Jo Fairley on Desert Island Discs

We’re so thrilled that the iconic BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs – now superbly hosted by Lauren Laverene – managed to catch up with our co-founder of The Perfume Society and editor of The Scented Letter Magazine, Jo Fairley; and we’re not quite sure how they managed it, because she is (to put it mildly) a busy woman.

One minute she’s putting pen to paper about scented subjects, the next she’s giving a talk to encourage small-business owners, putting together another volume of The Beauty Bible book, or jetting off to Australia with Green & Black’s chocolate (which she began with her husband, Craig Sams). Throughout every venture, Jo has believed in listening to her gut feelings, and going with what she’s passionate about (which is why perfume and chocolate feature so highly!)

Jo was over-the-moon to be asked on one of her all-time favourite radio shows, and says that ‘it was an absolute joy and a hoot to do,’ revealing that the team were ‘drinking tea and nibbling Green & Blacks while the back room crew got completely and joyously wired on their bars!’ Before listening to the show, Jo said, ‘I will probably break the Guinness World Record for breath-holding while listening (from behind the sofa)’ and comments over all the years of listening, she must have ‘mentally composed my playlist 1000 times (haven’t we all?) but let me tell you, when it comes down to it, selecting just eight tracks is REALLY HARD.’

We’re sure you’ve got a list of tracks you’d sail away with, so have a listen to Jo’s selection – and the fascinating interview with Lauren, all about Jo’s background, how she started in magazines and her advice for anyone starting a business…

By Suzy Nightingale

Follow your noses on our fragrantly-themed Easter Egg hunt…

Easter egg hunts are all very well, in theory, but the idyllic image of rosy-cheeked children bounding through meadows is often replaced with the reality of dreary, drizzly or downright awful weather. And this year, we have more snow predicted for some parts of the UK. Oh joy!

Fear not: we’ve set up a fragrantly-themed ‘hunt’ right here, to indulge in from the comfort of your own home.

THREE lucky winners will receive Green & Black’s Easter eggs. Feast your eyes, above (we’re drooling already!)

Deliciously intense, the milk chocolate egg is joined by two large milk chocolate bars – milk chocolate with butterscotch, and milk chocolate with Anglesey sea salt.

To share or keep for yourself? We rather think the latter, don’t you?

How to hunt: Simply read the clues and set off in search for all the colourful eggs pictured below (FIVE in total) scattered across our website, then drop us an email [email protected] telling us the location of each egg.

Closing date: Monday 2nd April 2018

ostereier_farben_vieleFragrant clues to egg hiding places around our website:

1 – The newest scents to get your nose around, all boxed up…

2 – In-house for Hermès, which perfumer says she’d love to create a perfume for Eve?

3 – The era that Estée Lauder’s bath oil changed everything?

4 – When this couturier recently passed away, President Emmanuel Macron declared, ‘France has lost a master…’

5 – All a-bloom right now, this heady flower smells like burying your nose in springtime itself!

We wish you all a very happy Easter, and good luck!

Terms & Conditions: No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Closing date for entry will be 02/04/2018. After this date no further entries to the prize draw will be accepted.