Written by Bec Loades in Fragrance on the 24th April 2018

If you only need one reason to take a stroll through the Royal Arcade, it should be to visit the newly redesigned perfumery Ormonde Jayne. The boutique may be small in size, but it is a beautiful space that offers a unique shopping experience. If you are not already familiar with the brand, this is one you need to get to know. Ormonde Jayne's perfumes are like no other and they deserve their place as one of the finest perfumeries in the luxury industry. Linda Pilkington is the sole founder and owner of this independent fragrance brand which is rare in the industry as it doesn't belong to any behometh beauty conglomerate, like so many do today. Through her knowledge, experience, attention to detail and talented nose palette, Linda has created a company that has spanned the industry for nearly 20 years. If you are someone who is interested in the craft and art behind luxury perfumes, this is the place to visit. With their exclusive ‘Made-to-Measure’ service, starting in May, Ormonde Jayne will offer the opportunity for the customer to create their own bespoke scent.

Walking passed the store; your eyes are immediately drawn to the striking 20ft velvet curtains - in Ormonde Jayne's bright orange hue - draped in the window. Looking through to the interior sits a central counter with a modern light fitting overhead, lighting up her whole collection of scents and candles. It is a minimal new design but one which has had a lot of thought put in to it, including the unique octagonal shape of the light and the counter which reflect the design of her signature bottles and over-caps. All that remains in the room is a wall of mirrors, a backdrop of her classic orange packaging sitting on a shelf and a few stools for you to sit down on and discover the brand. MenswearStyle were invited to visit this intriguing store and as I took a seat I was instantly treated to a glass of fresh blood orange juice and a plate of delicious sea salt caramel chocolates, all of which complimented the luxurious surroundings.

The distinct quality of the brand not only comes from the fragrance but from the driving force behind the company; Linda Pilkington. During my visit to the store, aside from testing the products, I had the pleasure of chatting with Linda and listening to some of her fascinating stories from her time as an entrepreneur. From a young age she discovered her passion for crafts with a strong interest in making homemade candles and bath oils which then developed into the art of experimenting with different scents. Through her expertise she was offered the incredible opportunity to produce a candle for a Chanel store and from then on, she was encouraged to set up her own business and expand her skills into the world of perfume. Linda has always had a keen eye for luxury and due to this she now has a collection of perfumes using the finest ingredients available, all created in her own studios and laboratory. Her products are well-known worldwide and she has most recently created an exclusive scent for Saks Fifth Avenue.

At Ormonde Jayne they can pinpoint your own signature scent by asking about your interests, daily activities, lifestyle and even diet. Linda really does possess a unique skill and from explaining a bit about myself and telling her I wear Escentric Molecule (Linda has worked with Geza Schoen for many years), she picked out the Isfarkand. I can safely say this is my new favourite perfume. Linda described the fragrance as vibrant but discretely sensual and one of those "where many people stop you in the street to ask what you are wearing". Isfarkand - launched in 2005 - consists of lime, bergamot, pink pepper and cedar. Choosing a perfume is an extremely personal choice and at Ormonde Jayne they encourage you to sit and try different ingredients on your skin and nasal palate in order to find one that perfectly suits you. Their new 'Made-to-Measure' service does exactly that, where you can book a private appointment to discuss your preferences. To make it even more personalised you can have the fragrance poured to a particular strength and also have the cap or flacon engraved.

Do not think for a second that this perfume is targeted at women. Yes of course, this would make a beautiful gift for a female loved one, however Linda was actually one of the first perfumers to bring 'gender free' products into the luxury perfume industry. There are some scents in the collection which have an earthier and more smoky undertone which are suited to men. However, I can imagine most of her scents working on both men and women. One which particularly stood out was the Montabaco - part of Jayne's Four Corners of the Earth collection – and an exclusive, Montabaco Extreme 50ml, will be available in Harrods from May (£225). It has base notes of tobacco leaf, moss, suede, tonka and sandalwood with the top notes of orange absolute, bergamot, and cardamom, alongside magnolia, rose and tea. With its rich and deep scent, it captures inspiration from Linda's travels through Latin America. She has travelled a huge part of the world to discover rare and special ingredients, such as hemlock and sampaguita, for her concoctions and was even one of the first European perfumers to bring Oud to the market.

The extremely knowledgeable assistants will make you feel at home as soon as you walk through the door of the boutique. There is no need to worry if you are not a perfume connoisseur as everything is explained to you and will certainly open your eyes to a different and more genuine side to the luxury industry. Nowadays, so many brands are churning out expensive mass-produced fragrances that have either been copied from another brand or just simply don't contain the calibre of ingredients to make it last. At Ormonde Jayne you are guaranteed an extremely high-quality product with complex ingredients. If you cannot make it to their new store to make a purchase, Ormonde Jayne is available online, with a new website coming soon. Saying this, should an opportunity come around to book an appointment with Linda herself, it should not be missed and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

We meet with Linda Pilkington the founder of Ormonde Jayne Perfumery in London's Royal Arcade near Old Bond Street to learn about fragrance.