LKNU Podcast

A new trio from MiN New York is the Experimental Collection. Described by the brand as ‘the white space where we create our own story’, Liam and Jenna sniff these three fragrances in today’s episode. These scents are not necessarily ‘avant-garde’ but more on the playful side. Firstly, Pure Heart is full of sweet red berries and clean, white musks with subtle vetiver and resins. Shimmering with a pleasant combination of notes, Pure Heart is a very appealing scent. Hall of Fame, again plays with sweet fruits, yet in quite a different manner. Peach and red apple combine with jasmine, moving into deep, ambery musks and patchouli. Finally, First Time reminds us of Persian sweets with its syrupy fruity rose and pistachio. This is a beguiling fragrance with a gourmand leaning. We encourage you to explore the Experimental Collection and the full range from MiN New York at our Emporium boutique and online store.

For this Valentine's Day, Liam presents two rose chypres. The classic symbol of romance, rose's home is in the chypre family. A mossy, traditional style of chypre, Eau Suave by Parfum d'Empire reveals fruity and spicy facets alongside a classical rose. This perfume, composed by Marc-Antoine Corticchiato, is particularly recommended for fans of vintage fragrances. Moving into the realm of the neo-chypre is Une Tonne de Roses, by Michel Almairac for his brand Parle Moi. By substituting patchouli for the traditional oakmoss base, a different expression of the traditional chypre is achieved. A touch of carnation brings out the sharpness here, and plenty of white musk and patchouli provides the chypre base. All the while, a fiery and passionate rose remains the star. Liam believes that rose is the beginning of possibility in perfumery, and we encourage you to explore these two fragrances at our Emporium boutique and online store.

The team at LKNU wish you a Happy Lunar New Year! Celebrated throughout East Asia, the cycle of twelve years has an animal associated with each, traditionally bestowing those born in that period with certain zodiac characteristics, not unlike western astrological horoscopes. Liam and Jenna are here to help you greet this upcoming year, the Year of the Rabbit, with three fragrances that share the somewhat unexpected note of carrot seed. Anatole Lebreton's Incarnata and Vermeil from Bienaimé both use carrot seed in conjunction with iris to create a traditional cosmetic accord, bringing to mind nostalgic lipsticks and powders. Vermeil is the lighter, sweeter, of the two, tinted with notes of raspberry and heliotrope. Incarnata is a stronger, deeper scent; its base of vanilla and amber giving depth and power. Finally, Trimerous from Jorum Studio is an earthy carrot, fresh from the garden, and blended with an exquisite Florentine orris butter. Facets of nectarine and pink pepper give Trimerous a freshness and modern touch. ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

A brand new release from Greek perfumer Theodoros Kalotinis is Symposium. Here, Liam shares why this fragrance has a special place in his heart, and explains the Ancient Greek culture of the symposium - a forum for discussion and, of course, drinking. A unique perfume, Symposium pivots around an aromatised wine accord, before simmering down to a warm ambery base.  Find Theodoros Kalotinis at our Emporium boutique and online store. ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

We've just restocked the exceptional range from Oslo's Son Venin. The first perfume Jenna and Liam discuss is the popular Santal Super, a fragrance that Liam describes as 'cedar rendered in glass'. This is a crisp, aromatic and transparent woody scent with a cedar-like dryness from Iso E Super. A clever dose of pepper and jasmine has a profound effect on this fragrance.  0905 displays a smooth, gentle leather impregnated with the clean freshness of lavender, cardamom and ginger.  Primarily an orange blossom fragrance, 3007 is completed with jasmine, vanilla, musk and sandalwood. We find 3007 fragrance to be a floral fragrance with a masculine sensibility. Finally, Le Voleur is a velvet-lined chest of saffron, iris and precious treasures from the Silk Road.  Find the Son Venin collection at our Emporium boutique and online store.   ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

A new release from MiN New York is Blackstar, a fragrance which shares its name with the final studio recording from the late, great David Bowie. This album was released on his 69th birthday, just two days before his passing. In the words of MiN New York, "Blackstar is dedicated to the light of human consciousness during a time of powerful transition". In this review, Jenna explores this fragrance which centres around the darkness of incense, brightened by the hopeful notes of lily of the valley and raspberry leaf.   Find Blackstar and the full MiN New York range at our Emporium boutique and online store. ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Liam and Jenna explore three fragrances from Argentina's Frassaï.  Beginning with the peach and osmanthus of Tian Di, a mesmerising scent that's inspired by the Chinese mythology of an everlasting peach tree.  Taking us towards a spicier, gourmand territory is Teisenddu, which evokes the torta negra tea cake, originally brought to Argentina by Welsh immigrants. Finally, the joyful Verano Porteño brings to mind the summer breeze of Buenos Aires with its citrus, spice and lively white florals. Explore Frassaï at our Emporium boutique and online store. ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Liam and Jenna usher in 2023 with their New Years Eve scents, chosen for each other. Two leather fragrances of gregarious character, perfect for the social season. For Liam, Jenna has selected Cuir Velours by Naomi Goodsir - a suede as supple as butter, enveloping with delicious resins, rum, spices, and honey. A scent which lingers and coaxes. And for Jenna, Liam presents Divine Perversion, a fractured yet whole blend constructed by Francesca Bianchi for Hedonik. The heat of leather is contrasted with raspberry and caramel, folding into a divine iris heart. The team at LKNU wish you a fragrant and vibrant year ahead. ©2023 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

This Extrait de Parfum, composed by perfumer Antoine Lie, Mxxx is a lavish re-interpretation of Eris Parfums' wonderful celebration of genderfluidity, Mx. In this episode, Jenna notes the prominence of a cacao note in this fragrance. Sourced from Trinidad & Tobago, this cacao extract is of exceptional quality, and sings in the heart of Mxxx. We also explore the use of the animal-derived materials of ambergris and hyraceum, which add an animalic depth to Mxxx's rich notes of sandalwood, cacao and cedar. Jenna outlines that these unique materials are collected from the environment without impacting the animals. Find Mxxx and more from brand founder Barbara Herman's Eris Parfums at LKNU's Emporium boutique and online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Today, Liam and Jenna introduce the Scottish Odyssey collection from Edinburgh's Jorum Studio. This new range journeys us through the regions and microclimates of Scotland, and has already had a great impact at LKNU. Jenna's pick is Gorseland, which combines the herbaceous notes of coastal scrubland with an tangy, sharpness and the warm, tropical coconut-like scent of gorse.  Liam, a fan of classical perfumery, particularly enjoys Rose Highland. Twisting through rocky mineral and salt, this wild rose is windswept and rugged. Fans of peated Scotch whisky will be drawn to Firewater, a fragrance inspired by the great whirlpool of Corryvreckan. This fragrance evokes beachside bonfires and lingers with an oily, smokiness. The immediately appealing Healing Berry takes a melange of sweet, juicy and tart berries, pulverising them into a base of malty cereal notes with a mortar and pestle. We encourage you to explore this exceptional range from Jorum Studio, which you can find at LKNU's Emporium boutique and online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Old and new defines Azalai, Stora Skuggan’s latest fragrance, which Liam describes in this episode. Built around a desert motif, Azalai shows both a stylistic shift and a darker side for the brand. The name of this fragrance is a reference to the Tree of Ténéré, once the loneliest tree in the world, yet representing an essential waypoint for travellers. With the sparkling and intensely honied gloss of saffron and blood orange. Azalai itself is a caravan route through the Ténéré region of the Saharan desert, and as dusk arrives and the sun retreats into the distant horizon, the ambery warmth of woodfire and incense take hold. Keeping the image of the caravanserai alive, Azalai imagines the wrinkled skins of sweet dried fruits and cooling mint tea laced with sugar, stirred with the syrupy intensity of gum acacia. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

In this episode, Liam shares his thoughts on Parfum d'Empire's latest release, entitled Vetiver Bourbon. Vetiver can go in many different directions, and here, perfumer Marc-Antoine Corticchiato has studied the essence of the root, returning it to its rawness and almost its brutality. With this fragrance, vetiver is paired with angelica and iris - notes that accentuate the rootiness and earthiness of this material. Lovers of classical Vetivers such as Lalique Encre Noire and Guerlain Vetiver will enjoy the new facets shown with this stunning new release from Parfum d'Empire. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Essential Parfums is a new brand to LKNU, and here, Jenna talks about The Musc, composed by Calice Becker (who was the nose behind greats such as Dior's J'Adore). In The Musc, Calice and Essential Parfums have chosen to use Western Australian sandalwood from plantations managed by Indigenous communities. In addition to a beautiful blend of beeswax, ginger, and sandalwood, a soft foundation is formed by the use of musks. This warm and captivating fragrance can now be found at our Emporium boutique and online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

INTRODUCING ESSENTIAL PARFUMS A great example of a brand that gives their perfumers free reign on their creations, Essential Parfums has recently joined the range at LKNU. Great modern perfumers such as Quintin Bisch and Calice Becker are employed, allowing the brand's fragrances to wonderfully express the ephemeral essence of the main notes. Beginning with Nice Bergamot, Liam and Jenna admire this honest, simplistic dedication to perhaps what is the most important of citrus notes in perfumery. Orange x Santal gently grounds this sweet citrus fruit with natural Western Australian sandalwood from plantations managed by Indigenous communities. A shift in style, Bois Imperial employs woody notes via the Givaudan captive material Akigalawood alongside the tender, anisic sweetness of thai basil. Explore the range of Essential Parfums at LKNU's Emporium boutique in Melbourne, or our online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

One of Imaginary Authors' latest releases, Fox in the Flowerbed fits perfectly in the brand's narrative omnibus. A gauzy, watercolour example of perfumery, Fox in the Flowerbed is defined by tulip, jasmine and honeysuckle. Rather like one of Aesop's Fable, with this fragrance, we are taken to the Austrian alps where a fox chases a butterfly through meadows and flowerbeds. An uplifting and energetic floral fragrance with a magical lustrous quality, Fox in the Flowerbed is certain to boost one's mood. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Dreams of bottling the sea- the pursuit of marine notes in perfumery. Today, Liam and Jenna take you through a conversation on four exemplary aquatic scents. Unda Maris 8 from Extrait de Musique takes the most abstract approach, capturing the ocean as it is in music and then translated once again to scent. Notes of artemisia and Eucalyptus keep the light, airy musical quality close to mind. Belle de Jour, escapes the standard of the white floral with an undeniably sexy, sun baked quality to orange blossom, and clever use of genuine seaweed extract. Villa Lympia, like her namesake resort, brings a luxurious, relaxed, airiness to the genre. Salty, light, and somehow typical of when vacationing on the riviera. Finally, Long Board from MiN New York is the wild freedom offered to those who dare to brave the waves. An almost photorealistic sun cream accord is supported by a raw coconut and piney cardamom. These four fragrances, and a wide selection of further marine and aquatic fragrances, can be found at our Emporium boutique and online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

Just in time to welcome spring, Fougère Emeraude from Les Indémodables adds a twist to the fougère genre by augmenting the traditional heart note of lavender with a whopping dose of Indian tuberose absolute. In addition to the classic freshness of the fougère, a further springtime aspect is given by French mimosa absolute, bringing a sheen and powderiness to the fragrance. As always with Les Indémodables, the highest quality of ingredients are utilised, making Fougère Emeraude a stunning and luxurious alternative to a very traditional fragrance style. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

With The Botanist, Liam conjures up an image of a laboratory replete with rare and precious herbs, spices, extracts and tinctures. A wondrous vetiver note that has been stretched, expanded, and transformed, The Botanist explores the many expressions of this traditionally woody note, moved into earthy, fruity, green, and even slightly saline dimensions. With an initial acerbic flash, trailed by tender florals, and a saturated dose of frankincense, The Botanist represents the vetiver note at its intriguing best.   The MiN New York range can be found in our Emporium store, or online. https://lknu.com.au/collections/min-new-york/products/the-botanist ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

MiN New York’s Shaman is a scented incantation - a tenacious spell of fire and ice as the central note of violet leaf oscillates between cool green-tinted aquatic freshness and a fiery heat highly reminiscent of gasoline. This is furnished with the blunt and spicy impact of nutmeg, the soft sweetness of mandarin, and a gentle heart of rose. Enrobed and brought together with the distinctive note of animalic and sweet honey, Shaman becomes a viscous fluid expressing a singular and potent idea. The MiN New York range can be found in our Emporium store, or online. https://lknu.com.au/collections/min-new-york/products/shaman ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au

In the lead up to Father’s Day, for this episode Liam has picked Hilde Soliani’s tribute to a fond memory of her father with Bell’Antonio. Here, Hilde has leaned on her gourmand expertise to create a vivid espresso accord, combining it with the distinctive scent of tobacco. Together, this evokes Hilde’s recollection of seeing a show at the theatre with her father Antonio, who took pleasure in smoking a cigarette at the nearby caffe along with his demitasse of hot espresso. Bell’Antonio is a clear example of the strong ties between scent and memory, as well as a dedication to one of the most important figures in Hilde’s life - her father. Find a curated range of Hilde Soliani’s fragrances at LKNU’s Emporium boutique and our online store. ©2022 LKNU Parfumerie. All rights reserved. lknu.com.au