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.
Pikake and the Princess
This episode follows the story of Princess Ka'iulani — the last Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii — from the fragrant gardens of her childhood home at 'Āinahau to the halls of the US Capitol, where she fought alone for her people's independence. Along the way, we explore the flowers at the heart of her story: pikake, the jasmine sambac she named after her beloved peacocks, and gardenia, her mother's flower — and what happened to both when the monarchy was gone.
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: THE CAPTIVE QUEEN
Storical is back with an all new episode about the messy life of Mary Queen of Scots.
MARIE LAVEAU: WITCH OR SAINT?
Marie Laveau was THE Voodoo Queen in a city overrun with purported doctors and queens. Today we’re separating fact from fiction about both Marie and voodoo. Was she a witch or a saint? When you actually get into the nitty gritty of her life and dig deeper than the many exaggerated stories about both the woman and voodoo itself, what you find is actually not spooky at all – it’s a story of mercy, generosity, and serious hustle.
QUEEN VICTORIA: LOVE & EMPIRE
Queen Victoria was the sovereign of the UK at the height of the British Empire, and until her great-great granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II overtook her in 2015, was the longest reigning monarch. She ruled over 400 million people! But her road to the throne was an unlikely one marked by a horrible childhood and controlling men. Listen in to learn the truth about one of the most recognizable yet misunderstood queens.
MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE LAST QUEEN OF FRANCE
Powder your wig and add an extra hoop to your skirt, today we’re talking all things Marie Antoinette. Who were her lovers? Did she cause the French Revolution? Did she actually say, “Let them eat cake”? We’ll discuss all that and more on today’s episode.