Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Celine Roux: Honestly, I don't separate my personal time and my my work time – sometimes I'm not even conscious of it! I think the two are so intertwined because of the job I do. I've been working at Jo Malone London for almost 15 years, and I just feel like my job is such a large part of me. But I don't see that as a problem!
What’s one thing you do after the workday to help you unwind?
It's funny because I have a real double standard. I always tell my friends that they should burn one of our Lavender & Moonflower candles to unwind after work as they're so relaxing – but I will never do that! Most of the time I end up helping out with one of my children's arts and crafts projects for school. Drawing really helps me unwind.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
I would love to say something here like every Friday I do hot yoga and that's my weekly ritual, but I have zero routine! One thing that really helps switch off from work is watering my plants – there are so many in our flat that I've had for many years, my son says we live in a jungle. I find a really luxuriant, hour-long watering session incredibly nurturing and immediately relaxing.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to, or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
Earlier this month, I went to the Frieze Art Fair. I've been going to the fair for the past 15 years, so it's a real yearly highlight for me. The whole experience is magical. I love the walk through Regent's Park filled with the colours of autumn, and you have the sculptures in amongst the trees to explore. Then you go to Frieze and it's an explosion of colours and videos and excitement. It's a day I cherish because it combines so many elements which, for me, are so English, and things I love about the culture here. I find it really, really fulfilling and so inspiring for work. It's good for my creative brain and my soul.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
A museum or gallery. I tend to be a bit obsessed with my phone, and a museum is a place that forces me to unplug – that's really calming to me. I love that from the moment you enter, whether that's the Tate Modern or the Royal Academy of Art, each of these spaces has its own distinct personality. These are safe spaces where I am surrounded by beauty and love. Being in a museum or gallery allows me to reconnect with myself.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
As I say, my work and personal time is quite intertwined so, after I've helped my children with their homework, I read magazines. Throughout the week, I rip out pages and articles from magazines (I call them my swipes!) and put them into a pile – and Sunday is my night to organise that pile and filter them into my work back to take to the office on Monday.
Best reason you've had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
I don't think I've ever set an Out of Office message – I don't think I'd even know where to look in my email app! It's not that I'm a workaholic, it's just that sometimes I just like to deal with whatever the thing is at the time, then it's done and no-one has to wait. That said, I don't feel pressured to always reply if I'm away from my desk and it's not urgent I don't answer – I never feel the pressure of it I don't put my Out of Office on in the first place, you know?
