Telegraph.co.uk – 7th November, 2013

By Jessica Moorhouse

Actor Richard E Grant Photo: PA

Spiceworld star, Richard E Grant confirms deal with storied London department store Liberty to launch debut fragrance in April 2014

Seeing actor Richard E Grant on the front row at Anya Hindmarch’s spring/summer 2014 show raised a few fashionable eyebrows, to say the least. But now it’s all become a little clearer.

Speaking to Shortlist , Grant revealed that he was egged on by long time pal, Hindmarch who caught him smelling everything – from tables to plants, and everything in between. She said: “Have you seen anybody about that?” I said: “What do you mean, a psychiatrist?” In which Hindmarch – ever the optimist – responded with: “No, you should make a perfume.”

Et voilà, the beginnings of the unisex fragrance was born.

Inspired by British heritage – and an obsession with the Union Jack – the perfume will come in a pillar-box red casing and feature vintage bunting calico. The all important smell will include heady notes of lime, clove oil, juicy mandarin, white musk, tobacco and pepper oil – all topped of with your typical infusion of marijuana, naturally.

But why the need to spice up his life now? It’s not like Grant’s a struggling actor as he depicted in the cult film Withnail & I. Well, plain and simple Grant likes to juggle plates. “I always have 100 things on the go. I’ve been working on [the perfume] for two years’ being taught at the knee of ‘a nose’ in Paris.”
Let’s hope Grant’s foray into the world of fragrance pays off – after all, he’s putting all his money behind it.

Richard will launch his scent at London department store Liberty in April 2014.