The Monday Media Diet with Scout Dixon West

On The Shards, Apartamento, and Fragrantica

Scout Dixon West (SDW) is a perfume + scent obsessive that does amazing (and deep) reviews on TT. She’s also in a band called Low Pony. We’re happy to have her this week. -Colin (CJN)

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in a small town called Shingle Springs in Northern California, and I have been living in Los Angeles for the last 12 years. I recently left my day job as a screenwriting assistant to work on my own projects, and I talk about my love of perfume on the internet. I also have a music project called Low Pony. 

Describe your media diet. 

Lately, I am trying to consume less, or at least more intentionally. I recently made a ghost account on Instagram that I use only to follow select accounts that serve as a source of inspiration or reference, that way I don’t have to trudge though the traffic of my usual feed to get to the good stuff. I also use Twitter, which is usually how I find out what’s going on in the world, but it can quickly become overwhelming or frustrating — too much unbridled stupidity. At its best, it’ll give me a laugh or teach me something new.

I listen to podcasts or music when doing chores, driving, or cooking. I watch TCM every night. On the odd occasion they’re playing something I’m not interested in, or have seen to many times, I will turn to the Criterion Channel. I keep an ever-growing list of movies I’m meaning to watch, and a lot of them tend to be on Criterion or in rotation on TCM. 

What’s the last great book you read?

I just read Hemingway’s short story, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, which really struck me. Hemingway reckons with his fears about his own potential, his integrity, his post-war alienation. It’s contemplative, roaring, incisive, humorous… Hemingway is Hemingway, after all. 

Prior to that, I read The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis, which I really enjoyed. It was totally absorbing. Ellis is such a hypnotic world-builder. When I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to be, and would ask myself I wonder what the boys are up to… 

What are you reading now?

I’m currently reading I Lived to Tell It All, George Jones’ autobiography. Mr. Jones is my favorite, and likely the greatest country singer ever to live. I’ve been reading this out loud to my boyfriend, often when we are taking a bath or sitting on our balcony, and it’s given us a lot of laughter (and me, several tears.)

I’ll be reading the rest of the short stories in that Hemingway collection, and I need to pick a new novel, since I just finished Michele Houellebecq’s Serotonin. I like to have a few things in rotation at a time. One fiction, one anthology, one biography or non-fiction. It’s nice to toggle between books depending on the mood. 

What’s your reading strategy when you pick up a print copy of your favorite publication?

I try to give every publication the courtesy of reading it start to finish. There’s often a lot of fat, so I don’t feel guilty if I have to skip a page, but I like to give everything a fighting chance. If I’m really excited about a particular feature, I’ll jump straight to it, and catch up on everything else after.

I haven’t been purchasing magazines as frequently as I used to or maybe ought to, but I try to pick up copies of whatever catches my attention when I can; usually an art, interior design, fashion, or literary magazine. A few I usually enjoy are: Avant, Clutch Magazine, Apartamento, The New Criterion…

Who should everyone be reading that they’re not?

James Dickey. A friend of mine introduced me to his work a few years ago by way of
The Last Wolverine, which became an immediate favorite. I had not read, or seen, Deliverance, and I still have not read one of his novels, but I have become quite familiar with his poetry. His work is fervent, hypnotic, surreal… I feel more connected to everything when I read his work. If he doesn’t move your spirit, get your spirit checked.

What is the best non-famous app you love on your phone? 

Thriftbooks. It’s a used and rare book website — they source their inventory in bulk from libraries, thrift shops, individual sellers… I keep a wishlist and receive notifications when books I’m looking for become available. 

Plane or train?

Car. Although if I’d ever taken the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, I bet I’d say train.

What is one place everyone should visit? 

Antique stores. Objects used to be designed with intention — things were not only more beautiful, but they were more practical. Modern objects are designed to deteriorate. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together should cultivate taste, patience, and the ability to differentiate quality from garbage. Start respecting yourself (and frankly the gift of life as a whole) and stop buying ugly junk. It makes me so sad. 

Tell us the story of a rabbit hole you fell deep into. 

Perfume is my perpetual rabbit hole. In my downtime, I am almost always thinking about, reading about, or smelling perfume. I can sit in my office and sniff through my cabinet all day. There are a handful of perfume blogs I dig through online, and I’m an avid Fragrantica user. I often use the “search by notes” function to dream up compositions I want to smell and see if they exist yet. I am deeply passionate about the art form and my desire to explore it is insatiable. (SDW)

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Thanks for reading,

Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN) & Scout (SDW)

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