“I first travelled to the Gulf in the late 1980s. The places I visited felt like nowhere else I’d ever seen. I was particularly fascinated by the beauty of the Arabic alphabet. And impressed by the elegance of the people … the chic white kandura robes, the sheen and flow of billowing black abayas. The people and the place really got hold of my imagination, which was why I went on to study Arabic at university.

When I think of my visits, these are the images that come to mind: dhows with their distinctive sails, golden interiors, shimmering skyscrapers, the calm of courtyard gardens, desert horizons. The air plump and heavy with scent. A feeling of sumptuousness and grandeur. When travel still felt glamorous, with the promise of new sights and sensations – before so many places felt the same. Memories of my mother wearing Samsara by GUERLAIN. Those big, bold, memorable perfumes that defined the era.

And all three places I’ve chosen to explore, and celebrate, in this new collection are crossroads – ancient and hypermodern. I’m drawn to melting-pot places, where different histories, peoples and tastes meet.”