Ffern co-founder siblings Owen Mears and Emily Cameron grew up in deepest Somerset in a village awash with smells from around the world. “We grew up next to a biodynamic herb farm that pioneered how herbs were grown. They also grew native English plants and flora, lots of roses,” Cameron recalls. “Little lorries would trundle through the village throughout the year carrying cumin and cardamon, and the whole village would smell of spice and herbs.”

Though all childhoods come to an end, the natural scents lingered. “It was an amazing way to stimulate the nose in a way we didn’t appreciate until we left,” Cameron considers. “It formed a strong presence in my brother Owen’s life; he always felt the scent was missing. He tried to recreate the effect with rosemary and bay leaf.”

An unfruitful search for natural perfumery (he only found synthetic scents) led Mears to Joseph Robert, a 19th-century French maverick who was fundamental in developing the solvent extraction process for creating 100% pure fragrance oils from natural ingredients. “Owen then had a serendipitous moment when he met François Robert and soon realised he was Joseph’s great-grandson,” Cameron says. “François agreed to go on a journey with Owen and became the nose, alongside his protégé Elodie Durande.”