It's Just Perfume

22. Report from the Runway - A Conversation with Merle Ginsberg

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits down with writer, fashion icon and one of the original judges of Ru Paul's Drag Race, the legendary Merle Ginsberg. From a young age, Merle expressed her identity through clothes and words, always keeping her senses, including scent, keenly attuned. Steve and Merle have talked perfume for many years at Scent Bar and have selected her signature scents together. They take a deep dive into her perfume history, stop by Scent Bar to discover a new scent and end the episode by pairing fragrances with outfits.

Perfumes mentioned in this episode
06:53:15 Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules
L'Eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake
Eau d'Hadrien by Annick Goutal
Filles en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens
21:54:00 Black Amber by Agonist
23:35:03 Coffee White Flowers by Bohoboco
28:39:19 Grev by Slumberhouse
33:50:09 Bo by Liis
40:00:02 Nuit Elastique by Premiere Peau
41:52:19 Vanille Camouflage by Dries Van Noten
42:36:02 Mantes La Jolie by Astier de Villatte
43:09:05 Dandelion Butter by Clue
44:07:10 Tokyo Bloom by The Different Company
44:55:24 Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret
46:34:24 Green Vanille by Regime des Fleurs
47:03:00 Vanille Riviera by Maison Rebatchi
53:02:04 Carine by Carine Roitfeld
56:02:25 Crimson Rocks by Amouage

Be sure to keep up with Merle's fashion news on Loose Threads, a regular newsletter in The Hollywood Reporter, Hollywoodreporter.com

Host: Steven Gontarski
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume' Steve sits down with songwriter Steph Jones. Having written hits for artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Blackpink, Selena Gomez and Jade she's one of the most in-demand talents in the music industry. Perfecting her impromptu songwriting skills at church, Steph naturally develops melodies and lyrics for people as she discovers their personal stories and soaks in their vibes. Along with her passion for tunes Steph has been fascinated by perfumes from an early age and tells Steve about her Hall of Fame fragrances and what they mean to her.

Perfumes discussed in this episode:
Aromatics Elixir by Clinique
Tubéreuse Astrale by Maison Crivelli / Available on Luckyscent
Towédé by Notes de Bas de Paje
Gris Charnel by BDK / Available on Luckyscent
Gris Charnel by BDK / Available on Luckyscent
Lait Concentré by Chabaud / Available on Luckyscent
Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden
CKin2U by Calvin Klein
Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules / Available on Luckyscent
II (Deux) by Trudon / Available on Luckyscent
Tihota by Indult / Available on Luckyscent
B683 by Marc Antoine Barrois / Available on Luckyscent
Quentin Bisch
Poivre Samarcande by Hermes
Pacific Park by Simone Andreoli / Available on Luckyscent
Jardins de Misfah Extrait by Une Nuit Nomade / Available on Luckyscent
Fleur Narcotique by Ex Nihilo / Available on Luckyscent
Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle
Cool Water for Women by Davidoff
Black Tie by Celine
Molecule 01 + Iris by Escentric Molecules / Available on Luckyscent
Supernova by Andrea Maack / Available on Luckyscent
Carine by Carine Roitfeld / Available on Luckyscent
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve and Dana bask in the holiday glow and talk about their favorite warm, spicy, cozy scents to wear at festive parties or for quiet times at home. They discuss the biggest note trends of the year and smell through their favorite scents of 2025.

It's been a great year for perfume releases - what were some of your favorites in 2025?

Perfumes mentioned in this episode:
Bowmakers by DS and Durga
Ambre Liquide by Astier de Villatte
Hammersmith Tea & Biscuits by 4160 Tuesdays
Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene
Empire des Indes by Oriza Legrand
Myrrh Shadow by Bon Parfumeur
Molecule 01 + Cistus by Escentric Molecules
Ouarzazate by Comme des Garcons
Tobacco Memories by Chambre52
Encore Une Fois by Infiniment Coty
Japanese Whiskey by D'Annam
Monoscent G by What We Do Is Secret
Carine by Carine Roitfeld
Venice Rococo by Arquiste
Green Vanille by Regime des Fleurs
Blood Spider Orchid by Regime des Fleurs
Apricot Innocence by Simone Andreoli
Cedrat Ceruse by L'Artisan Parfumeur
Witchery by Sorce
In Dreams & Fairytales by Sorce
Vampire Husband by Sorce
Joyeux by Sultan Pasha Perfumes
Nightchild by Epichron
Taipei by One Day
White Rice by d'Annam
Dirty Rice by Borntostandout
Rice Makgeolli by Villa Erbatium
Delicious Rice Milk by Federico Cantelli
The LIttle Mermaid by The Mischief Academy
Kyoto by Le Gout de Peau
African Rooibos by Chris Collins
Savant by Chris Collins
Milk & Matcha by Obvious
London Fog by Brandt
Jasmine Freak by Room 1015
Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana
R & B by Zernell Gillie
Cafe des Delices by Maison Mataha

Hosted by Steven Gontarski and Dana Buchanan
Produced by Emi Brown and Claire Jelinek
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of It's Just Perfume, Steve sits down with legendary master perfumer Olivier Cresp. They talk about his distinctive style, which Cresp refers to as minimalist and figurative, valuing simplicity with key ingredients.

They touch on Olivier's generational roots in the perfume industry and his upbringing in Grasse. He discusses the various steps of the creation of Thierry Mugler's Angel - an iconic perfume that forever changed the landscape of perfumery - and the various ideas that went into the formation of Akro, a brand Olivier started with his daughter Anais, celebrating life's guilty pleasures.

Perfumes mentioned in this episode:
Bake by Akro
Crush by Akro
Angel by Thierry Mugler
Juniper Sling by Penhaligon's
LIght Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
My Devotion by Dolce & Gabbana
Rise by Akro
Smoke by Akro

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

In this episode of 'It's Just Perfume', Steve talks with actor, musician and member of the Scent Bar family, Ronald Prokeš. They talk about the scents Ronny wore as a teen in the Czech Republic and his more recent fascination with chypres, fougeres and vintage perfumes. He describes how he sometimes uses scent to disassociate from social settings and how "an empty bottle is a happy bottle."

Fragrances mentioned in this episode:
Fierce by Abercrombie and Fitch
Fahrenheit by Dior
Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant by Kenzo
Maai by Bogue Profumo
Cocoa Kimiya by Atelier des Ors
Eau Noire by Dior
Varuek by PRIN
Grand Chalet by Astier de Villatte
Memoir Man by Amouage
Nuit de Bakelite by Naomi Goodsir
Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens
Rauque by Roberto Greco
Oeilleres by Roberto Greco
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

Hosted by Steven Gontarski
Produced by Emi Foster and Claire Jelinek
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.