Some experiences stay with you long after you leave, just like a beautiful fragrance. The new Cowdray x Floris Fragrant Afternoon Tea is one of those rare experiences that bring together incredible food, beautiful surroundings and a wonderful story that makes every moment feel special.

Photos Credits: Milly Kenny-Ryder

Set inside Cowdray's stunning Walled Garden in West Sussex, the experience begins before you even sit down. Surrounded by colourful flowers, historic brick walls and beautifully kept gardens, the setting is simply breathtaking. It feels peaceful, elegant and full of charm, making it the perfect place for an afternoon inspired by Floris London, Britain's oldest independent family perfumer.

Before the afternoon tea arrived, we were introduced to Celest, Floris' newest Eau de Parfum. We learned that the word perfume comes from the Latin per fumum, meaning "through smoke", referring to the ancient tradition of burning incense and fragrant resins that carried scent into the air. It was fascinating to discover how perfume has always been connected to rituals, memories and special moments.

Celest celebrates both the history of perfume around the world and the story of British perfumery through one of England's most loved flowers, English chamomile.

We were invited to smell each ingredient before experiencing the finished perfume. The English chamomile was beautiful. It had soft herbal notes with the comforting scent of dried chamomile flowers, but also a surprising fruity sweetness that reminded me of fresh apples.

Next we discovered davana, an ingredient many of us had never smelled before. Rich, fruity and slightly boozy, it added notes of ripe plum that gave the fragrance warmth and depth. Smelling it together with the chamomile showed just how naturally the two worked together.

To stop the fragrance from becoming too sweet, cedarwood was added. It brought a lovely dry, woody softness that made everything feel balanced and elegant.

Finally, we smelled frankincense from Somalia. This beautiful resin links Celest back to the earliest days of perfumery. It doesn't make the fragrance smell smoky, but instead gives it a warm feeling that reminds me of incense slowly rising into the sunlight.

One of the most interesting moments came when we tested musk. Around half of people cannot smell certain musk ingredients at all, while others notice them immediately. It was such a fun part of the experience because everyone around the table had a different reaction.

When we finally smelled Celest as a finished perfume, everything made sense. All of the individual ingredients blended together perfectly to create something soft, fresh and beautifully balanced. Hearing that it had taken three years to create made us appreciate just how much care had gone into every detail.

Then came the afternoon tea itself, and it was truly unforgettable.

Every dish had been inspired by the fragrance, turning perfume into flavour in the most creative way. Delicate cucumber and bergamot cream cheese sandwiches reflected the fresh top notes, while chamomile and passionfruit meringue tarts, bergamot drizzle cake and lavender shortbread brought the floral heart of the fragrance to life.

The savoury selection was just as impressive, with trout pâté blinis, goat's cheese with walnut and honey, herb filledsausage rolls and roast beef with horseradish. The warm brown butter, honey and vanilla scones (that melted in my mouth and definitely my favourite food) served with clotted cream and homemade balsamic strawberry jam were the perfect finishing touch.

Served with unlimited tea or coffee, or a glass of Gusbourne English sparkling wine for those wanting something extra special, every part of the afternoon felt carefully planned without ever feeling formal.

What made this experience so memorable was how beautifully everything came together. The story behind the perfume, the chance to discover each ingredient, the incredible food and the stunning surroundings all created something completely different from a traditional afternoon tea.

The fragrance is absolutely incredible, the afternoon tea is surreal and the location is simply breathtaking.

The Cowdray x Floris Fragrant Afternoon Tea is available on selected dates from 2 July until the end of September 2026. If you are looking for one of the most unique experiences to enjoy this summer, you can book via this link, I cannot recommend the Cowdray x Floris Fragrant Afternoon Tea highly enough.

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