Nicholas Daley gives a classic Molton Brown scent a rebirth

Over the last six decades, Molton Brown has established itself as an iconic British luxury fragrance brand. Made by perfumers who work instinctually, as opposed to working with a strict brief, each scent is layered with personal experiences and memories of those who created it.

Now the brand is honouring the artistry of perfumery it is known for by stepping into a fresh new era, celebrating its legacy while embracing different generations of creativity. Its latest initiative, Artists of Note, taps into the brand’s rich history of craftsmanship while inviting a trio of British creatives to interpret timeless scents through their own artistic lenses.

For the initiative, Nicholas Daley, the London-based designer known for his exploration of culture and craftsmanship, brings his unique perspective to the Re-charge Black Pepper scent by master perfumer Jacques Chabert.

Born in the Midlands to a Scottish mother and Jamaican father, Daley began his journey with fashion after graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2013. In 2015 he launched his eponymous menswear brand and began to make a name for himself both in the London fashion scene and globally. Effortlessly fusing his mixed heritage, Daley’s work often interweaves ideas surrounding identity within the Black British diaspora. Channelling lessons from his mother, a weaver, over the years Daley has created his signature hand-knitted garments merging Scottish tartan with Caribbean prints and motifs. 

For this collaboration, Daley takes the earthy, spicy elements of the fragrance – black pepper, coriander, and oakmoss – and translates them into textures and colours that reflect his own artisanal approach to fashion. “What really engaged me is the pepper, the oak woodiness, those very deep naturalistic notes,” Daley explains. For him, the process of designing a garment is akin to creating a scent: “Before you make a garment, you have to understand the composition.”

Collaborating with Molton Brown feels like a natural fit for Daley, who has made a name for himself by honouring the traditional elements of craftsmanship while exploring different ways of weaving in contemporary touches. Much like his handwoven garments, Molton Brown’s fragrances are carefully constructed, allowing each note to build into a complete and layered experience. Daley’s interpretation of Re-charge Black Pepper merges the tactile and the olfactory, offering a multi-sensory experience that echoes both the design of his clothing and the rich, aromatic profile of the fragrance.

Read more about the Artists of Note series, via a contribution by poet John Cooper Clarke, here, and go to moltonbrown.co.uk to discover more.

Shop Re-charge Black Pepper above and stay tuned to find out about the other British creatives and their scents.