VICTORIA BECKHAM

From Paris to Portofino via Los Angeles, the fashion designer shares the places and personal stories that have inspired her first fragrance collection

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO LAUNCH THIS FRAGRANCE COLLECTION?

"I've worked with Jérôme [Epinette, master perfumer for Robertet] on these fragrances for eight years now and, in some ways, it's my version of an autobiography. I've loved fragrance for such a long time, so to use this creative space to share my love story between me and my husband, our travels and my self-acceptance journey-I've never felt so vulnerable. But I'm excited at the same time. This feels honest and organic, and the right time to be releasing fragrance; it's been like my fifth child. Actually David is my fifth child, the fragrance collection is my sixth child."

HOW WAS IT LOOKING TO YOUR PAST TO CREATE THE SCENTS?

"You know, it was really emotional. I think the public feel as if they've been through the journey with me. They remember me being in the Spice Girls, they remember me meeting David, getting married to David and sitting on the throne at the wedding and having the children, then moving to Spain and to America. So a lot of the public-not just in Britain-have felt like they have been part of my journey over the past 27 years. But I've never told these stories before."

WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE PORTOFINO '97 FRAGRANCE?