Sarah Rotheram has spent her career breathing new life into some of the world's most beloved fragrance houses, including Penhaligon's and Creed. In this conversation, she reveals the secrets behind modernising heritage brands without losing their soul - from her essential "who we are, who we are not" exercise to why she interviews hundreds of frontline staff before writing any strategy. Sarah shares her philosophy on leading with creativity over data, explaining why the best commercial successes come from passion and gut instinct rather than endless PowerPoint presentations.

We dive deep into one of the most ingenious marketing campaigns I've ever heard of - the Juniper Sling launch that turned a zero-budget challenge into a sold-out speakeasy experience in a Fitzrovia car park. Sarah also opens up about the personal side of building a career in luxury beauty, from overcoming imposter syndrome to her biggest regret about waiting to have children. Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, or navigating your own creative career, this episode is packed with wisdom about staying authentic whilst driving commercial success.

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What happens when hardcore pornography becomes sex education by default? Cindy Gallop has spent 16 years fighting to change that. In this essential conversation, the founder and CEO of Make Love Not Porn explains why her platform showing real-world, loving sexual relationships is more urgent than ever. From the rise of incel culture to shows like 'Adolescence,' Cindy breaks down how the absence of honest conversations about sex is shaping an entire generation, and shares her accidental journey from a viral TED Talk to creating what she calls the "documentary" to porn's "Hollywood blockbuster."

We dive deep into why love needs to come before sex in education, the shocking barriers female-led sexual wellness companies face while erectile dysfunction solutions advertise freely, and real stories of trauma survivors finding healing through authentic representation. Cindy's mission to "socialise, normalise, and destigmatise sex" offers a thoughtful alternative to both moral panic and uncritical sex positivity, while her upcoming Make Love Not Porn Academy aims to arm parents and educators with the tools for honest conversations about sexuality, relationships, and digital culture. Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply someone navigating modern relationships, this conversation will change how you think about sex, love, and body positivity in the digital age.

Content Warning: This episode contains sexually explicit themes and strong language.

MakeLoveNotPorn.com | @CindyGallop | @MakeLoveNotPorn

Ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in perfumery? Our latest episode with fragrance educator and author Karen Gilbert helps lift the lid on the "smoke and mirrors" world of fragrance.

From accidentally falling into perfumery to becoming one of the most respected voices in fragrance education, Karen talks about why that "pheromone perfume" trend is complete nonsense, how your nose is basically connected to your emotions and memories, the shocking truth about how commercial fragrances are REALLY made, and why scent is literally the best salesperson for your products.

Karen has authored several books including "Perfume: the Art and Craft of Fragrance" and hosts her own podcast, The Perfume Making Podcast. She teaches perfumery worldwide from her scent studio in the New Forest.

If you want to start a perfume brand, curious about how a perfume gets made or just love learning about the power of scent, this episode is for you.

karengilbert.co.uk

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scent-as-story-how-to-build-a-brand-that-captivates/id1693602939?i=1000677264386

What are beauty buyers really looking for? In this episode, Viola sits down with Louisa Harris, Beauty Director at Debenhams, for an insightful conversation about her remarkable 15-year journey through the beauty retail industry. From working weekends at the YSL counter in Boots to leading beauty strategy at Debenhams, Louisa shares her career progression through Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, QVC, and seven transformative years at Cult Beauty during its meteoric rise from startup to acquisition by THG.

Louisa reveals what beauty buyers really look for when evaluating new brands, the biggest mistakes brands make when pitching, and how TikTok has disrupted traditional retail forecasting. We explore evolving customer behaviours, the intersection of beauty and wellness as a growth area, her current beauty favourites from MAC to Veronique Gabai fragrances, and her thoughts on the future of beauty retail – including AI's role in customer decision-making.

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“I went in with a mindset very much of how can I leave people better off for me having been here.”

Really delighted to talk to Lee Pycroft a renowned makeup artist turned registered psychotherapist who has worked with A-list celebrities as well as the top supermodels of the 90s – Cindy and Claudia to name but a few. While people are quick to dismiss the beauty world as ‘frivolous fun’ or ‘shallow’, Lee talks about how beauty rituals can be a valid form of therapy, as made evident through her charity work with vulnerable communities such as domestic abuse survivors and war veterans – which caused her to eventually retrain as a Human Givens Therapist. She now combines her beauty expertise with therapeutic principles to help people understand how daily rituals can support mental wellbeing – which many brands can take note from when it comes to storytelling and customer engagement. Lee explains how she transitioned into therapy, the psychology behind beauty rituals, and her vision for the industry's future role in mental health support. Hope you enjoy this insightful and inspiring talk as much as we did!

leepycroft.co.uk / @leepycroft

In this episode, I sit down with Mandy Aftel, founder of Aftelier Perfumes and a leading voice in natural perfumery for over 30 years. Mandy shares her remarkable journey from psychotherapist to perfumer, and how researching a novel with a perfumer character led her to discover her true calling.

We explore the philosophy behind her successful small-scale business model that prioritises quality and personal connection over rapid growth, and discuss her influential book "Essence and Alchemy," published in 16 languages.

Mandy offers insights into the profound human connection with natural essences, the differences between natural and synthetic fragrances, and the educational mission behind her Aftel Archive of Curious Scents museum in Berkeley, California. Whether you're interested in perfumery or thoughtful approaches to business, Mandy's wisdom about creating beauty and following your own path makes this conversation both inspiring and practical.

aftelier.com

aftelarchive.com

In this episode we're joined by Amanda Carr, founder of the Barnes Fragrance Fair, trend forecaster, and co-founder of We Wear Perfume. Amanda shares how her "accidental" creation has become a key event in the UK fragrance calendar, providing a platform for independent British perfume brands. We discuss the fair's village fête atmosphere that contrasts with traditional retail experiences, current fragrance trends from enduring gourmands to sustainability initiatives, and the fascinating connection between scent, music, and wellness. Amanda offers insights into the evolving British perfume industry and how young men are increasingly using fragrance as an emotional connector and identity marker. Join us for a fragrant conversation that showcases the creativity, community, and future of British perfumery.

barnesfragrancefair.com - 17th May 2025, 9.30am to 5.00pm, Barnes, London SW13 9HE

@wewearperfume

wewearperfume.com

Today we're delighted to be joined by beauty pioneer Poppy King, founder of multiple iconic lipstick brands including Poppy and Lipstick Queen. Starting her first company at just 18, Poppy shares her remarkable 32-year journey through the beauty industry and her philosophy that lipstick is more than cosmetic, it's transformative.

Poppy reveals why Willy Wonka became her unlikely business muse, discusses the "witch vs. princess" dichotomy in beauty, and explains what makes a lipstick truly iconic versus merely trendy. She offers candid insights on sustainability challenges, performative diversity in the industry, and her mission to create innovative lip products that help people discover new aspects of themselves.

The conversation delves into beauty entrepreneurship, the importance of staying true to your vision despite commercial pressures, and Poppy's upcoming projects and the return of her most beloved lipstick formulations.

Whether you're a beauty enthusiast or entrepreneur, this episode offers both inspiration and industry wisdom from one of beauty's most original thinkers who believes that "beauty is not a vanity issue, it's a human rights one."

poppyking.com