An Aromatic Life

#178: Attention all Aries! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Aries sign (March 21 - April 20), which is part of the Fire element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Aries, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Aries friends out there! Next month we focus on Taurus. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#177: Attention all Pisces! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Pisces sign (Feb 19 - March 20), which is part of the Water element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Pisces, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Pisces friends out there! Next month we focus on Aries. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#176: Attention all Aquarians! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Aquarius sign (Jan 20 - Feb 18), which is part of the Air element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Aquarius, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Aquarius friends out there! Next month we focus on Pisces. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#175: In this episode, Frauke sits down with award-winning natural perfumer, educator, and author Mandy Aftel to talk about her new book Symbolorum: The Secret Wisdom of Emblems. Mandy begins by explaining what emblems are, and how valuable they were back in the 16th & 17th centuries. She shares how she came to write the book, what surprised her the most along the way, and why she believes it’s so valuable, and important, to learn from the past. Mandy then explains why symbols are so magical, how writing this book was very similar to writing Essence & Alchemy, and how it ties in perfectly with her perfume work. She also shares what drives her, and how lucky she feels to be able to do what she loves. Mandy then shares details about the book, including her favorite emblems. And she talks about her process of painting the b/w pictures into beautifully colored representations. This conversation is quintessential Mandy Aftel - heartfelt and beautiful in every way.Check out Mandy’s new book: Symbolorum: The Secret Wisdom of EmblemsVisit Mandy's website ⁠www.aftelier.com⁠Learn more about Mandy's museum ⁠Aftel Archive of Curious Scents⁠⁠Shop books by Mandy Aftel ⁠here⁠Connect with Mandy on social media: ⁠Instagram⁠,  ⁠Facebook⁠Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#174: On this fifth anniversary of An Aromatic Life, just like every year, Frauke shares what her recent guests revealed when asked “What does the sense of smell mean to you?” This New Year's episode is a chance to reflect on this beautiful, complicated, and under-appreciated sense and ask what it can do for you. It's also an invitation to incorporate more smelling into your life in 2026. Be curious. Be open. And stay connected.Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#173: Attention all Capricorns! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Capricorn sign (Dec 22 - Jan 19), which is part of the Earth element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Capricorn, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Capricorn friends out there! Next month we focus on Aquarius. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project

#172: In this year end episode, Frauke revisits some of her favorite guest insights from 2025.  Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#171: To accompany your holiday preparations, we’re revisiting a beautiful conversation with writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra discussing her book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance. This is another aromatic read you’ll want to gift to yourself, or someone you love!In this episode, Frauke sits down with writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra to talk about her book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance, and discuss some of the indigenous aromatic materials that have defined Indian perfumery for centuries. Divrina shares her experience going to Kannauj, known as the "Center of Indian Perfumery," seeing the rose fields, and witnessing the traditional distillation methods that have been passed down from generations. She talks about the role itr plays in India today, and shares her experience discovering the unique ingredient choya nakh. Divrina also discusses the difficulties the Indian sandalwood industry has had, with both poaching and adulteration continuing to dominate. Lastly, she also shares her perspective on what the future holds for Indian perfumery, and what she found most inspiring after writing the book.Connect with Divrina on Instagram @divrina.d⁠⁠Buy The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian fragrance (in India)⁠⁠Buy The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian fragrance (on Amazon)⁠Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#170: As we ease into the holiday season, we’re revisiting a beautiful conversation with scholar Xuelei Huang about her book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell. You’ll definitely want to gift this aromatic treasure to yourself, or someone you love!In this episode, Frauke sits down with University of Edinburgh Senior Lecturer and author Xuelei Huang to discuss her new book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell. In the conversation she reveals a unique perspective on the smellscapes that permeated Chinese life from the eighteenth through mid-twentieth century. Xuelei explains the concept of "smell as the stranger" and shares some of the rich olfactory imagery of 18th century China through references in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She then tells how nineteenth century Shanghai shows an exemplary depiction of deodorization, which started to happen at that time. And how a subsequent (re)perfuming changed the olfactory smellscape of China once again. Xuelei furthermore showcases the unique way Mao Zedong used olfactory tactics to transform politics in the early twentieth century. Whether you know a lot about Chinese history or not, this conversation will give you new perspectives and leave you longing to explore more.Learn more about Xuelei Huang here: ⁠https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/xuelei-huang⁠Check out her book Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell.Follow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#169: Attention all Sagittarians! In this bonus episode, Frauke revisits a conversation with astrologer Karima from The Cosmic Vibe and animistic perfumer Mauricio Garcia which explored the intersection of astrology and aromatics. Here the focus is on the Sagittarius sign (Nov 22 - Dec 21), which is part of the Fire element. Karima explains the unique traits, strengths and shadow sides of Sagittarius, and then Mauricio layers on the aromatic support that’s most fitting. Have fun with this and feel free to share the episode with any of your Sagittarius friends out there! Next month we focus on Capricorn. To listen to the original full episode go to episode #130.Follow Karima on Instagram @the.cosmic.vibe.sf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Karima’s website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.the-cosmic-vibe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Mauricio's website ⁠Herbcraft Perfumery⁠Follow Mauricio on Instagram @herbcraft.perfumeryFollow Frauke on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@an_aromatic_life ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Frauke's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.anaromaticlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get No Place for Plants children's book on Amazon⁠Learn about Frauke's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scent*Tattoo Project