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 FOOTNOTES: DID AGATHA CHRISTIE HAVE ALZHEIMER'S?
The Queen of Crime was a prolific writer. But research suggests that there may have been clues to dementia in Agatha Christie’s later writing. For more information on the research presented, check out the following links:
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: AGATHA CHRISTIE THE ARCHAEOLOGIST
After her divorce from Archie Christie, Agatha Christie found new love and a new life with a young archaeologist. Tune in to learn how the Middle East inspired her and how she made contributions to the field of archaeology.
STORICAL FOOTNOTES: AGATHA CHRISTIE'S ROMANCE NOVELS
You’ve read her detective novels, but did you know that Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pen name Mary Westmacott? Tune in to learn more!
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.
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.
ANNE BOLEYN: THE DOOMED QUEEN
Feminist, fierce, and ahead of her time, Anne Boleyn was King Henry VIII’s most intriguing wife. While Henry and history have tried to silence her, she’s had a bit of a renaissance of late. Listen to get Anne’s side of the story.
HENRY VIII: HIS KINGDOM FOR A SON
Get ready for some drama filled history as we welcome our first gentleman subject to Storical, King Henry VIII. Love him or loathe him his story is epic. And, spoiler alert! We’ll be doing a whole episode on Anne Boleyn, his most intriguing wife, next month. Links to all recommendations below.
LENA HORNE: HOLLYWOOD'S FIRST BLACK GLAMOUR GIRL
This month we’re switching things up and going to Old Hollywood! Learn all about the legendary Lena Horne who stormed Hollywood as its first African American glamour girl… only to be blacklisted during the Cold War. She eventually found her voice as a civil rights activist and queen of the night clubs.
CHARLOTTE BRONTË: A BIRD NO NET COULD ENSNARE
You keep asking for more Charlotte Brontë so here is a whopping 48 minute overview of the author’s life.
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.
THE STRANGE, TRAGIC LIFE OF MARY SHELLEY
Very first episode! Hope you enjoy Storical! We’re kicking things off with Mary Shelley who died on February 1, 1851.