“A chronic hobby adopter who takes astrology (often) seriously,” she says of herself. “I live by the need to explore everything, because knowledge will always be fascinating. Give me a topic to bite into; I will spend measurable time doing research about it. Sometimes I wish I could be more sentimental in life, but pragmatic actions and a sense of adventure will always be my way of doing business.”

“I love, love city life, with all the fabrics in the space, and having people I love nearby is honestly an ideal environment. My space will always be like a big tent; most importantly, a safe space for marginalised communities.”

I don’t have any sentimental value with fragrances. I understand that scent is the fastest connector to memory, but for me it is a world of exploration. I love wearing them and, even more so, sniffing them, because I have an insatiable nose. It is not that I have no special fragrances close to my heart, but there is no fragrance to mark my life. Once in a while, a certain fragrance will literally haunt me for days, creating a strong pull for me to wear it. I will abide by the calling, but when it is time to let it go, I will not lose sleep over it.

There are also the social, historical, and cultural aspects of fragrance that spark my interest to study the topic itself. I will wear fragrances I not only like but from brands with values aligned with mine, with background stories that interest me, with intention matching my energy, and so forth. Perhaps that is why it fits well with my lifestyle.

My oldest scent memory is a house with woven bamboo walls (Javanese: gedhek) and a hard soil floor, where I was born. I grew up with the medicinal and traditional herbs my late grandma applied religiously on me, along with the jamu concoction I drank almost every day. Amidst those was my father’s cigarette smoke, and wooden furniture. It is not a coincidence that I tend to like those scent profiles more than others.

My on-the-go, the one always in my work bag, is No. 5. I’m keeping it real. There is no replacing it at the moment. Lately I rotate either local fragrances (go #LokalWangi!) that may be part of the annual independence day recommendation list, or samples in my collection. The samples are starting to get way out of control, man, and I intend to finish them all.

Feeding my cats is the first thing I do in the morning. Then, whether stretching or lounging, I make my morning as uneventful and routine as possible. That is the only way I feel certain to be in control of the day. I wear my scent of the day when I am out of the door, making sure it settles down on the way to work.

Are we about to have a long discussion on the philosophy of taste? I can do that. To summarise: if there are principles for me to define taste, it will not have a price point, and it is a reflection of my livelihood. Taste is cultivated through lived experience. Good taste is subjective, but for me it needs coherence and the ability to convey a language. I am not talking about uniformity or conformity, but applying elements that make sense, and the ability to recognise them within the context of my background, culture, and understanding: that is how I cultivate good taste.

Ask her for one belief she would defend and the planner hands you a complete policy, four words long, effective immediately.