Aldhiano
For our fourth conversation we sat with Aldhiano Azwin, a videographer and food blogger from Balikpapan who trained as a chef and still treats every plate as a blank canvas. Fragrance reached him the way it reaches few people, not as vanity but as an inheritance, handed down through a grandfather, uncles, and a mother, and kept as something quietly private. He chose Amouage as the house he would learn it through, an ambitious place to begin, and followed the stories inside the bottles as closely as the scents themselves. We spoke about rain-soaked pines and solitude, the collection he is learning to love again, and why taste is only ever your own.
The music that colored his childhood, and his mother’s love of Engelbert Humperdinck — quiet evenings spent listening together.
I graduated in culinary arts, and I have always been drawn to the world of art. To me, every plate is a blank canvas, brought to life with ingredients chosen not only to look beautiful but to tell a story through flavor. It is an art form you can see, feel, and taste.
Your relationship with fragrance
Fragrance has become a family tradition, passed down through generations, from my grandfather, my uncles, and my mother, to my siblings and me. Each of us enjoys it in our own way, never as a means of seeking attention, but simply for the quiet satisfaction it brings.
It may sound a little unusual, but perfume has become a refuge, a place where I find peace for both mind and soul. I chose Amouage as the house through which I would learn. What captivates me as much as the scent itself is the story behind it. Different does not mean strange; every person has their own way of experiencing a bottle.
Each fragrance carries a soul through its narrative, inviting the imagination to wander.
A scent that takes you somewhere
The scent of rain-soaked pines, the earth still holding the morning dew, the breeze carrying the fragrance of leaves. Fragrance never truly disappears; it simply waits for the right moment to quietly reopen the doors to memories we thought had long been closed. Solitude, I have come to realize, is not a punishment. It is a space left for us, so we can hear the quiet voice within.
What you are wearing now
Lately I am learning to appreciate my own collection instead of constantly searching for something new. Hidden among these bottles are forgotten moments and chapters of myself I almost left behind. Blue in Green, Violets for Your Furs, and Ribbon in the Sky are my quiet refuge when I need to slow down. Chypre Oppenheimer and Chypre Lovelace keep challenging my perception, and whenever I reach for Sunrise in Medina or Hiroshima Mon Amour, I remember where it all began.
A daily ritual
Most days move through prayer, video editing, visiting restaurants and local food stalls, and ending the night at the gym. But Tuesday and Sunday nights are reserved for something special: exploring my collection and layering two or three perfumes to discover new olfactory experiences.
On good taste
Good taste is not about following trends; it is about knowing what truly speaks to you. There is no such thing as good or bad taste. Everyone experiences beauty in their own way. Trust what you genuinely love, and let it become part of your identity.
One belief you would defend
You never lose by choosing kindness.
When life does not go according to your plans, it does not mean God has abandoned you. Perhaps He is leading you to something far better than you ever imagined.