Nowadays, we often associate perfume with bottles of essential oils produced through chemical manufacturing processes. This garden serves as a reminder that scent originates in botany and pays tribute to nature’s extraordinary sensory power.
Imaginarily set in the Cotswolds, the Perfume Pavilion Feature Garden, designed by Liz Nicholson, Freddie Gibbs, Ruby Simpson and Dean Parsons offers a myriad of fragrances. From the soothing essential oils of Lavandula and the heady and nostalgic aroma of Lonicera (honeysuckle), to the intoxicating punch of Daphne and the summery sweetness of Phlox, this space is immersed in scent.
Two Juliana Grand Oase greenhouses will showcase the plants, and reveal a secret of the perfume world: the importance of foliage. One pavilion will demonstrate how geranium leaves – not its flowers – provide that iconic, fresh smell we all know and love and highlight their horticultural beauty, diversity and heritage. The other explores how scented pelargoniums inspire contemporary fragrances. Together, the collaboration brings to life the journey from plant to perfume.
Willow shuttlecocks, handcrafted by Jo Entwhistle from Bay Tree Willow, support climbing scented roses and honeysuckles. Inspired by the origins of badminton itself, the shuttlecocks reference the Beaufort family’s early indoor versions of the game and provide a creative link to the estate’s history.
Beyond its olfactory appeal, the garden is designed as a full sensory experience, inviting visitors to hear the rustle of leaves, taste Origanum vulgare (oregano) or Thymus vulgaris (common thyme) and engage in a visual feast of mauves and dusty pinks, cool greys and deep greens. It seeks to engage far beyond the eye, aiming to lift the mood of passers-by and reminding us of the real significance of nature.
The garden is in collaboration with: Juliana, C. Atherley, Fibrex and AllGreen
