media consumption: articles, video essays, podcasts to make you smarter (vol. 15)
hello.
i’ve been working on a love letter to spring that i’ll be sending out this friday, march 21. it’s filled with books, films, music, fragrances, candles, activities, recipes—everything that makes the season feel like itself.
if you’re already craving spring and need something to hold you over, i wrote a letter about preparing for the spring equinox—something to bridge the gap between now and then, a way to usher in the season with a little more intention.
it’s been a dark few weeks. in addition to some personal life happenings, i’ve found myself entering a state of nilihism after reading some truly bleak philosophical and theological texts. the kind that burrow under your skin and make the world feel hollow. this led me, predictably, to philosophytube and my usual roster of existentially tormented internet philosophers, which only made things worse. i’m a masochist what can i say… i’ve been struggling to pull myself out of it. fragrance has been my tether—its ability to summon warmth, memory, nostalgia. a portal to something softer, something i can hold onto when my mind turns against me.
but alas, spring is coming, and i’m hoping its lightness, its warmth, its inevitable return, will pull me back toward myself.
normally these media consumption posts are for paid subscribers, but i’ve been very behind in sending you these each sunday, so for today, this one is on me. that said… while this post is free, if you enjoy this newsletter, please consider becoming a paid subscriber—your support not only helps me keep writing but also means the world to me.
additionally, i’ve recently started a youtube channel where i talked about philosophy, perfume, prose, lots of literature and everything in between. come subscribe and leave a love note.
weekly report
reading:
middlemarch by george eliot
a novel about a quiet kind of ambition, about women who want more but don’t always know how to get it. dorothea brooke, idealistic and intelligent, marries the wrong man because she mistakes intellectualism for depth, and it ruins her. meanwhile, the town itself—middlemarch—is a web of small, intricate lives, each one filled with its own disappointments, betrayals, and moments of grace. it's about marriage, politics, power, and the way women’s desires are often crushed under the weight of society. but it’s also about hope, about the possibility of change, however small.
perfume: the story of a murderer by patrick süskind (obsessed with this cover- this is the one i own)
a novel that smells as much as it reads—dark, hypnotic, and deeply unsettling. it follows grenouille, a man born with an extraordinary sense of smell but no personal scent of his own. obsessed with capturing the perfect fragrance, he descends into madness, murder, and alchemy, distilling the essence of women to create a scent beyond human comprehension. it’s grotesque yet strangely beautiful, a story about obsession, isolation, and the terrifying power of scent.
a woman appeared to me by renée vivien
feverish, obsessive, and beautifully tragic. renée vivien, a reclusive french poet, writes a novel that reads like a series of vignettes, chronicling her intense and tormented love affair with natalie barney. it’s all longing, all hunger—one woman completely unraveling under the weight of her own passion. drenched in melancholy, self-destruction, and impossible desire, it’s a book for when you want to be consumed.
the bloody chamber by angela carter
dark, sensual, and razor-sharp. angela carter takes classic fairy tales and twists them into something lush, violent, and deeply feminist. these stories are dripping with gothic atmosphere—wolves lurking in the dark, blood-stained brides, eerie castles filled with secrets. she peels back the layers of myth and reveals the raw, often brutal truths about desire, power, and transformation. it’s decadent and unsettling, the kind of book that lingers like a half-remembered dream.
the will to live by schopenhauer
schopenhauer at his most schopenhauer. a collection of essays where he expands on his idea that life is nothing but suffering, driven by an insatiable, blind will to exist. he talks about boredom, desire, art, death—all through the lens of his usual brutal cynicism. but buried in the bleakness, there’s something oddly liberating about his honesty. for when you want philosophy to slap you in the face.
confessions by saint augustine
a man, wrestling with himself in real time. augustine, once a pleasure-seeker, turns inward and starts questioning everything—his desires, his ego, his purpose. it’s raw, deeply personal, and at times almost painfully self-aware. he’s grappling with guilt, with faith, with the idea of redemption, trying to make sense of his past and his place in the world. it’s part autobiography, part spiritual crisis, all deeply human.
a grief observed by c.s. lewis
c.s. lewis, completely undone by the death of his wife. it’s unfiltered, devastating, sometimes even angry—full of questions he never thought he’d ask about god, suffering, and love. not a neatly packaged reflection on loss, but the real thing: grief in its rawest form, shapeless, directionless, impossible to make sense of. it’s short, but it lingers.
eating
black coffee and thick sourdough bread with salted butter for breakfast
raspberry thumbprint shortbread cookies for an afternoon treat
midday charcuterie snack with cheeses, dried fruits, crisps, cornichons, edmund fallot mustard, olives, and spiced nuts
homemade belgian waffles with vanilla bean flecks you can see in the dough topped with a light drizzling of butter and good maple syrup
haagen dazs vanilla bean ice cream
playing
bossa nova when it’s sunny
tender jazz when it’s rainy
obsessing
-there are several fragrance samples i’ve acquired that i’m quite obsessed with at the moment. let me tell you about them…
iris silver mist – serge lutens
a ghostly, ethereal iris, cold and damp like earth after rain. the metallic chill of orris root lingers in a swirl of incense, cedar, and white amber, softened by a whisper of musk and green moss. it's haunting, like breathing in the scent of silver fog rolling over a quiet forest. this is number one on my fragrance wishlist— the epitome of a cold dark melancholy spring in the forest.
orris root, galbanum, cedar, sandalwood, clove, vetiver, musk, chinese benzoin, incense, white amber
naked dance – oddity
a soft, powdery skin scent with a mineral edge—like clay dust on warm skin after a spring or summer storm. iris and rice make give a delicate, almost tactile quality, while green tea and bergamot keep it airy. sandalwood and white musk settle close, like the feeling of silk against bare skin or the scent of your lover’s neck.
green tea, bergamot, orange blossom, iris, clay, rice, lily, Turkish rose, white musk, sandalwood, olibanum, benzoin, guaiac wood, vetiver
studied – liis
the scent of quiet intellect and light academia, crisp pear and ambrette brightening a base of soft iris and cashmere woods. it’s refined but effortless, like worn-in linen and well-loved books, something familiar yet endlessly intriguing. i love this scent and i wish it lingered on the skin a little longer.
pear, ambrette (musk mallow), carrot, iris, ambroxan, cashmeran
(as a side note, i initially didn’t like naked dance or studied, but i got samples of both through scent split’s recommendations and decided to give them another shot. i’m guessing my first impression was skewed by having other fragrance on my skin. suffice it to say, i tried them again with a clean slate—and fell hard)
althair – parfums de marly
bourbon vanilla at its most decadent—smooth, spiced, and slightly smoky, wrapped in cinnamon, praline, and tonka bean. cardamom and orange blossom add warmth, making it feel both luxurious and deeply comforting, like golden light spilling through velvet curtains. this is the scent of the warmth we crave but never truly get. something warm and addictive, but ultimately unattainable. this is another top contender on my wishlist.
cinnamon, cardamom, orange blossom, bergamot, bourbon vanilla, elemi, praline, musk, ambroxan, guaiac wood, tonka, candied almond
i’ve also had my eye on the brand stora skuggan, specifically…
pine by stora skuggan – a distilled pine forest in its purest form. no embellishments, just the crisp, resinous bite of pine needles, like walking through a scandinavian forest at dawn. i want to smell like the forest. (notes: pine)
moonmilk by stora skuggan – a strange and dreamy scent, like a cool limestone cave dripping with minerals and mystery. creamy sandalwood meets the unexpected tang of lime and spice from cardamom, softened by black tea and a whisper of florals. (notes: sandalwood, lime, cardamom, black tea, leather, lily of the valley)
mistpouffer by stora skuggan – haunting and enigmatic, like the ghostly cannon sounds that inspired its name. sweet immortelle and bergamot fade into a heart of pine and ozonic freshness, with fig leaf adding a green touch. the base is smoky and malty, grounded by earthy vetiver and cypriol. a strange, atmospheric scent that feels like a fog rolling in over a hidden lake. (notes: immortelle, bergamot, pine tree, ozonic notes, fig leaf, sugar, smoke, malt, cypriol oil, vetiver)
recommending
-perfume sampling: if you're exploring new fragrances, i always recommend sampling before committing to a full bottle. my favorite places to find niche perfume samples are twisted lily (you can use caitlyn10 for a 10% discount on samples and full size bottles) and also scent split has a great selection. lucky scent is another one i recommend and if you find yourself in los angeles or new york city, i highly recommend going into scent bar to play (not on a weekend).
-caudalie body butter: a balmy, nourishing, light almond scented body butter that layers well with fragrance— light enough for sleep and absorbs quicky.
-branche olive oil: if you care about good olive oil, branche is worth trying. organic, cold-pressed, and flavorful— perfect for drizzling over bread, finishing a dish, ice cream, or just making your kitchen feel a little more intentional.
-july rose jewelry: there’s something special about jewelry that feels like it belongs to you before you even own it. julyssa designs and handcrafts each piece in her chicago studio, using recycled and ethically sourced metals, blending the past and future into something timeless. she also makes custom journal jewelry—small, intentional details that turn a notebook into something deeply personal. perfect for paper republic journals, these pieces feel like talismans—little keepsakes that live with your words, your sketches, your fleeting thoughts. if you love the feeling of a well-worn journal, pages soft from use, ink smudged in the margins, this is for you. i’m obsessed with heirloom signet ring and the fish and heirloom necklaces.
treating
-i think i’m going to bite the bullet on althair or iris silver mist… althair has been so addictive to me and i find myself craving the warmth and comfort of this fragrance.
-byredo fleur fantome candle— the notes are almond, heliotrope, suede, silent flowers. (cotton poplin is a great spring candle— it’s fresh and comforting and has notes of chamomile, cedar, and tender musk). byredo candles are one of my favorite luxury candle brands— the throw and projection are perfect.
-a zero day—a day that belongs to no one and nothing. no screens, no books, no studying, no voices pulling at my attention. just me, untethered, somewhere quiet, preferably in the woods, where time moves slower and the air feels clean. a reset. the kind of day where thoughts can untangle on their own, where my mind can settle into stillness without the need to produce, consume, or perform. where the only stimulation is the sound of leaves shifting in the wind, the feel of moss underfoot, the weight of the sun filtering through branches. a day to dissolve into nature and remember what it feels like to just exist.
media consumption
articles
why i write in this classic essay, george orwell reflects on the motivations behind writing, from sheer ego to a deep-seated desire for political and social change. he argues that good writing is always ideological, shaped by personal history and moral conviction.
the orwell foundation
should your husband be your best friend? examines the modern expectation that romantic partners should also serve as best friends, analyzing whether this dynamic strengthens or strains marriages. the article discusses the benefits of deep companionship but also warns against relying on a single relationship for all emotional needs.
the new york times
perfume culture is starting to stink the fragrance industry is booming, expected to reach $50 billion by 2030, with gen z leading the charge. trends like “smellmaxxing” and scent wardrobes have reshaped perfume culture, while ai and social media drive its evolution. but as hype cycles and commercialization take over, some argue that fragrance has lost its soul.
the cut
everyday philosophy: can you have a ‘calling’ without a caller? questions the secular use of the term “calling” in professional contexts, exploring whether one can have a vocation without believing in a higher power assigning it.
big think
the aesthetic beauty of math explores how mathematics is not just a logical system but an art form. the essay delves into the way mathematicians experience beauty in equations, patterns, and problem-solving, drawing parallels between mathematical elegance and artistic expression.
the paris review
why i wrote the crucible arthur miller wrote the crucible as a response to mccarthyism, seeing parallels between the salem witch trials and the era’s political hysteria. he describes it as “an act of desperation,” driven by the fear and paranoia of the time. the play was both a historical allegory and a personal reflection on guilt and integrity.
the new yorker
everyday philosophy: can you build an intellectual friendship with someone you’re attracted to? investigates the dynamics of forming intellectual friendships with individuals one finds attractive, considering philosophical perspectives on platonic relationships.
big think
a thinking woman’s guide to living and loving like socrates reviews agnes callard’s open socrates, which presents philosophy as a way of life rather than an academic pursuit. the book applies socratic questioning to love, politics, and personal growth, arguing that the examined life is the most fulfilling one.
the times
feeling nothing can be as devastating as feeling too much is an introspective essay on emotional numbness, highlighting its profound impact on mental health. it explores the causes and effects of feeling "nothing" and offers insights into reconnecting with one’s emotions.
psyche
why zero could unlock how the brain perceives absence explores how the concept of zero influences our brain’s ability to understand the absence of information, shedding light on cognitive processes related to nothingness.
aeon
the myth of the artistic genius dismantles the idea of the lone male genius in art, revealing how this myth erases the collaborative and social nature of creativity. it also highlights how women and marginalized artists have historically been written out of the narrative, despite their undeniable influence.
the paris review
your phone is why you don’t feel sexy
an engaging essay on how constant phone use erodes our sense of self, arguing for the return of presence and embodied confidence.
(substack)
how to critique stories about the nature of romantic love
this guide provides tools for questioning cultural narratives about love, encouraging deeper understanding of its complexities. it challenges idealized portrayals and explores the diverse ways love manifests in human relationships.
psyche
seven adverbs that god loveth explores ways that mystics think and work, articulated through seven adverbs: obliquely, autobiographically, vernacularly, performatively, practically, erotically, and ascetically.
the paris review
when success becomes the enemy challenges conventional wisdom about goal-setting and motivation. the piece argues that relentless ambition can sometimes become counterproductive, leading to burnout, dissatisfaction, and a never-ending pursuit of more.
the new york times
the new era of food trends: pickles, olives, and tinned fish the latest wave of food trends leans salty, briny, and nostalgic, embracing preserved and fermented flavors. from the resurgence of tinned fish to the obsession with high-end pickles, this piece explores how these old-world staples have become modern delicacies.
vox
the case for deep reading discusses why reading books, as opposed to consuming quick online content, is essential for deep learning. the article highlights how books allow for sustained focus, critical thinking, and a more profound engagement with ideas.
the new york times
video essays
podcasts
okay, that’s all for today. i love writing these letters to you.
if you’re not ready to become a paid subscriber and you have the capacity to leave a tip, that would be so appreciated.
i love you.
bye.
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always in love with your recommendations 🤎
Thank you for this recommendations. They are appreciated.