Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine
The Smell Of
SUCCESS As luxury perfumery, Ormonde Jayne celebrates 20 years in business, The Cheshire Magazine speaks to its Cheshire born founder, Linda Pilkington about the evolution and success of her brand
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n November 22nd 2000, perfumer Linda Pilkington registered her British perfume house at Company House in London. Still independently owned by Linda, Ormonde Jayne has grown from creating scented candles on a kitchen table for private clients, to one of the leading niche perfumers with 200 points of sale around the world. Disrupting the world of perfume since its beginning, Ormonde Jayne introduces rare and exquisite ingredients, elevating perfume to an art form. Here Linda sits down with The Cheshire Magazine to discusses her lasting success.
Was there a lightbulb moment to take you from creating scented candles on your kitchen table to registering Ormonde Jayne as a perfume house at Company House and opening your boutique in Mayfair? I have never been one to market research or make extensive business plans. I tend to be impulsive and I’m more a ‘back of the envelope’ type. When I saw this available space
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in a gorgeous Victorian arcade with double height window, I saw a great stage that would lend itself perfectly to perfume. It felt so right as a location for my new range of perfumes and my philosophy. From seeing it for the first time to serving our first customer was a matter of a few weeks which was supersonic for retail openings, as it was long before the era of popups! I had to convince the landlord of the Royal Arcade that I would be an asset to his arcade and would be able to flourish. It wasn’t easy as he was dubious about my lack of previous retail experience in London! The way I convinced him was by arriving in his office clutching my entire collection of scented candles and flacons and showed him I would create a really gorgeous unique perfumery that would benefit the area.
