Whitney Steel & Nathan Taare sit at a table and smell samples of a perfume.

The text reads: "JOURNEY OF SCENT."

1m

Coming Monday 10 November | Two perfume rebels dive into custom perfume creation, based on memory and identity, for a lush new series exploring scent in Aotearoa.

Made with the support of NZ On Air.

Series details.

Journey of Scent is a sensory adventure, a brand new six-part series.

This new concept invites viewers into the typically heavily guarded world of perfumery through the eyes of two rebels in the scent space in Aotearoa: Nathan Taare (Ngāti Porou) & Whitney Steel (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Ātiawa). Nathan is a self-taught scent artist and founder of the niche perfume house OF BODY. He made waves in 2023 with his unconventional scent design for Karangahape Road, which captured the nation's attention. Whitney is a perfume enthusiast with a loyal online following of over 40k. She brings a great sense of humour and an expert knowledge of perfume informed by her perfume-school training in Grasse, France, the world capital of perfumery.

In each episode, Nathan is tasked by Whitney with crafting a bespoke scent for a unique client. Each scent, for a well-known figure in Aotearoa, is informed by their life, memories, emotions, and taste. This season's clients include artists Te Rongo Kirkwood, Troy Kingi, & Ana Scotney; acclaimed poet Tayi Tibble; award-winning chef Kia Kanuta; and te reo Māori expert Dr. Anaha Hiini. These intimate creative briefs take Nathan out of the lab and across the motu, anchoring each episode in a specific place, story, and cultural context. He is then challenged and probed by Whitney to make it the best it can be.

Nathan plays the role of the "nose," the perfumer driven by artistry and storytelling. Whitney's role is to challenge and support him with her expertise and a deep appreciation for global fragrance traditions. Together, they explore the tension and synergy between scent artistry and personal memory, teasing out each client's preferences through perfume.

Each episode also highlights one key ingredient: a botanical raw material, or natural element, prompting a deeper investigation into its unique environmental, cultural, or scientific story in Aotearoa. From the crisp salinity of the ocean air to the sulphur-rich notes of Rotorua, from botanical basics like mint to tobacco leaves, each aromatic journey opens a door to a lesser-known aspect of the world of scent. Sometimes this results in hard decisions, where tikanga and personal ethics lead Nathan to abandon an ingredient altogether.

No two creative briefs are alike. Actor Ana Scotney seeks a balance between moss, earth, and sweetness. Troy Kingi loves the ocean and kaimoana but refuses to smell like "a fisherman." Dr. Anaha Hiini has a strong nostalgia for the iconic geothermal landscapes of "home" in Rotorua. These are just some of the stories that make the creative process as compelling as the final creation itself.

Series creator & co-producer Jessica Sanderson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātiawa) says, "...this is a world we rarely get to see into. I've always been drawn to shows that capture the creative process. In this series, we're showing something unique: how memory and identity can inform the scents we are drawn to in Aotearoa specifically."

Credits

Kay Ellmers
Executive Producer
Vanessa Hawken, Jessica Sanderson, & Olly Coddington
Producers
Megan Jones, Kathleen Mantel, & Susan Leonard
Directors
Nathan Taare & Whitney Steel
Key Talent
Megan Whelan
RNZ Chief Content Officer
Tim Burnell
RNZ Commissioning Manager
Jana Te Nahu Owen
RNZ Commissioner, Māori
Nicholas Meuli
RNZ Commissioning Coordinator
Robert Whitaker
RNZ Design Lead
Jayne Joyce
RNZ Graphic Designer, Senior
Shannon Haunui-Thompson
RNZ Tumu Māori
Josie Campbell
RNZ Publicity Manager
Poppy Granger
RNZ Publicity & Research Coordinator
Taylor Sincock
RNZ Social Media Editor

Produced by

Logo reads: "Fourplait"
https://www.fourplait.com

Made with the support of

Partner Logo for NZ on Air for use on dark background

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