TGtB Meets?Simon Constantine

We've been chatting to LUSH's Simon Constantine on what it's like writing a graphic novel to accompany some of the world's best perfumes and grooming products. Here's what he had to say...

What inspired you to write a book?

The story for sandalwood is such a fascinating one that we just wanted to get it out there.

What made you decide to do it in the form of a graphic novel?

Graphic novels reach a different audience than we normally reach. They also have the ability to convey some of the complexity of the subject with humour and ease. I think that’s important for the accessibility of the story.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image?

We worked with Steve Krakow aka. Plastic Crimewave, on the art for the book. He chose to use a striking image of Veerapan, a renowned sandalwood smuggler from south India, on the front cover. It seemed to fit the character of the book, adventure, intrigue and some unseemly people along the way.

Where do you draw your inspiration for your fragrances?

Anywhere, personal experience, music, art, poetry, it can literally be anywhere. It’s more about the expression of the perfumer and using perfume as a creative act to connect with people.

What, in your opinion, is the hardest step in creating a fragrance?

Normally the first one!

How long does it normally take to develop a new perfume? 

Anything from a day to 2 years depending on what you want to achieve, the complexity and how good you are that day.

What are your favourite smells and which ones do you dislike?

I like earthy and smoky notes and they fill me work often, so things like vetivert, sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli appeal to me. I don’t have smells that disgust me particularly, I was given a hand made bag crafted from goatskin last week, which was a bit pongy…

What is the oddest ingredient that you have used in perfumery?

I used Dimethyl sulphide in a fragrance once to give a powerful fishy note, that is the natural excretion of plankton, but boy was it strong. We had to keep it in the toilet at work with the window open until we could properly seal it.

What’s it like working alongside your dad?

Interesting. We often have ‘heated debates’ that last a few hours, but eventually we get on with our actual work and it seems to happen easily after that.

Which scents are most popular at the moment?

Smugglers soul, our fragrance accompanying the book, is doing well. It uses Indian sandalwood sustainably grown in Australia.