UK there is a must-see shop in the Piccadilly Arcade that gives a tantalising glimpse into the ‘Marc-Antoine Barrois universe’ - complete with an upside down blue rabbit in the window! They also have a presence in Harrods and Selfridges.

Marc-Antoine mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

Augustinus Bader - Hand Cream

https://augustinusbader.com/uk/en/the-hand-treatment

B683 Fragrance - Marc-Antoine Barrois

https://marcantoinebarrois.com/en-gb/products/b683

You can find Marc-Antoine Barrois on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/marcantoinebarrois/

Marc-Antoine’s personal IG:

https://www.instagram.com/mabarrois/

Brand website:

https://marcantoinebarrois.com/en-gb

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

On TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

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Sometimes it’s easy to forget that brands and products are a result of life choices and decisions that may have seemed insignificant at the time. One such decision led Craig Andrade to leave work early to attend a candle making workshop. He fell in love with the craft, the creativity and the connection with olfaction and he decided to make a change and quit his corporate law role. Craig’s ‘Act II’ began when he studied perfumery at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and eventually he founded his own brand, Raconteur in Australia - focusing on native botanicals. There are now three stores in Australia and the brand is stocked globally, including at Bloom in London. Craig says:

“My perfumery practice straddles beauty, art, history, science, botany, geography, and physiology. It comprises rich layers of storytelling and meaning. My focus is on making natural fragrances that combine these elements and provide both pleasure and purpose.”

Craig mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

Sodashi - Cleanser Clay, Face Polish and Sleek Moisturiser

https://www.sodashi.co.uk/products/

Cancer Council of Australia - Sunscreen

https://www.cancercouncilshop.org.au/collections/sunscreen

Raconteur fragrances are available here in the UK at Bloom - and via the Raconteur website globally.

https://bloomperfume.co.uk/collections/raconteur

You can find Raconteur on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/the_rac_on_teur/

Raconteur website:

https://theraconteur.co/

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

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https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

On TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

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Welcome to episode 3 in the new season. I’m following up one perfumer with another, this time a young, exciting perfumer who is really making waves at the moment. It’s Florian Gallo, who works for the fragrance house DSM-Firmenich.

We spoke particularly in relation to a beautiful fragrance Florian has created for luxury Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli called ‘Sofio Zenit’, a study in white fig and aromatics that’s been a huge favourite of mine all summer. It’s part of the’ ‘Icanti Poetici’ collection from the brand which also features fragrances from Alberto Morillas (last week’s guest!) as well as Quentin Bisch and Jordi Fernandez.

Florian mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

DOP - Douche Creme - Bonbon Cola

https://www.naturalfrenchsoap.com/dop-douche-creme-bonbon-cola-250ml

Sofio Zenit from Brunello Cucinelli is out now:

https://www.harrods.com/en-ua/p/brunello-cucinelli-soffio-zenit-parfum-100ml-000000000007732451

You can find Brunello Cucinelli on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/brunellocucinelli_brand/

Florian Gallo is on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/floriangallo_perfumer/

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

On TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

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

Thanks for joining me for episode 2 of the brand new season of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ It’s a very special episode this week and something of a career highlight - my guest is none other than Master Perfumer and Founder of niche house Mizensir, Alberto Morillas.

Alberto is the nose behind many of the most iconic fragrances of the last 50 years - ck One, Acqua di Gio, Marc Jacobs ‘Daisy’, Kenzo ’Flower’, to name just a handful. He also founded his own brand Mizensir in 1999 in Geneva. Alberto and I chatted in July 2025 before I hosted his masterclass at Harrods, for new Mizensir fragrance ‘Ylang Spirit.’ Morillas has been working with the same fragrance house, DSM Firmenich for over 50 years and we spoke about this relationship, his fragrances, work, travel, his family, garden and his morning routine.

Alberto was every bit as charming and engaging as I hoped he would be, with a huge zest for life and a twinkle is his eye! What’s more, his love for his work was evident in everything he said. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

He mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

Pure Altitude - Edelweiss No. 1 cream

https://pure-altitude.com/en/products/creme-edelweiss-n-1-universelle-hydratante-protectrice

Ylang Spirit from Mizensir is out now and available in Harrods:

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/mizensir-ylang-spirit-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007810779

You can find Mizensir online at:

https://www.mizensir.com/en-gb

On Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/mizensir

Alberto is on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/morillas.alberto/

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

On TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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Thanks to Anders Sundberg for ‘Man in the Mirror’ sound mixing and production, Andy Goff @goff_andy for the artwork and Andy Gilbert (ATRX) @andygilbert_atrx for the theme music.

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

Did you miss me?! Welcome back to the new season of ‘Man in the Mirror’… and somehow we’ve made it to season 10! This season promises to be the best one yet and I’m kicking things off with a guest I’ve wanted to chat to for such a long time - it’s Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at Amouage.

Renaud has been with the Omani house of Amouage since 2019 and leads a team that has delivered huge success for the brand in recent years. Just last week Renaud was named as one of the ‘100 Innovators’ of 2025 by Vogue Business. The brand has seen an increase in their global footprint - and there have been critically and commercially successful launches such as The Odyssey Collection (including Guidance) and the Essences Collection. Salmon is reknowned for his excellent working relationship with perfumers and has created fragrances with the likes of Quentin Bisch, Julien Rasquinet, Cécile Zarokian and Bertrand Duchaufour, to name just a few.

I sat down with Renaud in July ’25 in Harrods, London. He was in the store for the release of a Harrods exclusive fragrance, ‘Reception’, created with (former podcast guest) perfumer, Pierre Negrin. The research work Renaud did in the Harrods archive and the way he’s attempted to bring together the ideas of Omani hospitality with the welcome you get at the world’s most famous department store highlights his unique approach to being a Creative Director. I found Salmon to be thoughtful, inquisitive and humble. In our wide ranging conversation we talk about craft, creativity, luxury and innovation, as well as what he thinks when he looks in the mirror.

Renaud mentioned the following products from his morning and evening routines:

Sulwhasoo - Daily Fluid Sunscreen

https://int.sulwhasoo.com/products/uv-daily-fluid-sunscreen

Augustinus Bader Products

https://augustinusbader.com/uk/en

Dr Levy Switzerland Products

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/c/brands/dr-levy-switzerland/shop-all/

‘Reception’ (part of the ‘Essences Collection’) is out now, exclusively at Harrods

https://www.harrods.com/en-ua/p/amouage-reception-eau-de-parfum-100ml-000000000007810739

You can find Amouage online at:

https://amouage.com/en-uk

On Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/amouageofficial/

Renaud is on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/renaudsalmon/

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/maninthemirrorpod/

On TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yousmellgreatwhatisit

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It’s the last episode in the current season of ‘Man in the Mirror’ and this one is just me for a change! I wanted to highlight the Barnes Fragrance Fair that is taking place this Saturday 17th May 2025 in Barnes, West London. I’ll be hosting 2 talks during the fair, the first at 9.30a.m. is called ‘Scents & Songs’ and I’ll be hosting alongside Olympic Studios archivist Roger Miles. We’ll be delving into the rich legacy of the world famous Olympic Studios in Barnes and I’ll be matching a fragrance to 6 iconic songs that were recorded there. Think of it as ‘musical sniff-along’ and there will be plenty of chance for interaction and questions. The auditorium is within the Olympic Studios complex, which is now an independent cinema. Ticket info below.

Then at 2pm I’ll be hosting a panel talk called ‘Men Smell’ featuring 4 guests (including 2 former guests from the podcast!) I’ll be joined by journalist Adam Hurly, retail buyer Vesa Kalho, content creator TJ Talks Scents and writer and YouTube creator Persolaise. It promises to be a lively and interactive conversation, I do hope you can join us! There are also loads of other workshops and talks from other leading fragrance writers, presenters and podcast hosts. It’s free to attend the main fair - the talks and workshops are ticketed and the tickets can be bought via the link below.

Ticket details are here:

https://www.barnesfragrancefair.com/talks-2025

I also mentioned the following products that I’ve been loving recently:

Jo Malone London - Black Cedarwood & Juniper Shaving Cream and Aftershave Moisturiser

https://www.jomalone.co.uk/gents/grooming

Jo Malone London - Care Collection - (Exclusive to Selfridges)

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/jo-malone-london/collection-care2dcollection/

Acqua di Parma - Buongiorno Eau de Parfum

https://www.johnlewis.com/acqua-di-parma-buongiorno-eau-de-parfum/p113439344

Aesop - Eleos Body Cleanser

https://www.aesop.com/uk/p/body-hand/body-cleansers-and-scrubs/eleos-nourishing-body-cleanser/

Kiehls - Routine

https://www.kiehls.co.uk/mens

Adam Reed Arkive - Shampoo and Conditioner

https://arkiveheadcare.com/collections/cleanse-treat

Veronique Gabai - Eau D’Azur (EDP)

https://veroniquegabai.com/collections/eau-dazur

See you in the summer for season 10. Thanks for all your support and thanks for listening!

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You can ‘tip’ me via the link below. This really helps me with the podcast running costs (it’s a costly business!): https://ko-fi.com/maninthemirror

You can follow me @maninthemirrorpod on IG:

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