“Like my fragrances, this house is a mix of modern and nostalgic,” said Maya Njie during our first visit to her home in Mudchute on the Isle of Dogs in 2020. The self-taught perfumer has spent more than a decade decorating her 1930s semi-detached house with pieces from different periods and places: a 1960s Utensilo wall organiser, a screenprint by the Russian artist Kazmir Malevich and a globe from a charity shop in Sweden are among the many treasures that fill her trove. Naturally, then, Maya makes a most suitable subject for our film series Seven Wonders – so watch the episode to find out what happened when we tasked her with selecting just a few of her favourite things…

Although Maya only set up her namesake perfume brand in 2016, her love of fragrance stems from her childhood in Västerås, Sweden, when she would collect scented dolls and stationery. It was here that she honed a knack for thrifting too; as a teen, she fondly remembers scouring the shelves of second-hand stores rich with beautiful furniture and art: “You could get your hands on amazing pieces for next to nothing.” She might have left Sweden for life in London, but the motherland still has a special place in her heart – and her business. In fact, her company is a homage to both her Swedish and her Gambian heritage, for which she concocts blends using essential oils, aroma compounds and resins to create scents inspired by old family photographs.

Maya’s home, predictably, is beautifully scented throughout. She might be best known for her perfumes, but Maya has a particular soft spot for incense too. A smoky, woody smell lingers in the air on the day of our visit, which we learn is her current favourite, made from infused seeds she brought back from Gambia. Given all this, perhaps it was only a matter of time before Maya set her sights on making her own. “I’ve been working on the project with a perfumer called Ezra Llyod Jackson,” she says. “When I’m developing a scent, I take great pleasure in burning it at home to see how it works in the space. That’s the most fun – and relaxing – part of the process.”

But until you can take a whiff of Maya’s new line of products, why not discover her seven most prized possessions instead? Watch the episode now to tour the corners of her home, as she highlights her favourite finds along the way. As always, enjoy watching – and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.