In conversation with Ian Ireland

It’s been a big year for you! What have you been working on lately?

It really has. I’ve been fortunate to be working on a number of projects that have allowed me to explore fragrance in new ways, particularly within the world of luxury hospitality. We’ve been creating bespoke scents for some incredibly special destinations, each with its own sense of place, history and character.

I’ve also continued to develop the Hotel Collection, which has been a really exciting evolution for Olfactory Department. The idea of capturing the feeling of a destination through scent — and allowing people to take a little piece of that experience home with them — is something I find incredibly rewarding.

Where do you find creative inspiration?

It can come from almost anywhere. A landscape, a memory, a particular material or even the feeling of walking into a space for the first time.

I’m especially inspired by travel and the way scent can transport you. A fragrance has the ability to instantly evoke a place or a moment, often in a way that nothing else can. I think that sense of memory and emotion is what keeps me curious and continues to influence the way I create.

We’re exciting to hear more about your Top Notes Podcast . What should we expect?

The fragrance industry is full of fascinating people and stories, and I wanted to create a space to explore some of those conversations in more depth.

I’ll be sitting down with people from across the industry and talking about their experiences, their creative processes and the stories behind what they do.

What continues to excite you about fragrance?

There is still so much to discover. Fragrance is incredibly personal, but it’s also deeply connected to culture, place, memory and emotion.

I love that there are no real boundaries to where scent can take you. You can create something that feels nostalgic and familiar, or something completely unexpected. There’s always another material to explore, another story to tell and another way to experience fragrance.

What is your vision for Olfactory Department as you look ahead?

I want Olfactory Department to continue creating work that feels considered, authentic and memorable.

For me, it’s about bringing together craftsmanship, storytelling and a strong sense of place. Whether we’re creating a fragrance for a luxury hotel, a private client or someone discovering us for the first time, I want the experience to feel special and to stay with them.

There are some exciting projects ahead, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the brand while staying true to what inspired it in the first place.