The perfume industry is set to be worth $38.8 billion by 2017. But sometimes it feels like half that money pays for fancy packaging and expensive adverts. A new perfumer in Milan is attempting to cut through all the noise and put the focus back on the products.

In light of mass production and the rise of the celebrity scent, even perfume has lost some of its traditional values. Le Labo offers an insight into the heritage of the fragrance industry and provides authentic products that rekindle the romance.

The Scent of Departure is a perfume brand which claims to have captured all the complexities of 20 global cities, each in one small bottle. In the age of globalisation, it uses the metropolis as a solid marker of contemporary identity.

Vintage, bespoke and niche fragrances are products which combine the twin desires for careful investment and individuality. We spoke to scent expert James Craven to get some detailed insights into what motivates consumers of luxury fragrance.