Stephanus
For our fifth conversation we sat with Stephanus Satria Wira Waskitha, a pharmaceutical chemistry lecturer and researcher in Yogyakarta whose days are spent in computational drug design. Fragrance has followed him since his university years, first as a way to feel confident, then as something larger: a source of inspiration for his work and a keeper of his most cherished memories. His first HoM Haute was Ronin Jazz Felina 2.0, worn through a demanding national committee, and it has stayed tied to those long, introspective nights ever since. We spoke about jasmine and a ten-year-old self, the notes that steady him before a lecture hall, and why he chooses depth over noise.
Linkin Park — the sound that scores his high-effort chapters and long, contemplative nights.
I am a researcher and pharmaceutical chemistry enthusiast. I graduated from Universitas Gadjah Mada with a bachelor's in chemistry in 2020 and a master's in 2022, and I now lecture at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sanata Dharma, specializing in computational drug design and discovery. Fragrance has been a source of stories, inspiration, and memory throughout that journey. Today it is more than identity or confidence; it helps me contemplate, reflect, and find inspiration in my research.
Your relationship with fragrance
Fragrance first became a way for me to feel more confident during my university years. Over time I realized it was much more than that. It has become a source of inspiration in both my career and my life, while also preserving some of my most cherished memories. A familiar scent has the remarkable ability to transport me back to those moments, letting me relive the emotions and experiences that shaped my journey.
A familiar scent can transport me back, and let me relive the moments that shaped my journey.
A scent that takes you somewhere
Jasmine always brings me back to the ten-year-old version of myself, a junior high student. Even now, that scent returns me to those carefree days, free of responsibility and worry, a reminder of innocence and simplicity.
A year ago I was appointed to the National Committee for the National Pharmacist Examination OSCE 2025 for two months. During that period, Ronin Jazz Felina 2.0 became my first HoM Haute perfume. It is now inseparable from that chapter: the challenges, the long hours, the dedication I poured in. Its dark, introspective character still evokes quiet nights of self-discovery and the search for inspiration. After a few years in perfumery I have found that iris, orris butter, leather, vetiver, and jasmine give me a greater sense of confidence, as do aromatic fougère and barbershop scents.
What you are wearing now
On campus, Sartorial Vertige and Ivory are my go-to fragrances, with Armani Code Parfum, Alien Objects Fufu, and Personal Chemistry Patina in the rotation, and — at the right moment — Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Le Parfum. For night contemplation and writing manuscripts, it is Ronin Jazz Felina, BLU, ANIS in my own version, and lately Sanur Dalam Purnama. And for sleep, Memoir of Miracle Love.
A daily ritual
A kick of caffeine from an iced americano, and a perfume chosen to match the situation.
On good taste
Good taste means choosing beauty with intention rather than for attention. It values what is authentic, thoughtfully composed, and quietly expressive — a fragrance, a book, or a piece of research that keeps revealing depth over time instead of making a loud first impression.
One belief you would defend
True excellence comes from depth, integrity, and craftsmanship — not from recognition or popularity.
A great fragrance is not just something that smells good. It tells a meaningful story, resonates with who I am, and quietly reflects my values without ever needing to shout.