I will have the honor and good fortune to meet Linda Pilkington, founder of the wonderful luxury niche house Ormonde Jayne in her Mayfair store in London next week.
Since I will have the chance to ask her a few questions, I wanted to give you an opportunity to chip in.
What would you like to know about Linda and her work?
What questions are burning under your fingernails?
Let me know! I will relay your questions to her and report back. 🙂
Olfactoria's Travels 
How wonderful! I think you will have a lovely time.
I would like to know if there are any plans to open a store in the United States. And if so, how about Chicago, because I’d love to work for Linda. 🙂
I will be sure to ask that, Carrie.
You would make a perfect perfume store manager, finally somebody who knows what they are talking about! 🙂
I’m pretty sure that can be classified as a dream job for me (in specific relation to Ormonde Jayne). I think passion for the scents makes for a good employee. Okay, I’m done pitching myself. For now. 🙂
I hope your dream job will come true! It would be great, and a great reason for me to visit Chicago again! 😉
I will be looking forward to the interview.
I would like to know if there is a particular note she is experimenting with right now.
Noted. 🙂
Oh yes, like Carrie said, US distribution! Please!?
I’m interested to know how she came about using black hemlock in her compositions—I love it in OJ Woman, and I’m pretty sure she is the first, or one of the first, to use the note.
Thanks for taking our questions to LP! You are going to have the best time ever! 🙂
I’ll be sure to ask about hemlock and US distribution/expansion.
Very exiting! 🙂
Wow, that’s just plain wonderful !
I met her (by accident) in her Royal Arcade shop two years ago. And she was so adorable – we were chatting for few minutes cheerfully. She’s a real pleasure, a perfume diva without diva-attitudes.
Would love to know what is she working on right now, what’s going to be the next one in her perfume collection. And Birgit, could you please test the soaps for me ? Pretty please.
I have written down your requests, those soaps will be tested! 🙂
You met her! That is great! I very much look forward to talking to her, your words are putting me at ease, no need to be terrified then, thank you. 😉
Oh no, no fear. I wanted to say “she’s down to earth”, but somehow that expression just wouldn’t fit with my adoration of her.
In fact, I’d love to hear what everything you smell, taste and try in LDN…
I will certainly try to “live-blog” from there as well as write more extensively when I am back! 🙂
Please send her my love!
The only reason I don’t have her discovery set yet is that I am on a sample embargo, since I’m swamped! But I have and adore a FB of Tolu and I drained my sample of Frangipani almost completely.
My question to her is how does she see a difference between her EDPs and parfums, not technically, but emotionally, in terms of what to wear when, what to choose, etc.
I will relay your question, Warum.
What kind of mojo did she put in Orris Noir to make it The Most Beautiful, Gorgeous, Stunning Iris Evuh?
Enquiring minds – and a recent total convert – really, truly, want to know.
Oh. One more thing. How does she feel about ‘Ormonde Woman’ making its way into a yet-to-be-published novel? Which it did…on the villainess! 🙂
You can always tell her from me – that inspiration is the sincerest form of flattery! 😉
Oh-oh, somebody is on an OJ kick, I believe! 😉
I will be sure to let her know about your novel and Lilith!
Oh! Great!!! I have a question!
But first – a lot of THANKS to her for the wonderful creations. I enjoy most of her perfumes (well, EdPs so far but I’m really curious if I should look into perfumes) but it was Ta’if that brought me back into the perfume world last year (my white rabbit, I think).
Now the question. It’s not OJ’s brand specific but I would love to hear it from Linda if she chooses to comment. Why 50 ml? Especially for perfumes. Why not to make 15 or at least 30 ml bottles? Those can be much more expensive per ml but why not to make them? Also, why not to make mixed travel sets (now you can buy 4 x 10 ml of the same scent only)? I’m curious if there is an economical reason. Say, is it proven by somebody that people will end up buying two/three/four big bottles instead of just choosing the one they like the most? Even though I do not like the fact that I have to buy a big bottle or go for a split I can except it if it’s supported by numbers – I just want to know that companies (niche ones, I’m not talking about mainstream ones) actually think they will make more money by not having smaller bottles.
I would also like to know what she’s working on now, but if it’s a secret I could settle for at least yes/no for a new scent in 2011. Pleeeease.
I just wrote down your questions in my notebook, thank you Undina!
Yyyeeeeessss, why not mixed travel sets???
+1 to this question, please!
And of course, +1 to whether there is a new scent for 2011.
And a thank-you for a reasonable pace.
Reasonable pace, that is a good point! Thank you for your input!
I have another question as well. What is/will be her take on reformulation? Will she tell us? Will she reformulate or will she just bid a “fond farewell” the way Dawn Spencer Hurwitz does?
Noted, Warum!
Hi B!
At Carrie and Warum’s urging (Hi gals!), I would like to pass on a question for Ms. Pilkington.
Last night, I did a keyword search using the term “Ormonde” on the Perfumed Court web site. Besides the expected results, there was also a perfume called “Super Secret”.
The notes are given, but the name of the perfumer is secret! (See my most current post for more details, or search “Super Secret” on the Perfumed Court site)
So, the question is: Is this super secret fragrance a new addition to the Ormonde Jayne line?
PS: Warum – Ms. Pilkington has been quoted saying she will never reformulate or discontinue.
Interesting! Will investigate of course! Thank you, Joan Elaine!
JoanElaine, glad you came and asked! And thank you so much for sharing! I will admit: that felt good to hear that!
I’d like to know what happened to the bright mandarin orange boxes? My latest purchase’s box is a red hue (Tiare). Seems like a petty question, but as an artist I care about these things. TIA!
Hi Tulip,
really? I loved the orange color!
I have not seen the new packaging yet. I will certainly bring it up! 🙂
Mine is red, too. I was surprised because I thought it would be orange, but this was my very first OJ purchase, so I did not really have an expectation.
I’ll have to post back here when I get my package from OJ next week about what color the packaging is. Escandalo! So Birgit, which is the big day next week? I’ll need to know when to start stalking your blog extra well (I already do it to a certain degree).
😀 I will meet with her on Monday afternoon. I’ll keep you posted.
Oh, and I wanted to say that I emailed The Perfumed Court the other day about the “Super Secret” perfume, and it is indeed OJ Seraphim. It’s $8.99 for the smallest sample they have (0.25 ml!!). I am very curious, I must admit.
I will certainly ask about this.