Perfumer Alberto Morillas on Knightsbridge, double coconuts and a world-class Jaipur hotel

My personal style signifiers are my colourful socks. I like to change the colour every day, but I also buy some from an ecclesiastical store in Rome – the burgundy colour and the length are perfect so I will buy 10 or 20 pairs at a time. €20; Gammarelli, Via S Chiara 34, 00186 Rome (+3906-6880 1314; gammarelli.com)

The last thing I bought and loved was a flowering dogwood tree for my garden from a nursery in northern Italy. The flowers have a very particular shade of white that appealed to me. Vivai Valdostani, Frazione Maillod 17, 11010 Sarre, Aosta (+390165-258 116; vivaivaldostani.com)

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a coco fesse, a rare double coconut from the Seychelles that is coming up for auction. I’ve been collecting them for years, but they are hard to find. The unusual shapes of these objects amuse and intrigue me.

The best gift I’ve received recently was a Patek Philippe 5960P watch from my wife for our 40th anniversary. I’d been dreaming of one for a while; the detail in each element is incredible. patek.com

The grooming staple I’m never without is René Furterer Gel Végétal Fixant for my hair – for the fixing effect, of course, but also for the smell. I have an obsessive relationship with the smell of the products I use, right down to my choice of laundry detergent. In the same vein, my wife introduced me to La Prairie Anti-Aging Day Cream, or rather I steal it from her. Obviously, I always have a lot of scents on the go, but right now I’m hooked on Perfect Oud by Mizensir, the brand I created with my wife. La Prairie Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF 30, £178; laprairie.co.uk. Mizensir Perfect Oud, £175 for 100ml EDP; libertylondon.com. René Furterer Gel Végétal Fixant, £9.10; sanareva.co.uk

A recent “find” is Suján Rajmahal Palace, a hotel I discovered in Jaipur. It was a residence of Jaipur’s royal family and combines world-class comfort with old-world charm. sujanluxury.com

In my fridge you will always find salmon from my fishmonger at La Halle de Rive in Geneva; Icône Caviar by a company that brings sturgeon eggs from the Tibetan plateau and refines them in Geneva; and cheese and black truffle from Bruand cheese shop to make fondue – the truffle has a deep, delicious mineral taste. Icône Caviar, Place de Cornavin 3, 1201 (iconecaviar.com). Fromagerie Bruand, Boulevard Helvétique 29, 1207. Poissonnerie Agu Gonçalves, La Halle de Rive, Boulevard Helvétique 29, 1207 (halle-de-rive.ch) 

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a navy Gucci jacket. I have many Gucci jackets in different colours and always perfume the lining; the moving jacket allows the perfect diffusion of a scent. £1,920; gucci.com

The last meal that truly impressed me was dinner at Can Carlos in Formentera – the atmosphere is lively and the freshly caught fish is exquisite. I like simple food made with fine ingredients – a perfectly ripe tomato, the best olive oil. San Francisco Javier, Formentera 07860

My favourite website is Auparfum.com for its informative perfume articles. I’ve had an iPad Pro for a year now and it’s a more comfortable format than smartphones for newspapers, so I’ll read LeTemps.ch and Tribune de Genève, TDG.ch, on that.

My style icon is Lapo Elkann for his provocative and hyper-creative style. He wears daring, colourful outfits but always with an Italian elegance.

An indulgence I would never forgo is Amandes Princesse chocolate almonds from the Geneva confiseur Auer. Opening the packet is dangerous because each almond tastes better than the previous one. About £25 for 250g; Rue de Rive, 1204 Geneva (+4122-311 4286; chocolat-auer.ch)

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a Tibetan statue of Buddha that I brought back from Jaipur. I forgot to declare it to customs so it cost me dearly but I enjoy looking at this statue so much.

An object I would never part with is my wedding ring, which obviously symbolises my love for my wife, without whom I would never have got to where I am today. My memory of our wedding was that the party was beautiful, but that I found the organisation of the seating plan very stressful. I’m a perfectionist – every detail counts.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Seville, where I grew up. I like to go to places I know because I find it very important for my creativity to have consistency. I go back in spring for the Feria de Abril when everyone is outside to have fun. It is a fusion of music, flamenco, lights and colours and brings back many childhood memories. 

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose Knightsbridge for the unrivalled elegance of its shops and level of service. I visit Crockett & Jones for shoes and Harrods for a long visit to the perfume hall; it’s so important to know what others are doing, so I smell everything and talk to the salespeople to get feedback from customers on my creations. I buy own-label marmalade in Harrods Food Hall, which is a place of fascinating theatre. I visit Zafferano to order the Milanese veal escalope and saffron risotto and love to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum: I discovered the V&A during the McQueen retrospective and the fashion collection is unmissable. I’ll also detour to Belgravia for the selection of dream perfumes at Les Senteurs, which has one of the most beautiful shop fronts in London. Crockett & Jones, 155 Brompton Road, SW3 (020-7581 2694; crockettandjones.com). Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1 (020-7730 1234; harrods.com). Les Senteurs, 71 Elizabeth Street, SW1 (020-7730 2322; lessenteurs.com). Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 (020-7942 2000; vam.ac.uk). Zafferano, 15 Lowndes Street, SW1 (020-7235 5800; zafferanorestaurant.com). 

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Bulgari: The Perfume of Gems, a wonderful coffee-table book about the story behind the house’s jewels and fragrances. I am not a big reader as I don’t have much time and also because I am a more visual person. $150; rizzoliusa.com

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Picasso. The periods and the subjects vary enormously during his career, but there is always a touch that identifies that he is the author of his works.

The best gift I’ve given recently was a perfume I created as a gift to my daughter Véronique after the birth of my granddaughter, Bianca. I infused everything I love: mandarin, bergamot, delicate Bulgarian rose and white musk. 

My favourite room in my house is the conservatory. A magnificent light passes through it and I have a glorious view over my garden, which is a source of creative inspiration throughout the seasons.

The people I rely on for personal grooming and wellbeing include my osteopath Philippe Lamy because I get stressed and it affects my back muscles – when you are travelling so much you need to have some help. Bensaid Samir at Coiffeur Le Prince cuts my hair once a week; it’s a very old-style barber shop in Geneva and I don’t have much hair, but he cuts it so it looks like I have more. I have a manicure and pedicure every week, too, with Laure, who comes to the house. Cabinet d’Ostéopathie Philippe Lamy, Rue Gustave Revilliod 3, 1227 Les Acacias, Geneva (+4122-301 6423). Coiffeur Le Prince, Rue du Prince 10, 1204 Geneva (+4122-311 4250). Laure Garsault, +4179-615 8799.

The last music I downloaded was The Magic Flute by Mozart, because it’s an opera that makes me feel strong and gives me energy. 

If I didn’t live in Geneva, the city I would live in is Madrid without hesitation, for its history, grandeur and elegance. A stay in Madrid always consists of a visit to the Prado permanent collection to see the works of Diego Velázquez; the Ritz terrace for an aperitif of my favourite sherry, Tio Pepe; and dinner at Casa Lucio, which is like a tavern with hearty family-style food where you could find yourself next to a table of toreadors or the King of Spain. Then I’ll go to San Ginés for the best churros con chocolate and on to the food markets – most go to San Miguel, but I prefer San Antón or Antón Martin. Casa Lucio, Cava Baja 35, 28005 (+34913-653 252; casalucio.es). Chocolatería San Ginés, Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, 28013 (+34913-656 546; chocolateriasangines.com). Hotel Ritz Madrid, Plaza de la Lealtad 5, 28014 (+34917-016 767; mandarinoriental.com). Museo Nacional del Prado, Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 28014 (+34913-302 800; museodelprado.es). San Antón Market, Calle de Augusto Figueroa 23, 28004 (+34913-300 730; mercadosananton.com)

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a gardener or landscape designer for the beauty of working with flowers.