A PODCAST FROM IMMORTAL PERFUMES
The Scent
Archive
Curious histories, bottled
EP 02 - APRIL 29, 2026
THE DOCTOR AND THE ATOMIZER
How a Civil War veteran in Toledo accidentally invented the perfume atomizer
Dr. Allen DeVilbiss was sick of shoving goose grease down his patients' throats to treat infections. So he built the first atomizer in his Toledo shed from an oil can and a rubber ball. His son Thomas turned this medical device into Art Deco masterpieces that would change how America wore perfume.
YOUR HOST
JT Siems
PERFUME HISTORIAN · EDUCATOR · WRITER
JT Siems is the founder of Immortal Perfumes, a Seattle-based literary micro-perfumery. Obsessed with history, she is a perfume historian, educator, writer, and international award-winning perfumer.
EDMONIA LEWIS: SCULPTING AN IDENTITY IN MARBLE
Storical is back for an all new season starting with a special episode for Black History Month. This week, we’re talking about Edmonia Lewis, the first American artist of color to achieve international fame.
ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI'S REVENGE
Artemisia Gentileschi was a Baroque painter whose story has long been dominated by that of her father…and her rapist. But Artemisia lived a long, full, and successful life. She was the only woman who followed in the tradition of Carvaggio and was the court painter for the Medicis. Listen for her fascinating story of survival and transcendence.
FAN FAV: FRIDA KAHLO - HER SURREAL REALITY
This week, we’re revisiting the colorful, iconic, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Her life was marked by pain and suffering of both the body and the heart. Listen to learn about the life and loves of Frida.
JOSEPHINE BAKER: DANCER, SINGER, SPY, ACTIVIST
You know about the banana skirt but Josephine Baker contained multitudes. In celebration of Black History Month, we’re taking a look at the life and loves of Josephine Baker. She went from living in a cardboard box on the streets of St. Louis to commanding the stage in Paris before spying for the French Resistance in World War II and integrating night clubs across America. Black girls are magic and Josephine Baker was truly enchanting.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES - FRIDA KAHLO'S MENAGERIE
Frida Kahlo had a lot of pets. Many of them even made it into her most famous works of art. Listen in to learn all about Frida's animals.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES - FRIDA'S FRENEMY
Lupe Marin was more than just the ex-wife who taught Frida Kahlo how to cook for Diego Rivera. In this edition of Storical Footnotes, we take a look at Frida and Lupe’s complicated relationship.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES - FRIDA KAHLO’S PERFUME COLLECTION
Introducing Storical Footnotes! Schedule permitting, I’ll be posting these little bite sized nuggets between longer episodes. I’ll continue posting them on Mondays.
FRIDA KAHLO: HER SURREAL REALITY
We’re finally leaving the Middle Ages to take a look at the colorful, iconic, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Her life was marked by pain and suffering of both the body and the heart. Listen to learn about the life and loves of Frida. Links to all recommendations below.