The Fragrance Garden

For the first time in its history, luxury department store Harrods has announced it will be exhibiting a concept garden at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in May. ‘The Fragrance Garden’, created in collaboration with award-winning garden designer Sheena Seeks, will be a celebration of perfume through the medium of flowers. Taking the art of perfume making as its theme, the concept garden will reflect the cross-fertilisation of nature and science, as well as traditional floral perfumes. Inspired by the 19th Century artisan tradition of ‘enfleurage’, a technique whereby the scent of flowers is captured in wax, on one side of the garden, flowers will appear enclosed in oversized laboratory beakers and test tubes, while on the adjacent side they reappear, transformed into giant paper blooms. Incorporating digital innovation, the garden will also feature augmented reality images on giant screens dividing the garden, which will leap into life when viewed through a phone or tablet.