“Rauhanmarssin osallistujia / Participants in the peace march” by Merja Wesander, licensed under CC BY 4.0. [source]

A BOOK BY PERFUMER PIA LONG

Containing ten fully published perfume formulas, one piece of fiction and nine essays on political and personal topics, Demo Accords is a multidisciplinary collection of narratives where perfumery is part of the story and the stories are part of the perfumes.

In this work Pia explores the intersection between her two lifelong loves: writing and perfumery. Part manifesto, part polemic, part protest, part autobiography, the common thread is radical vulnerability of the perfumer’s art, practice and personal views.

Interrogating some fundamental questions about who perfumery belongs to and creating a parallel platform without a brand or a commercial consumer product, Demo Accords aims to exist for its own sake as a project that uses perfumery as an artistic storytelling device.

If the book is a script, then the formulas are sheet music, and the actual resulting liquid is therefore the orchestra playing. It is not necessary or compulsory to buy the liquid perfume sample kit to go with the book but it will help everyone hear the music.

The book has significant contributions from Nick Gilbert who wrote the scent descriptions and notes lists, as though for a protest perfume brand. Featuring original illustrations from multiple artists and a full colour cover by a Brighton street artist, Demo Accords is more than the sum of its parts.

The Demo Accords book will begin shipping from 27th October 2025. Preorders containing the book and sample set will be sent out as soon as stock becomes available. Official launch by end of November 2025.

Chapters and perfumes:

1. Clean (belongs in shampoo)
2. ANTIFA (a cruelty-free musk against fascism)
3. Foreign (perfume ingredients)
4. Well, actually (a watery folk tale)
5. Have You Tried…? (aromatherapy about ableism)
6: Fume (Finnish fury)
7: Chemical (a 100% natural perfume)
8: Male Gaze Repellent (a green chypre)
9: Dupe This (oud rose)
10: 10 out of 10 (a genderqueer statement scent)

DEMO ACCORDS

PERFUME, PROSE AND PROTEST

BY PIA LONG

with contributions from
NICK GILBERT