This week Michelyn takes a look at the latest from Van Cleef & Arpels, Ajne, Riva, Sali Oguri, Beth Terry, Filles des Iles, Vero Kern, Nyakio Kamoche Grieco... Plus the exclusive chance for Basenotes readers to get their hands on a limited edition reissue of Sali Oguri's Persephone. [more...]

Some years ago, I used to work in an office with a guy who didn't wash. There is no subtle way of saying this: he stank.

The odour of a human body is complicated. It's not all armpits and stale sweat; most of your pheromones are produced by the oil glands on the scalp, and my old colleague had oil glands aplenty. There is (excuse me for the indelicacy) that groiny smell particular to men - women have their own smell too. And there are feet, and farts, and untold grotty things trapped in bodily crevices. My ex-colleague announced himself with a loud smell before he entered the room, and stayed there for a long time after he'd left. [more...]