Vogue Article on Haute Perfumeries

The December issue of US Vogue which provides a nice insight into the world of haute perfumeries. One of the stories is on La Maison Guerlain at 68, Champs-Élysées. From its stunning gold mosaic to the network of glass pipes called the Imperial Foutains, the article sparks one’s interest to visit and explore.

Do you have a favourite perfume boutique? One of my own favourites would undoubtedly be Iunx, an elegant venue selling Olivia Giacobetti’s fragrances, body care and home scents. Its black interior lit by soft opalescent light never fails to fascinate me.

Photo: Iunx boutique. 48-50 rue de l'Université, Paris 7e, tel: 33.1 45 44 50 14.

Comments

[Marcello]

Senteurs d'Ailleurs in Brussels, Belgium. I've only been there once, but all good things you hear about that place are true. It's a Temple of Haute Parfumerie.

[Prince Barry]

I have 4 'favourite' perfume boutiques....
Ormonde Jayne
Roja Dove's Haute Parfumerie
Les Senteurs
Scent-Systems

They are all in London.

Barry

[BoisdeJasmin]

Marcello, I really like Senteurs d'Ailleurs as well. It has a wonderful selection and a great decor.

[BoisdeJasmin]

Barry, I love Les Senteurs! Roja Dove's Haute Parfumerie was still not open when I lived in London, but it is on the list of places to see when I return. I have never heard of Scent-Systems, and I am making a note of it. Thanks for mentioning!

[Tania]

Make mine Aedes de Venustas. :)

[BoisdeJasmin]

Aedes is unrivaled!

[parislondres]

My favs are:

Serge Lutens at Palais Royal as the setting is in my favourite part of Paris.
I want to live there (in Palais Royal).
I do enjoy going to the Guerlain boutique on the Champs.
Caron on Faubourg St. Honore not Ave Montaigne.

Roja Dove's Haute Parfumerie

I adore Senteurs d'Ailleurs and Marcello describes this boutique so perfectly.

Also love the Santa Maria Novella perfumeries in Florence.

[BoisdeJasmin]

You are making me wish I took a trip to all of those places right now! :) Santa Maria Novella stunned me, because it was not at all like I expected it to be. It is really a monastery. I do not wear many of their fragrances, however I love the body care products, especially Pasta di Mandorlo hand cream.

Caron on Faubourg St. Honore is great, while Ave Montaigne never fails to have an indifferent service. I almost swore of buying Caron in Paris until I discovered the other boutique.

[mreenymo]

Hey, I live in LA! We don't have anything nearly as grand as they do in Paris or even NYC. The closest we come is the perfume counter at Barneys. :):)

Hugs!

[Katie]

I feel lucky in that Portland is a suprisingly nice place to seek out scents. My faves are, of course, The Perfume House, and Blush Beauty Bar, which is not a perfume shop alone, but it carries so many niche brands that I would otherwise not find here: Sage, i Profumi di Firenze, Rich Hippie, etc. And they carry the Lola brand of cosmetics, which I am utterly enamored of, so it is on my must shop list. And there's a rather industrial shabby salon called Ziva I think is neat. Their interior decor leaves something to be desired, but they have some peculiar finds there. All the Zents stuff, and the I Coloniali line was one I discovered while playing with their tester bottles.

[Nez Royal]

Hello! How could Vogue overlook the House of Creed during a visit to Paris haute perfumeries?

[BoisdeJasmin]

R, Barney's counter is great! When I lived in Chicago, it was my favourite place to visit.

[BoisdeJasmin]

Katie, I hear that The Perfume House is great, especially if you are looking for rare fragrances. You are lucky indeed to have such a nice array of options near you.

[BoisdeJasmin]

I am at loss to answer this, I am afraid.

[Prince Barry]

Here is the URL for scent systems. At least you can see what Hiram does.

http://www.scent-systems.com

Barry

[BoisdeJasmin]

Thank you for the link, Barry! I love the concept and the presentation (judging from the photos) seems very artistic. “I want it to be like a treasure box that people discover”--this is such a perfect mission statement!

[Miriam]

My favorites are the boites: Ormonde Jayne and JAR.

[BoisdeJasmin]

JAR boutique at Bergdorf simply does not have the feel of the Paris store. It cannot even compare.

[Prince Barry]

Yes, it is a fabulous mission statement and he certainly lives up to it. The last time that I was in the boutique was back in August. I was wanting to sniff one or two of the Aftelier scents. Well, nothing was too much trouble for Hiram. He dipped a spill into every Aftelier scent that he had and rested them on the edge of the shelf, he wouldn't let me touch them for 5 minutes until they had settled. The one that I fell in love with was the one that I was sure I would hate, Cepes and Tuberose.

Barry

[BoisdeJasmin]

That is a perfect perfume shopping experience! I feel the same way at Aedes and Caron in NYC, where I can browse at leisure.

I also liked Cepes and Tuberose the most out of the Aftelier range, even though I was positive that her Rose Maroc would sway me instead.

[kathy]

Hi, everyone, I'm new to this website. I'm trying to make a list of peoples' favorite upscale perfume boutiques in cities all over the United States. I'd appreciate any suggestions!