The-Accountant-Sep-Oct-2017-Final

TRAVEL
Surprisingly, Bourton-On-
The-Water does boast one factory,
although it blends in so well with the
quiet local scene that a visitor needs to
know that the Cotswold Perfumery
is there. Founded more than 50 years
ago, and having grown considerably
over the years, the business is now
located in a delightful 300-year-old
oak-beamed Grade II listed property
on Victoria Street and is a truly
unusual and rewarding experience.
John Stephen is the sole proprietor
of the perfumery, since the death
in the 1970s of his mother, who
was the co-founder. Over the years,
John has built a worldwide customer
base and apart from his own range
of products he supplies to fragrance
houses in different parts of the
world. The originally limited range
of perfumes designed for women has
expanded into a variety of products
that include men’s fragrances and
personal care products, and the
customer base includes The Queen
and other members of the Royal
Family.
John is a Chartered Chemist
and one of only a handful of
independent perfumers in Britain.
He is passionate about quality and
technical excellence and, unusually
for someone in a highly competitive
industry, welcomes visitors behind
the scenes to see how perfumes
are created. The Perfumery offers
one-day introductory courses, twoday
Level Two courses, courses,
and laboratory visits for students
where they get supervised handson
experience. A unique feature of
the business is the five-star guest
accommodation that the Perfumery
offers - by no means the cheapest
place to stay in Bourton-On-The-
Water, but by all accounts the best.
clivemutiso@gmail.com
64 september - october 2017