2nd February 2026
Scentmakers in Paris: Exploring the City’s Perfume Treasures
Paris has long been the heartbeat of fragrance, a city where history, artistry and innovation are crafted into olfactory art. Recently, our Scentmakers embarked on a perfume-filled tour of the beautiful city of Paris and it was nothing short of magical. From niche boutiques to grand department stores, every stop revealed something unique and every scent told a story.
Rue Saint-Honoré: The Perfume Mecca
We began our day at Rue Saint-Honoré, home to some of Paris’s most stylish fragrance houses. Maison Crivelli welcomed us with timeless classics, while Byredo impressed with minimalist, chic bottles and cult favourites like Gypsy Water. Fragonard brought the sun-soaked warmth of Mediterranean-inspired scents, Astier de Villatte charmed with poetic, storybook-like fragrances, and Aesop offered artful, aromatic blends that feel as much like home fragrances as personal perfumes. Along the way, we also discovered Diptyque, with its elegant, narrative-driven scents; L’Artisan Parfumeur, showcasing bold and unexpected compositions; BDK Parfums, whose contemporary fragrances captured moments of Parisian life; Nishane, with opulent and striking oriental creations; Ex Nihilo, offering avant-garde, modern Parisian luxury; Parfums de Maly’s delicate yet complex compositions; and Serge Lutens, renowned for its dramatic, story-rich olfactory artistry.
Here, we couldn’t help but notice a trend: bold, attention-grabbing notes of oud and cedar were everywhere, juxtaposed against the softer, more intimate “skin scents” that felt like skin scents 2.0 as the trend takes on a resurgence. The contrast between these daring and subtle olfactory experiences made wandering Rue Saint-Honoré an endlessly fascinating adventure.
As we moved from boutique to boutique, it also became clear that perfume brands are no longer limited to personal scents alone. Increasingly, brands were branching out into spin-off products, from elegantly packaged hand soaps and body care to, more unique laundry detergents and fabric conditioners. These products carried the same signature notes as the perfumes themselves, letting the fragrances linger in everyday life, extending the olfactory experience from skin to home. It was fascinating to see how scent could transform ordinary routines into something unexpectedly luxurious.
Nose Paris: A Conceptual Pause
A short walk brought us to Nose Paris, a concept store that takes the perfume experience to a new level. Here, the staff are able to guide customers through a personalised fragrance diagnosis, matching scents to mood and personality. We observed so many people delighting in being matched with their perfect fragrance, amongst the overwhelming number of options. It was immersive and highly creative, a reminder that perfume is not just about smelling good, but about telling your own story through scent.
Lunch & a Sweet Respite
We paused for lunch in the charming food halls of Galeries Lafayette , a perfect place to let our noses rest and our senses reset. The bustling cafés and bakeries added their own small, fragrant joys to the day from freshly baked bread and warm pastries, to the decadent yet delicate desserts and delicious gourmet treats.
Galeries Lafayette & Printemps
Post-lunch, we explored Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and Printemps Haussmann, department stores as ornate and theatrical as the fragrances they carry. The interior architecture was breathtaking, filled with glass domes, gilded details and luxurious displays creating a theatre of beauty. Here, the trends of bold, rich aromas and sweet, nostalgic fragrances was unmistakable: for example Dior’s Cuir Saddle which is a deep and rich leather in contrast to its new Dior Addict flankers which were fruity, candy sweet! Many launches we encountered leant heavily into nostalgia, each scent evoking elegance comfort and a touch of indulgence.
Alongside prominent brands such as Tom Ford and Christian Dior with their large-scale presences, a wealth of niche labels contributed to an almost dizzying breadth of options for customers in these perfumed palaces.
A Feast for the Senses: Visuals and Olfactory Play
Beyond the fragrances themselves, what struck us was the variety of visual and interactive ways each store invited us to experience scent. Some boutiques presented perfumes under elegant cloches, creating a sense of anticipation before revealing each note. Others had intricate contraptions and display mechanisms, where pressing a pump released the scent. We loved testing fragrances on blotters that temporarily revealed delicate images related to the story behind the perfume. Some stores offered scratch-and-sniff booklets, letting us explore multiple compositions in miniature, while elaborate, sculptural bottles themselves became works of art, telling their own tale even before the scent was applied. This interplay of sight, touch, and smell made each perfume encounter an immersive, almost theatrical experience.
Reflections on the Day
Our perfume journey unfolded through contrasts. Rich notes of oud, cedar and leather anchored many bold creations, balanced by skin-close scents that whispered rather than declared – definitely the emergence of ‘skin scents 2.0’. Fresh, garden-inspired fragrances with tomato, carrot, and herbal nuances brought a green vitality, while Mediterranean lemon and salty notes added sunlit brightness.
At Nose Paris, fragrance became deeply personal, while the grand department stores evoked nostalgia and spectacle, together shaping our impression of Paris as the enduring heart of perfumery.
As the day drew to a close, our senses were fully awakened and our memories delicately scented, an aromatic adventure destined to linger and inspire our Scentmakers.
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From ateliers to exhibitions, Paris revealed the many directions shaping modern perfumery. At Fragrance Oils, our Scentmakers are deeply attuned to these shifts, crafting fragrances that merge classic influence with a modern edge. Reach out to your Scentmaker in Sales to explore how we can support your brand with scents that resonate in today’s market.
