We take it you enjoy a cup of tea?

It is my firm belief that everybody, no matter how busy they are, should make time for tea. It is such a simple pleasure yet it is completely restorative. And whilst I would never forgo the occasionally crucial volume afforded by a decent sized mug (which life with a 2 year-old will more often than not necessitate), there is such a sublime pleasure in taking time to enjoy a proper cup of tea, drunk from a proper china cup and saucer. I wouldn’t be a true Northerner if I were to opt out entirely of that all important mug, but there is truly nothing quite like sitting down to a beautifully laid table for tea, with all the fuss and trimmings. I would urge everyone to do this at least once a week.

What inspired you to create fragrant tea?

As a perfumer, using my sense of smell is second nature to me, so the process of creating my blends was entirely instinctive. But I didn’t want the natural essences to overpower the tea. It was crucial that the teas spoke for themselves. I am fanatical about black tea, which is traditional to English tea heritage. For my version of Earl Grey, I used a second flush Darjeeling, which is exquisite. Often I find Earl Grey has a slight bitter note, so I balanced the traditional bergamot with a hint of green tangerine, which makes it somehow smoother, more rounded. Finally I used the amazing Madagascan vanilla sourced by my fragrance house in Grasse. In creating this blend, I have created my perfect cup of tea. It’s my everyday tea, my pick me up tea, my special ‘I need a little treat’ cup of tea. It seems to fit every mood, every moment. It’s complex, subtle, comforting, elegant and, I would like to believe, just what my grandmother would have liked to have drunk when the clock struck 4 at their home in Scotland.

Can you describe the collection?

Thé Bergamot is my take on Earl Grey. It has a heart of 2nd flush Darjeeling which is truly an exceptional tea. I then blended it with bergamot, tangerine and vanilla tea from Ceylon.

Thé Pétales is perfect for the afternoon. It’s very refreshing and clean, whilst also really emphasising the beauty of rose and geranium from the island of Reunion.

Thé Fumé is a rich, smoky tea which I’ve blended with spices and vanilla from Madagascar to give it a smooth, creamy finish.

How about the three new blends?

Thé Bigarade is a twist on English Breakfast tea. I created this for my father who is a hearty Yorkshire tea drinker using a rich Assam tea blended with the oil from the bigarade fruit – a type of giant orange from Brazil. It’s zesty and robust and can be drunk with milk for a strong morning lift.

Thé Violette combines 2nd flush Darjeeling with violet leaf absolute, green mulberry leaf, blackcurrant bud and tangerine. It’s very delicate and refreshing and as good as a slice of cake.

Thé Sauvage contains an incredibly rare tea called Tong Mu Mountain tea, which I’ve blended with rosemary and lavender to create a richly aromatic blend.

How do you brew the perfect cup of teapa?

Use freshly drawn, freshly boiled water, just off the rolling boil and remember to warm the pot first.

You serve tea at your flagship store, can you describe the experience?

I love the ritual surrounding afternoon tea. The china, the table, the whole environment - all these things enhance your enjoyment so it was very important for me to create a beautiful space for my customers to enjoy my blends. We also serve delicate cakes and biscuits with natural essences such as rose, earl grey and lavender. We live in such a fast, cluttered and hectic world that to have a beautiful cup of tea in beautiful surrounding gives you peace and fulfilment on every level. It need only take five minutes if that’s all you’ve got.

> Read more about our Tea Room in Bruton Street,Mayfair

> Browse our full tea collection online