Drawing from her happy childhood and glamorous mother, LINDA RODIN has created a wonderfully evocative cosmetic line and is now enjoying the support of the Estée Lauder family.

YELENA DEYNEKO: How did your early life influence the person you are today?

LINDA RODIN: I grew up in a very artistic family outside of Manhattan. My mother was an interior designer, owned an antique shop and was very glamorous. She had a huge influence.

YD: What are the most important lessons you learned from your family?

LR: Honesty, punctuality and curiosity.

YD: Which of your products were created for yourself?

LR: Eight years ago I couldn’t find a wonderful face oil, so I created one in my bathroom by mixing together essential oils I loved and used for many years.

YD: How did you turn this very personal desire into a commercial venture?

LR: I began sharing my oil with colleagues and friends who loved and wanted it. It had a word-of-mouth, cult following. My nephew Nick convinced me to sell it and not give it away!

YD: You’ve said that you have your mother’s outgoing personality during work hours and your father’s hermetic nature otherwise. Is it that easy to switch?

LR: I don’t change my personality. We all have many facets. I’m just more lively and open during the day and more private and quiet at night; I need to recharge.

YD: You project a striking visual image. Did you “create” this image consciously or did it evolve?

LR: I was always a “denim girl” and quite simple in style. Of course my hair turned silver and I needed glasses. These aspects of my “style” evolved as a necessity over time, and I just embraced them.

YD: What are you most grateful for?

LR: My health and ability to work hard.

YD: Were there times when you had doubts about yourself?

LR: I never imposed any grand plan or goals or pressure on myself to do this or that. One step always informed the next.

YD: Has becoming a part of Estée Lauder changed the way you work?

LR: I am thrilled to be a part of a wonderful team and together we will continue making special Rodin products, while keeping my point of view and the highest-quality ingredients. I work the same totally “hands-on” way but I have more support.

YD: What’s essential to your feeling content?

LR: I always wanted to be calm, work hard and feel good. My secret weapon is plenty of sleep.

YD: Which sense is your strongest?

LR: Smell. Scent memory is evocative and provocative. The cornerstones of my products are jasmine and neroli oils; they intoxicate me. But my new perfume Rodin bis is a departure, an ode to my mother’s scent. She had a gorgeous and distinct scent – very 1950s.

YD: What are your most treasured possessions?

LR: Photographs of my family from the time I was an infant, my sister’s beautiful photography and my dog Winky!

YD: How did you and Winky meet?

LR: Winky found me; he ran over to me at a little pet shop in New Jersey. He is incredibly beautiful and intelligent – my soulmate with four legs. We take our morning walk to a café on my corner. Just going about town together is what we do.