The World of Taste & Smell

Trends in Flavor and Fragrance with Amy Marks McGee of Trendincite

In this episode, Stephanie Feuer speaks to Amy Marks-McGee about trends in fragrance and flavor, how they develop, how experts spot them, and what trends to look for in 2026.Amy is the founder of Trendincite, and an Advisor of the World Taste & Smell Association.She is an award-winning Fragrance & Flavor Marketing Expert and Trend Researcher, with more than 25 of success within the fragrance and flavor industry. Her work experience includes fine fragrance, air care, and personal care marketing for International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF),Noville, and Givaudan.
Highlights & Key Topics
What is Trendcasting?
How to Spot a Trend?
What were the key trends in fragrance and flavor in 2025?
What will we see in 2026? What are the emerging flavor and fragrance trends?
ABOUT the WTSAThe World Taste & Smell Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing sensory science, education, and public awareness. Through research, storytelling, and innovation, WTSAbridges the gap between science and human experience—helping people rediscover the power of taste and smell in daily life

Living Without Smell — A Conversation with Katie Boateng & STANA

When your world goes quiet, you notice what’s missing.
In this powerful episode, hosts Stephanie Feuer and Mindy Yang of the World Taste & Smell Association speak with Katie Boateng, a leading patient advocate, co-founder of STANA (Smell and Taste Association of North America), and the incomparable force behind The Smell Podcast. Katie has lived with complete smell loss for more than 15 years — and in that time, she has transformed grief into community, purpose, and national advocacy.
Together, we explore what it means to lose a sense that most people never think about… until it’s gone.

An Interactive Smell Test with Global Impact with Dr. Derek Toomre of U-Smell-It

In this episode, Stephanie Feuer and Mindy Yang of the World Taste & Smell Association speak with Dr. Derek Toomre, a Yale scientist, Professor, and inventor whose work helped transform smell testing from an inaccessible clinical tool into a global public-health innovation.
Derek’s company, U-Smell-It, created the world’s first low-cost, open-source smell-testing kit, designed to democratize olfactory diagnostics for both clinical and community use. What began as a rapid response to COVID-19 has become a vital resource for sensory health, research, and education — empowering anyone to test their sense of smell at home.
We explore how U-Smell-It works, why smell is such a powerful indicator of health, and how tools like this are changing the way we understand human perception.
You can now order U-Smell-It directly from the World Taste & Smell Association at TasteAndSmell.org.
This partnership ensures that everyone — from patients to researchers — can participate in advancing the science of taste and smell.
Highlights & Key Topics
The origin story of U-Smell-It during the early pandemic
Why smell loss is often the first sign of illness — and a vital window into neurological health
How open-source design can drive equity and innovation in sensory science
Derek’s vision for the future of smell testing and sensory diagnostics
About WTSA
The World Taste & Smell Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing sensory science, education, and public awareness. Through research, storytelling, and innovation, WTSA bridges the gap between science and human experience — helping people rediscover the power of taste and smell in daily life.
Learn more and support our work at TasteAndSmell.org.

Multisensory Dining Trends 2025 — Menu Matters × WTSA (World Taste & Smell Day Special)

For World Taste & Smell Day, WTSA’s Mindy Yang and Stephanie Feuer host a live conversation with Maeve Webster and Mike Kostyo of Menu Matters, along with special guest Chef Rosalyn Darling (DarlingCulinary.com). Together, they explore Menu Matter's new Multisensory Dining Trend Report and discuss how sound, aroma, color, texture, temperature, and storytelling are shaping the future of hospitality, CPG, and food culture.
We love Maeve and Mike's deep expertise, and how Chef Rosalyn Darling brings insightful and empathetic culinary perspective, sharing how multisensory design can transform menus into memorable, emotionally resonant journeys.
👉 Prefer video? This episode was recorded live and is also available on YouTube..
👉 Support sensory health research & advocacy: tasteandsmell.org.

Menu Matters: A Taste of the Trends from the Summer Fancy Food Show

In this special episode of The World of Taste & Smell, World Taste & Smell Association's Mindy Yang and Stephanie Feuer sit down with Maeve Webster andMIKE KOSTYO of Menu Matters to unpack the biggest takeaways from the 2025 Fancy Food Show. From standout flavors and clever packaging to cultural shifts and industry buzz, they explore what’s real, what’s performative, and what these trends reveal about where consumers’ hearts, wallets, and appetites are heading.
p.s. Don't miss a special World Taste & Smell Day episode on multisensory eating with this incredible team from Menu Matters — dropping September 14.
Show Notes
First impressions from the 2025 Fancy Food Show floor
Top 3 standout products and “wow” moments
Flavor trends: global influences, nostalgia, indulgence, and wellness
Ingredient heroes & villains: what’s hot, what’s over
Behind the booths: what brands got right (and wrong) in their pitches
Industry insights: optimism, anxiety, and the future of F+B innovation
Rapid fire favorites
🔗 Learn more about Menu Matters: menumatters.com
🌐 Join the conversation: tasteandsmell.org

Yosh Han: The Evolution of Perfumery, Identity, & Scent as a Journey

In this episode of The World of Taste & Smell, World Taste & Smell Association's Co-Founder & CEO Mindy Yang (@GoDolceVita) sits down with her friend, American Perfumer Yosh Han — visionary perfumer, entrepreneur, and community builder — for a deep and candid conversation about fragrance, identity, and the power of scent as a lifelong journey.
Like Mindy, Yosh has been a pioneering force in independent perfumery for decades. Known for her boundary-pushing creations and her commitment to fostering community, she has also challenged the industry to re-examine its language and values. From her early days “living life by her nose” to her role as an outspoken advocate for change, Yosh embodies fragrance as both art and activism.
Together, Mindy and Yosh explore:
Yosh’s unconventional beginnings and the challenges of forging a career outside the traditional perfumery model.
The rise of independent and niche fragrance, its growing pains, and its future.
Why the term Oriental has no place in modern perfumery and what a new, inclusive fragrance language could look like.
Travel and sailing as sources of inspiration, and how scent connects to taste and memory in powerful ways.
Yosh’s reflections on artistry, community, and what truly matters at this stage in her journey.
This episode is both personal and provocative — an invitation to rethink how we experience, describe, and connect through scent.
Links & Resources
Explore Yosh’s world of scent: eaudeyosh.com
Learn more about the World Taste & Smell Association: TasteAndSmell.org
Connect with Us
If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Join the conversation online and support sensory science, wellness, and advocacy with a donation or collaborate with us.

A Portal Through Scent: Adventures with PerfumeVerse

Step into the world of fragrance with Mindy Yang (@GoDolceVita), Co-Founder and CEO of the World Taste & Smell Association, and Nadia Kadri (@NewYorkNose), founder of Perfumeverse NYC—a scent-driven platform that blends storytelling, discovery, and community.
Together, they explore the vibrant culture of indie perfumery, the origins of Perfumeverse NYC, and the power of community in shaping this creative industry. The conversation dives into the evolving role of AI in fragrance creation, the deep connection between scent and personal identity, and some of the most exciting indie and experimental brands from around the globe.
At its heart, this episode celebrates the emotional power of scent and highlights the growing need for a richer understanding of fragrance culture—showing how perfume is so much more than a luxury; it’s a gateway to memory, identity, and lived experience.
💌 Sign up for Nadia’s newsletter: perfumeverseNYC.com
📱 Follow Nadia on Instagram & TikTok: @newyorknose | @perfumeverseNYC
💬 Nadia is active in the DMs of both accounts—so don’t hesitate to say hi!
🌐 Learn more about the World Taste & Smell Association and support our mission at: tasteandsmell.org

Theme Parks, Memory, and the Magic of Scent

In this whimsical and thought-provoking episode, we step into the scented world of theme parks and museums with special guest Liam Findlay, a leading scent consultant and designer at AromaPrime. With scents like Egyptian Mummy, Pirate Ship, and even Penguin Vomit, Liam helps transport visitors beyond what they can see and hear—into a realm of immersive storytelling powered by smell.
From the joyful nostalgia of a childhood ride to the reverent silence of a historical exhibit, Liam explains how scent can amplify emotion, shape memory, and deepen understanding. Hosts Stephanie Feuer and Mindy Yang guide the conversation through the science and soul of immersive scent design—exploring its role in theme parks, museums, and even food experiences.
 
Highlights include:
How scent is strategically used to tell stories, cue emotions, and enhance visitor experience.
The unique challenges of scenting large public spaces.
Why museums are embracing olfaction to evoke empathy and preserve cultural memory.
Liam’s creative process—from historical research to emotional triggers.
A playful rapid-fire round, including the scent that makes Liam cringe and a flavor that takes him back to childhood.
Whether you’re a designer, scent-lover, or just curious about the hidden layers of our environments, this episode invites you to reimagine the spaces we move through—and the powerful role scent plays in making them unforgettable.

Born this Way: All about Olfactory Receptors

In this episode, Stephanie Feuer talks with WTSA Advisor Sandeepa Dey, a Bay Area-based biotech consultant.Sandeepa has worked on applying olfactory research to practical challenges within the F&F sector. She holds a Ph.D. from Duke University, where her research focused on using olfactory receptors to decode smell.
This episode unpacks the science of olfactory receptors, how genetics can influence smell perception, and consumer preferences. You’ll find out the olfactory receptors are not just in the nose, but throughout the body, and how the may help manage health conditions in the future.Find Sandeepa onLinkedIn, and read more about the fascinating world of taste and smell at TasteAndSmell.org.

What’s That Smell? How Perfumery, Art, and Science Shape Our Future

In this delightful and insightful episode of The World of Taste & Smell, host Mindy Yang is joined by two trailblazers in the world of fragrance:
Nancy Cavallaro, a seasoned fragrance developer with over 25 years in the industry, who is passionate about inspiring young minds to explore careers in perfume creation.
Ariella Halperin, a fragrance storyteller and sensory innovator, known for using nostalgia, synesthesia, and emotion to create immersive fragrance experiences that resonate deeply with consumers.
Together, we explore:
Why early scent education is vital for sparking curiosity, creativity, and wellbeing.
How perfumery connects science, art, and storytelling—and why it’s the perfect career path for sensory explorers.
Behind-the-scenes stories of fragrance creation, from unexpected scent combinations to the magic of multisensory branding.
The fun side of scent—including favorite “stinky” smells and the scent of rainbows
Special Event Mention:
We’re excited to announce our in-person event in Manhattan on June 18th, co-hosted by Cosmo Fragrances and WTSA. It’s a rare opportunity to dive into the world of fragrance through workshops, stories, and hands-on fun for kids and families. Details and tickets available at: TasteAndSmell.org.
🎙️ Hosted by: Mindy Yang, Co-Founder & CEO of the World Taste & Smell Association
📚 Bonus: Can’t make it to the event? Bring the adventure home! Nancy’s delightful children’s book, Stinky and Bigs: The Smelly Adventures, introduces kids to the world of scent in a playful, imaginative way. Also available for purchase on TasteAndSmell.org.
About Our Guests:
Nancy Cavallaro lives in Fort Lauderdale with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Stinky and Jet. She’s dedicated to nurturing the next generation of “noses” and has spent her career working with top perfumers and fragrance houses.
Ariella Halperin has over a decade of experience in fragrance and branding. As the founder of Storied Senses, she helps emerging brands stand out with unique, multisensory stories that tap into nostalgia and emotion.
🎧 Tune in to discover how scent, science, and storytelling shape our future!