• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

How to choose a fragrance: Parfumerie Nasreen

Posted by Angela on 19 June 2006 21 Comments

Dolce & Gabbana fragranceNasreen Rehmat’s tiny Parfumerie Nasreen in Seattle’s Alexis Hotel (“a jewel box,” her website calls it) is stacked floor to ceiling with perfume boxes and glittering display bottles. Nasreen’s specialty is being able to peg the perfect fragrance for a customer within minutes. For twenty years she has held court in her store, scenting the thousands of visitors who have sidled in and tucked their purses under their arms to avoid knocking a bottle off a nearby shelf.

I called Ms. Rehmat and told her that when I was in college she helped me pick a scent, Dolce & Gabanna, which I wore through my mid-20s. Her voice was animated, with a slight and elegant accent. “Ah!” she said, “You must be very naughty. You are like me. You can wear anything and pull it off.” I’m not sure that “naughty” is the first word people associate with me, but I like the idea.

She said that when she recommends a perfume, she looks at a person, at their clothes and “energy” and takes it from there. “A lawyer, for instance, who is very stuffy and subdued, I would pick something light to lift her up, something with peppermint or watermelon. Perhaps Spring Flowers by Creed, made for Audrey Hepburn, or 1872 for Women by Clive Christian. I wouldn’t choose anything heavy, like Shalimar or Amouage.” She added that someone who is “thin and quiet and mousy needs something soft and airy” to bring her out. Conversely, she said, someone like her, with a lot of energy and substance — she hinted that her size 6 days were behind her — can wear a rich scent, like Clive Christian’s X or Amouage Dia.

And age? “I would never wear something like Island Kiss by Escada — that’s for 16 or 17-year old girls. It is too fruity and juicy for a woman.” Occasions? Fleurissimo for weddings, she says firmly. How about hair color? “Well, of course, redheads are wild…” That would explain the Dolce & Gabanna, I think as I pat my auburn tresses. More information about Parfumerie Nasreen can be found on their website.

Note: image via CouleurParfum.

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: parfumerie nasreen, seattle

Advertisement


21 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 11:18 am

    What a riot! If I am ever in Seattle I'll be sure to visit!

    Log in to Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 11:41 am

    Oh yes, it's definitely worth visiting. It's right near the Pike Place Market, too, where I worked in the info booth in college and a great place to visit.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 12:39 pm

    Ah…the stories I could tell about Nasreen!!!!!!!! Let me just add this Angela: if anyone entering her shop is aided by Nasreen herself…DO plan on buying a bottle of SOMEthing…she is a force to be reckoned with. I'd say Joan Crawford crossed with Donald Trump would be the type who could NOT be dominated by Nasreen. HA! K

    Log in to Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 12:44 pm

    Hilarious! I wish I could have taped my phone conversation with her and played it instead of writing up the interview. She gave me five compact minutes of time, but loaded chockfull of proclamations, funny asides, and almost cosmic commentary about “energy” and perfume. I loved it.

    Log in to Reply
  5. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 12:50 pm

    I visited Parfumerie Nasreen many years ago. Nasreen must have been away that day because the SA was very mellow. I must go again. I'm curious what she will recommend!

    Log in to Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 1:42 pm

    Yes, do go, it's fun. I find it a little scary to see what people will recommend for me, though. What if they pick something old lady-ish? Or just boring? Sometimes it's nice to live under your own delusions.

    Log in to Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 1:49 pm

    Gee, my DH and I went to Parfumerie Nasreen last month and were completely put off. She sprayed me a couple of scents which I hated and then ignored me to fawn on another customer. I certainly won't go back. I much prefer Essenza in Fremont!

    Log in to Reply
  8. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 2:09 pm

    That's too bad about your experience. I'm writing down Essenza, though, to try next time I'm in Seattle. What lines do they carry?

    Log in to Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 4:02 pm

    L'Artisan, Diptyque, Fresh, Santa Maria Novella, L'Occitane, Serge Lutens, Acca Kappa, Frank Los Angeles, Parfums DelRae, and a few others. They also do some makeup, jewelry and nightgowns/robes. I like them. :)

    Log in to Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 4:11 pm

    I'm there!

    Log in to Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 9:13 pm

    Both times I've been to Parfumerie Nasreen, the SA has been quite young and borderline clueless about fragrance, so I guess I missed out on the Nasreen experience. Nevertheless, I agree with Twibbet that when it comes to sniffing in Seattle, Essenza is where it's at. They also carry Carthusia, Miller et Bertaux, Cote Bastide, and Speziali Fiorentini.

    Log in to Reply
  12. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 9:19 pm

    Angela,

    what a great little vignette. I love this because I have heard about Nasreen for years but never had the pleasure of going to see her yet myself. Did she pick a new scent for you through this interview?

    Log in to Reply
  13. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 9:34 pm

    I definitely need to visit Essenza, thank you.

    Log in to Reply
  14. Anonymous says:
    19 June 2006 at 9:38 pm

    Thank you! Nasreen is an experience, although it's sounding like she's not always there. She didn't pick a scent for me, but she encouraged me to visit. I fear, though, that I won't live up to be the vixen she thinks I am.

    Log in to Reply
  15. Anonymous says:
    21 June 2006 at 6:03 pm

    ““I would never wear something like Island Kiss by Escada — that’s for 16 or 17-year old girls. It is too fruity and juicy for a woman.”” Hee! Aw, I love her. I do love that she intoned to you that you were “naughty.” What fun! I've never been there, but whenever I get a chance to head to Seattle her shop is definitely on my must-visit list. :)

    Log in to Reply
  16. Anonymous says:
    21 June 2006 at 6:49 pm

    The only drawback to being thought “naughty” is that if she sees me in person and recommends an uptight fragrance, I'll be so disappointed! Also, I still have a couple of bottle of Fath set aside for you…

    Log in to Reply
  17. Anonymous says:
    22 June 2006 at 10:42 pm

    There is a great little perfume boutique at Pier 55 on Alaskan Way in Seattle called BayPerfume You really should check it out

    Log in to Reply
  18. Anonymous says:
    6 January 2008 at 2:01 am

    i was looking for a fragrance that has been discontinued. the fragrance is made up of: gardenia, rose and jasmine., blended with patchouli, chamomile and orange flower.

    it was Giorgio Beverly Hills for Men.

    Is there a similar fragrance made now?

    Log in to Reply
  19. Anonymous says:
    6 January 2008 at 1:31 pm

    I haven't smelled Giorgio for Men, so I don't know what fragrances might be similar. But have you tried searching for it online? Often online discounters sell discontinued scents, and at a good price, too. Good luck!

    Log in to Reply
  20. Anonymous says:
    24 August 2008 at 1:48 am

    Nasreen is a riot! Love her! I visited her last week while in Seattle on vacation: she took one look at me and said, “You're so young and innocent! You need something light, something almost virginal.” Then she peered around at me and muttered, “It's nice to pretend, isn't it?”
    As it turned out, a lot of the “virginal” scents just weren't for me (I like funkier stuff), so she pegged me as someone who just doesn't like to do what she's told (which isn't far off the mark either). Instead, she helped me find frags with incense in them, which I like, and was lovely, gracious, and hilarious throughout the process.
    She isn't there a whole lot, I had to call to make sure she was in before I visited, but oh MAN is she worth a visit!

    Log in to Reply
  21. Anonymous says:
    24 August 2008 at 12:27 pm

    She's definitely the best part of the experience. I'm glad you got to meet her! I hope you found a couple of good perfumes, too.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

From NST at Twitter

  • "Eau de Animale: An ecosystem of scents from Zoologist Perfumes" (orion nature quarterly) https://t.co/wEguKm493W, 7 hours ago
  • "Coty Raises Profit Forecast on Resilient Demand, Price Hikes" (business of fashion) https://t.co/coHIajwCqI, 7 hours ago
  • "Revisiting the late Paco Rabanne’s journey from fashion spaceman to fragrance king" (prestige singapore) https://t.co/Rwb7YXLb1B,
  • "This Perfume Trend Is Dividing Opinion — But I’m Obsessed" (refinery29 on rose fragrances) https://t.co/4AruKSXnDw,
  • "The Biggest Fragrance Trends for 2023, According to Experts" (marieclaire) https://t.co/tVmxnyMEXX,

Browse by...

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022

Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

4 January ~ damage poll
4 February ~ winter reading poll

TBA April ~ swap meet

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2023 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.