THE OTHER ROOM: EP. 148 - PERFUMER TO THE STARS, AZZI GLASSER!
The Other Room is the official Perfume Room companion post-show. Every Tuesday, hear from guests on their episode of Perfume Room podcast, and that Friday (though this week, it’s Monday ;)), enjoy bonus content from those same guests exclusively on Substack!
With a reputation of being Hollywood’s Perfumer, Azzi Glasser has carved one of the most unique spaces in the perfume industry. Not only does she create bespoke fragrances for some of the Hollywood’s biggest names, she also creates scents for they characters they play. Jude Law for example, turns to Azzi for his real life signature scent, but in the film Firebrand where he played King Henry VIII, it was her diabolical concoction of blood, sweat, and shit accords—yes you read that correctly—that helped him best get in the mindset of this gout-riddled monarch.Â
Its Azzi’s unique ability to understand a moment, a person, an energy, or a space, and translate it into palpable and wonderful smells that have earned her such an incredible rolodex of clients (which btw extends to iconic places like Chiltern Firehouse and the Mandrake Hotel too). And of course, she has her own line of perfumes called The Perfumer’s Story, which has been an absolute delight to make my way through (early fave is Sequoia Wood).
It was a true pleasure chatting with Azzi on the pod last week, and I’m so thrilled to share with you this post-show catch-up with her today :)
Whats the best perfume-related advice you’ve ever received?
to compose a perfume where you cannot pick out what ingredient is in it
Who have been your most pivotal mentors?
My biggest two mentors have been Joe Corre, my co-founder of Agent Provocateur. He taught me a lot about business and especially how to handle the media side, an area I was not used to at the beginning. Johnny Depp who encouraged me to launch my own brand, The Perfumer’s Story by Azzi. I brought forward my launch date by 2 years because he said it was all about the time and the timing and you have to just run with it when the feeling is hot.
I feel like you’re into astrology. What’s your sign?
I did study Astrology as a child and was very interested in the different characters of each star sign. I can usually pick out people’s star signs too which does amaze many people. I am a typical Aquarian and can most certainly identify with the qualities and forward-thinking nature of an Aquarian. Apparently, they say that Aquarians are 50 years ahead of their time.
Any dream celebrity collaborations? If so, do you have a sketch in your mind of where you’d take their scent?
I always say my dream celebrity collaboration would be with Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s an amazing actor and I have watched him through the years. His individual style and charisma are quite unique. The scent I would create for him would totally personify who he is as a whole but, more importantly, when he smells it, he will be transported into his own time scent bubble.
Along those lines, do you typically have an initial sense when you first meet a client of where you’re headed, or does it only come after a certain period of time?
I usually have an intuitive sense for these things. Sometimes I am completely certain of what kind of scent someone will love as soon as I meet them and sometimes I need to spend more time with them and get to know who they really are and how they want to be represented too.
Not to put you on the spot, but (to put you on the spot) any notes you’d definitely include if you were making a scent for me (*manifesting*)?
I would definitely have Amber as a main note as it symbolises the character of loving, fun, loyal and eccentric.
A fictional character that you’d love to scent?
Batman.
What’s a typical day in the life of Azzi Glasser?
My day starts early usually breakfast with my sons. I then catch up on social media and try and respond to comments on TikTok and DMs. Then it is pretty much non-stop meetings with clients and fragrance development. I am so busy juggling bespoke projects and The Perfumer’s Story fragrance line and sometimes end the day with a London event which I do find myself going less to as I need my sleep, which is very important to me.
Any surprise wearers or IRL encounters?
I remember I bumped into Damian Lewis at an Art launch and he stopped me to tell the story of when he wore my fragrance, Ditch, which he bought at Liberty, to get into character in a play on stage where he falls in love with a goat – The Play is called The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Ditch is listed on Fragrantica as having notes of grass, calone, patchouli and myrrh.]
What’s the wildest way you’ve researched a fictional character?
Oh, there are so many! Madhatter played by Johnny Depp was one I loved as it took me back down memory lane of watching my mum bake cakes and the smell of the warm sponge when it came out of the oven, to the smell of whisking her homemade butter cream, to a touch of lemon drizzle. It was not just mouthwatering, but sent me off on a Madhatter’s tea party journey that I didn’t want to leave.
How do you know when a perfume is complete?
A perfume is complete when it tells the story I am telling.
Listen to Azzi’s full episode on Perfume Room below!
that johnny depp? what the