Jo's Scent Notes: The Barnes Fragrance Fair
Hands up who’s mad about perfume? Well, have I got a date for your diaries. In place of the usual fragrance review this week, I want to tell you about a wonderful in-person event that I’ll be appearing at on Saturday 18th May, taking place across several venues in Barnes, south-west London.
It’s being organised by Amanda Carr of the fabulous, award-winning wewearperfume blog – which you can read here. I was sad to have to miss last year’s event, but delighted and honoured to be taking part in 2024, in a session with the amazing Alice du Parcq (her Instagram @aliceduparcq is a must-read for fragrance-lovers).
All day long, you’ll be able to interact with niche fragrance creators and brand founders: among others, Olfactive O, Boujee Bougies, To The Fairest, Maya Njie, Angela Flanders, Ostens, Jusbox, BeauFort London, Nancy Meiland, 4160 Tuesdays and more. (You can do your homework on them in advance via the Barnes Fragrance Fair website, here.)
Visiting the fair itself is free – but there are so many fun events, too, at those Barnes venues, with very reasonable ticket prices: Alice du Parcq and Suzy Nightingale on ‘Our Spring/Summer Perfume Wardrobes’, and even a 4160 Tuesdays Scent Making Workshop with Sarah McCartney, where you’ll create your very own fragrance (below).
Personally, I’ve already signed up for one of the Sniff & Sip workshops co-hosted by Olfactive O’s Olivia da Costa and wine expert Tom Boronat.
I’ll be talking about ‘My Perfumista Life’ – tickets here – about how and when I fell in love with fragrance, began turning smells into words as an actual job (and winning awards for it), and, on the way, attended some of the most spectacular and extravagant perfume launches ever staged. (Ah, those were the days…!) Hope to see you there – to spritz, spray (and sip!). I can promise you a treat for the senses.
