There was a time when the world’s best known and most popular fragrances came from one of either two sources: an established fragrance house like Guerlain or Penhaligon’s, or a reputable fashion label like Dior, Chanel or (Yves) Saint Laurent. But, in a similar way to digital TV splintering the monopoly of television’s main terrestrial channels, the proliferation of small boutique brands – and the growth of the niche fragrance sector overall – has in recent years radically changed the face of fragrance.

Men’s desire to express their individuality through harder-to-find, premium scents from less obvious progenitors has seen everyone from shoe designers to Michelin-starred chefs like Jason Atherton release fragrances. (And no, it’s not eau de filet mignon.)

Few, though, do diversification into scents as well as luxury car brands. These days, in fact, a decent bottle of fragrance is just as likely to come from a car manufacturer as it is from Carven – something that doesn’t surprise fragrance aficionado Nick Gilbert of Nick Gilbert Fragrance Expertise. “High-end cars, much like fashion brands, carry a high level of cachet and are entirely aspirational products,” he says.

“There’s instant brand-awareness and this makes them the perfect brands to expand into other categories of products – as long as those products retain the perception of quality.”

(Related: See the most stylish things made by car brands that aren’t cars)

For Bentley – an auto brand that’s truly embraced fragrance – this kind of brand extension was a no-brainer. “Extending the spirit of Bentley into the world of fragrances seemed an obvious choice,” says Karin Schilcher, Director of Licensing and Branded Goods Bentley Motors Ltd. “We are a powerful contemporary brand with a history in, and reputation for, luxury and performance, and fragrance provides a rich seam of inspiration for us to explore.”