In August 2025 Archer Farrar Perfume Atelier Founder and Perfumer Katrina Cochrane was delighted to be a guest on the Paperback Perfumes podcast. Hosted by Clare Presser, a passionate librarian, the podcast delves into the world of stories and scents, pairing novels with fragrances. The pairing Clare chose for the discussion was Archer Farrar’s Peony Cologne and Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel. Clare’s synopsis of the episode is as follows. Listen to the full episode here.
In this episode I’m joined by Katrina Cochrane, founder of Archer Farrar Perfume Atelier. Katrina’s journey into natural perfumery began with her love for plants and aromatherapy, and today, she creates stunning perfumes using only the finest sustainably sourced botanicals. We discuss her personal journey from aromatherapy to the wine industry, and how she built Archer Farrar.
We dive into the craft of natural perfumery, exploring the differences between natural and synthetic ingredients, and how fragrance evokes deep emotional connections. Katrina shares the challenges she faces as a natural perfumer—especially when it comes to sourcing quality ingredients—and how she stays true to her vision of creating perfumes that honour nature.
“Virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when it is crushed.”
― Baroness Emmuska Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel