Olfactive Melbourne

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Alina Tadevosyan, the founder and perfumer behind ARAKYÁL, an Australian fragrance house where Armenian heritage, memory, and identity converge.
Founded in 2025 and handcrafted in Sydney, ARAKYÁL takes its name from the Armenian word for apostle, with each fragrance composed as a messenger carrying story, culture, and belonging. Alina's creative path moved through classical singing, fashion, and art direction before arriving at perfumery, and that multidisciplinary instinct shapes a house built slowly and intentionally, with Armenia at the heart of every creation. From the sacred traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the pomegranate as a symbol of life and rebirth, each composition draws on the history, poetry, and spirit of her homeland.
In this note by note masterclass, we explore Elixir, a fragrance inspired by Armenian brandy. It opens with a heady pour of brandy and dried fruits before moving into a rich heart of dark chocolate, cocoa, and vanilla. As the fragrance settles, it reveals a grounding base of woody oak, patchouli, Peru balsam, and labdanum, designed to capture the warmth and depth of its namesake.
https://www.arakyal.co/

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Gillian Wall, the founder behind Mudie Cow, an independent Australian house built on a simple idea: a scent that shifts your mood rather than simply matching it.
A marketing professional turned self-described wannabe nose, Gillian spent years helping lifestyle brands find their voice before deciding to build one of her own. What drew her in was the science of scent, the connection between fragrance and the limbic system, and the way different olfactive families wake up different parts of the brain. Mudie Cow is the result, a tight edit of carefully curated fine fragrance mists designed to be functional, taking you from flat to flirty, passive to passionate, and chaos to calm. The name is a nod to "moody cow", the phrase every difficult teenager has heard, reclaimed here as something to embrace rather than apologise for. Every fragrance is cruelty free, vegan friendly, and paraben free.
In this note by note masterclass, we explore Chaos to Calm, a woody, floral and spicy composition made for the moments when life gets loud. It opens with pear sparkle, cardamom and violet leaves, before moving into a green, cooling heart of orris, cypress and amyris. The base settles into sandalwood, blonde cedar and vetiver Madagascar, a grounding, creamy finish that lingers quietly on the skin. Alongside the fragrance itself, we dive into mood enhancing perfumery with Gillian, and how scent can be used deliberately to bring you back to the present.
Watch or listen now for a note by note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfume houses, and a conversation about scent, mood, and the science of feeling better.
https://mudiecow.com.au/

In this returning episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we welcome back Callum Mitchell, founder and perfumer behind Perdrisât Perfume, to explore the next chapter in one of Australia’s most distinctive independent fragrance houses.
Since his first appearance, Perdrisât has continued to evolve with the release of two highly anticipated fragrances, Hush Money and Crocodile Tears. We discuss the stories behind these new creations, the unconventional materials that bring them to life, and Callum’s unique approach to revealing just enough of a fragrance while leaving room for discovery.
Join us for another note-by-note masterclass as Callum guides us through Hush Money, unpacking its unexpected composition, the creative decisions behind its many iterations, and the emotions woven throughout its development. We also catch up on Callum’s creative journey beyond perfumery, including his upcoming film project and how filmmaking and fragrance continue to influence one another.
https://www.perdrisatperfume.com/
https://www.olfactiveperfumery.com/

In this special mid-season episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we pause to reflect on the journey so far, celebrating the perfumers, founders, and creative directors who have shared their artistry, passion, and stories with us across the first half of Season 2.
From intimate note by note masterclasses to explorations of brand identity, craftsmanship, and the power of scent to connect us to memory, culture, and place, every conversation this season has offered something unique and unforgettable. We revisit standout moments, key technical insights, and the fragrances that have left the deepest impressions on our olfactory journey, from the coastlines and cities of the mainland to the rainforests of Tasmania.
Watch or listen now as we look back on the first half of the season, celebrating the creativity and vision shaping Australia's perfume landscape, and setting the stage for the inspiring conversations still to come.

In this episode of Olfactive Melbourne, we sit down with Prashant Khanna, known as PK, the founder and perfumer behind Vararoha Perfumery, an independent Australian house whose name comes from the Sanskrit for ready to offer boons or gifts.
Working solo from Woodend in the Macedon Ranges, PK carries the scents of his childhood in India into everything he makes, composing in a way he describes as a quiet rebellion in fragrance, for the beautifully unbothered. His process is deliberate and meditative, often beginning with an observation or a fragment of memory caught in a journal and chased into scent over months, sometimes years. 
In this note by note masterclass, we explore Seas of Inciver, a fragrance shaped by the duality of the ocean and the legacy of the pearl divers who slipped beneath the surface in search of what the water chose to reveal. It opens on oysters and watermelon, settles into a heart of brown sugar, ginger, and liquorice, then deepens into a base of ambergris, oakmoss, and sandalwood.
Watch or listen now for a note-by-note masterclass with one of Australia's most distinctive independent perfume houses, and a conversation about memory, the pull of the ocean, and the quiet rebellion of letting an off note make a fragrance your own.
https://vararohaperfumery.com/