Where will you be holidaying this year?
We have just got back from Tuscany, staying at Locanda Rossa in the hills of Maremma. Food was the main draw (shouldn’t it always be?), the estate’s truffle linguine was to die for and quickly became my staple primi. The rooms and views were equally divine making it a very restful break, even with a 10-month-old baby!
What is your ‘must-have’ item to pack in your suitcase?
I never travel without my trusted Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Lotion. I just love the herbaceous and zesty scent in summer, it is revitalising no matter how hot it gets. This holiday season I have been layering it with the floral flourish of Jo Malone London’s Orange Blossom Cologne… the perfect summer scent combination.
Where is your favourite al fresco drinking/dining spot?
For me, it has to be at my in-law’s terrace overlooking Whitby Bay with views of the castle and a glass of my mother-in-law’s Sgroppino as the sun goes down. Pure bliss...
What is your holiday read this year?
A Writer’s Diary, a collection of Virginia Woolf’s entries that charted her creative progress behind her novels. It is an incredible insight, but my attention span is feeble these days - I think I have become too accustomed to literary devices such as pop-ups and squeakers!
Have you ever had a ‘lightbulb’ moment related to your business or career while taking some downtime?
I don’t think I have been lucky enough to have a noteworthy lightbulb moment, but I certainly recognise the restorative powers of down time. It is amazing what ideas surface when you step back. For me, connections to work have arisen in an equally joyful way whilst on holiday, as travel has given me the opportunity to encounter some of the rarer ingredients of our fragrances in situ. Seeing the exquisite pompom blooms of silk blossom trees in India and doing a spice tour in Zanzibar were particular highlights.
