A PODCAST FROM IMMORTAL PERFUMES
The Scent
Archive
Curious histories, bottled
EP 01 - MARCH 21, 2026
PIKAKE AND THE PRINCESS
The fragrant world of Princess Ka’iulani
Princess Kaʻiulani loved pikake — the jasmine-like flower whose very name is tangled up in her story. We follow a scent from the gardens of Ainahau to the perfume counters of Paris, and ask what it means to grieve a kingdom through flowers.
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.
STORICAL HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Edgar Allan Poe had a mind for the macabre. But as it turns out, some of his most famous works were based on true tales of horror. Listen to the episode for the origin stories of 5 of Poe’s spookiest works.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe died as he lived…mysteriously. It’s been more than 200 years and we still don’t know what killed Poe but there are theories. Today, we’re taking a look at the leading theories as to what killed the macabre author as well as the mysterious story of the Poe Toaster.
CHARLES DICKENS, EDGAR ALLAN POE, & GRIP THE RAVEN
Edgar Allan Poe’s masterpiece, The Raven, was inspired not by any ordinary raven, not by a harbinger of doom, it was a talking pet raven named Grip owned by none other than Charles Dickens. Tune in for the story of Grip…then go visit the real Grip who is still on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia!
EDGAR ALLAN POE: ATMOSPHERE OF SORROW
October is spOoOoky month and OF COURSE Edgar Allan Poe died in October. This month on Storical, tune in every week for a new episode on the life and writings of Poe. Today, we’re going over his full life story. Check back for episodes on Grip the raven, the mysterious death of Poe, and some of the inspirations for his tales of terror.
OSCAR WILDE'S FLAMBOYANT LIFE
Calling all dandies! We’re kicking off Irish Heritage Month with a look at witty Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde. Listen in for a detailed look at his work…and his downfall. Plus, there are TWO references to Dracula and friend of Storical, raging spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, makes an appearance.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST:
Pssst…it turns out Christmas is a super pagan holiday. On today’s episode we’re doing a brief overview of the origins of Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought the holiday back after Oliver Cromwell had Christmas canceled. For all those who think there’s a war on Christmas…just be glad Oliver Cromwell’s not still around.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES:
Edgar Allan Poe’s masterpiece, The Raven, was inspired not by any ordinary raven, not by a harbinger of doom, it was a talking pet raven named Grip owned by none other than Charles Dickens. Tune in for the story of Grip…then go visit the real Grip who is still on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia!
CHARLES DICKENS: A DICKENS OF A TALE
‘Tis the holiday season which means that the roughly 9 billion adaptations of A Christmas Carol are on television playing in a continuous loop. But who was the man behind the season’s greatest ghost story? Charles Dickens is considered the greatest English writer, behind Shakespeare, to have ever lived. Tune in to learn about his time in the workhouse, how he influenced Edgar Allan Poe, and how his secret double life was almost his undoing.
AGATHA CHRISTIE: A LIFE OF MYSTERY
Agatha Christie’s life was just as mysterious and action packed as her novels. Listen to this month’s deep dive episode as we discuss her mysterious disappearance, her penchant for archaeology, and her time as an apothecary’s assistant. Tune in the next three Mondays for Storical Footnotes, bite-sized episodes that discuss Agatha more in depth.
SAVE A WALTZ FOR ZELDA FITZGERALD
Our second episode of Storical is all about Zelda Fitzgerald, wife and muse to F. Scott Fitzgerald, and author-artist in her own right. Zelda died on March 10, 1948. My apologies as my voice starts to give out toward the end of the episode.