1. Can you tell us briefly about yourself?

I am Rahul Agarwal and I was born and raised in Jaipur, India and I am currently based in Munich. I work in Online Marketing and Branding as my day job where I help companies in ramping up their online sales via setting up tracking, marketing funnels etc. Apart from that, I am passionate about discovering niche and rare fragrance houses around the world. With my Instagram channel (@eternalscentjourney), I plan to create a common platform for like-minded people, where we can discuss exciting brands & fragrances. I do that by photographing fragrances in different environments, writing simplistic yet long-form reviews, doing live with brands, perfumers and fellow fragrances community members and so on.

2. What is your daily beauty and scent routine?

I don’t have much of a “beauty” routine. Most of my time is consumed by thinking which fragrance I should be wearing the next day! So, I try to decide my SOTD based on the weather that morning before I leave for office or sometimes based on what I see on my IG feed the night before. Mood also plays a big role. I spray 3-4 times based on the intensity of the scent. In the evening once I am back, I spend my time discovering different samples from brands so that I keep my nose busy & curiosity high. I find the discovering part very interesting and fulfilling.

3. What are your beauty tips?

I have no groundbreaking advice here. Focus on sleep, stay hydrated, avoid stress, smile more and smell good.

4. What are your favorite fashion brands, favorite beauty brands?

Frankly speaking, I am not so much into fashion. I like wearing things I find comfortable and things which don’t stand out in terms of color. So, a lot of white, grey and blue. I like how Zara clothes fit me. Lately, I tend to gravitate towards products/ fragrances that are sustainably produced with minimalistic packaging (preferably recyclable cardboard over plastic etc).

5. What are your sustainable daily gestures?

Well, I try to do basic things to ensure sustainability. I divide trash, separate glass, aluminum etc. Also try to buy products with less plastic and more cardboard and glass to contribute as much as I can to the environment. I am aware I and other can always do more. Every little contribution matters!

6. What is your ultimate addiction?

I have a sweet tooth which can be dangerous. I have to say I love brownies or cold coffee. I always lookout for some wherever I go. I try my best to quench my cravings for sweets with some sweet gourmand fragrances.

7. What is a fashion faux pas that you assume?

Like mentioned above, I am very traditional or rather conservative with fashion so I don’t really have one for myself. However, the ones I see outside, wearing either oversized clothes, or torn clothes etc., call me old-fashioned, but these somehow don’t appeal to me at all. Coming to fragrances, layering complex niche fragrances and over-spraying is something I haven’t understood much. However, layering simple fragrances is something I would be willing to try. Let’s see!

8. Are you a workaholic or a chillout person?

I am a workaholic (something I am not always proud of) I do have hard time turning-off which is often important, but I try to do it time and then. More than anything, I really enjoy working on exciting projects in my free time. Whenever I can, I love taking fragrances out for photography sessions, editing them in lightroom/ Photoshops to paint a picture and to create a general mood. I always try to see how I can make my content better than it is right now. Engaging on Instagram is definitely time intensive, but I love the process and the journey!

9. What is your stress relief?

Music is something that is really an escape for me. Or watching documentaries on Netflix really lift my spirits. Or just as simple as going on a walk (and trying not to be on phone) or often not doing anything and contemplating is great.

10. Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner person? What is your ideal meal and food addiction?

I am absolutely a dinner person. Sadly, breakfast is a meal that I miss the most and want to do that less in future. Ideal food is Pizza or anything with Indian curry for me (as I live abroad, and I often miss home-cooked Indian meals).

11. What are your signature scent ingredients?

It always depends from fragrance to fragrance, but I love spicy oriental fragrances that take me back in time. I love fragrances with the notes of cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, sandalwood. Anything that is rich and opulent. Lately, as it’s getting hotter, I have been enjoying florals a lot.

12. What made you fall in love with perfumes?

I was someone who only had a bottle or two and never really focused on wearing them. Until I discovered niche. I was not aware that there was a whole new world out there which I was completely unaware of. For me it was like going to a place which I didn’t know ever existed. The fact that fragrances have the power to evoke past memories & emotions still fascinates me and keep me thrilled to explore more every day just to see on which olfactive journey will the next fragrance take me.

13. If you can create your ideal scented product, what would it be?

It’s a difficult question. I don’t know if I would want to have an ideal scent. I love the idea of multiple scents working for multiple occasions and moods. However, If I really had a chance to create something for myself/ or have someone create for me, it would probably be with spices and incense. Anything that could be divine and meditative.

14. This is a space to feel free and creative. You can share anything you would like.

This year has been hard for everyone, but I am glad that people around me are healthy and things are slowly getting back to new normal. I am very happy to be sharing this beautiful passion for fragrances with everyone who is reading this. I see fragrances like different colors. So, let there be many colors that brighten the whole world.