We love Ormonde Jayne!

It's a funny kind of smell that one can't quite put one's finger on. I'm not exactly sure I've smelt anything like it before, and call me strange, but it actually conjures up an image of sitting in a giant armchair in times gone by, dressed in a royal gown of golds and deep purples as my annoying cousins (complete with ringlets) play hopscotch in the garden, next to my open window. Maybe I'm just weird? But it's an olde worlde smell that promotes opulence, affluence and comfort at the same time. Intrigued?

I'm talking about the scents just in from Ormonde Jayne - an exquisite perfumery which was previously only open to nostrils in the UK. London, to be precise. In February 2008, founder and creator, Linda Pilkington, will be bringing two new and no doubt lovely-smelling boutiques to Boutique 1 in Boulevard at the Emirates Towers. She'll also be overseeing an opening at the newly constructed Jumeirah Beach. Both new stores, we are assured, will include the distinctive bronze smoked mirrors, black laquered testing tables and mandarin leather topped stools that feature in the flagship store on Bond Street - ooh er, can you see where we get such opulent imaginings now?

Linda's interest in perfumery started as a teenager... like a lot of us she was intrigued by the passion and romance of perfume and perfume bottles. Fascinating fact: over the years she has collected over 2000 flacons! Interestingly, she honed her sense of smell with an early career, growing and selling flowers, and learning how to make scented candles and bathing oils from books and courses.

You can sense her passion in her perfume range. You can honestly smell the stuff of dreams - dabbing some on your neck feels all warm and cosy, like snuggling up in the aforementioned armchair. There are un-nameable flowers, resins and woods in there that you've never smelt in the perfume industry before now and trust me, all your mates will be asking what that amazing smell is as you walk past them in a cloud of loveliness! Your boyfriend will even notice - and surely that's saying something!

"My aim is to be at the cutting edge of creativity, defying convention in the world of scent", says Linda. And we reckon she's definitely there.

For more information and the lowdown on specific scents, check out the website here
And we'll definitely be bringing you more in February, watch this space!