The perfumer

SASKIA HAVEKES

There’s something special about magnolias. “I like the fact they don’t last for very long – from when they open to fall apart, it’s only one day, occasionally two,” says Saskia, whose Grandiflora florist has reigned supreme in Sydney for two decades.

The magnolia grandiflora bloom has always been a “muse” for Saskia, so when she decided to launch into perfume, this was the obvious inspiration. Saskia flew in perfumer Sandrine Videault from her home in New Caledonia to begin the creation. “We took her to flower markets and admired magnolia trees on the coast, and had events where we filled the shop with magnolias.”

The pair made notes and after a flurry of emails and phone calls, and testing and tweaking, and inhaling and testing again, the first perfume, Magnolia Grandiflora Sandrine, was created. Saskia has made two more fragrances and her fourth, due to be released in June, is a secret – though she reveals it is based on a flower that blooms for only one night.