A short film by Fat Belly Traveller about Hové Parfumeur in New Orleans.
The "Tea Olive" tree (and fragrance) she is talking about, by the way, is a variety of osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) also known as sweet olive.
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Looks like a fun place to browse. I love New Orleans; my husband and I have had some memorable times there. We haven't been yet, post Katrina, but when we do get back to the French Quarter I plan to look up these perfume shops that I've read about online. Thanks for the clip.
I love it there too! Never went to either Hove or Bourbon French, but have tried a few of the scents. Tea Olive is pretty — very sweet, but pretty.
I wish I could say more positive things about Hové. I love their fragrance Mirage, which smells like almonds and leather. I *think* it's made with the essences of almonds and leather, but I could be wrong; you see, I couldn't get them to give me the notes in any of their perfumes. They treated me very suspiciously, as though I were a spy for the fragrance industry hoping to steal their secrets. It was maddening. I was excited about the perfumes and wanted to see if I could correctly identify the notes, and they would neither confirm nor deny anything I said. When I asked them about the mechanics of the shop (e.g., “Do you make the perfumes here, on site?”) they were equally closed-mouthed. One of them spoke rudely to me and wouldn't make eye contact. I was nice the entire time; it didn't occur to me how rude they'd been until I'd left. I guess they don't get many knowledgeable customers, so they treat everyone with even a modest degree of knowledge as an interloper. Ah well… the last time I went was 5 or so years ago, so maybe they run things differently now. They need all the business they can get. I still love Mirage.
K, what a shame! I try to watch my mouth these days while shopping — even the slightest slip seems to make SAs think you're an industry spy — although you'd think industry spies would have better methods than hanging around perfume counters asking stupid questions, LOL…
In a small shop like that, it really does seem ridiculous.
R — I know! I'm sure this could be even more of a problem for you, because you have an industry insider's knowledge of current events in perfumery.
I left and immediately went to Bourbon French, where the CS was far friendlier. But I'd liked the scents at Hové much better; I just thought they were more interesting and complex. Those two perfume shops have been competing for some time. Hey, it just occurred to me–maybe they thought I was from Bourbon French. 🙂
Hey, but I don't know any “inside” information! Most of the questions that get me in trouble are simple things about when products will arrive in store — products that have already appeared in fashion magazines. SAs are very suspicious when you know more than they do, and it isn't hard to know more than they do.
If they really did think you were a spy from Bourbon French, that is too hysterical.
What a coincidence! I've been a lurker here for several years now and have gleaned so much great information. This post really caught my eye since I just returned from a long visit to my family in Louisiana. We visited the French Quarter a couple of times, and my mom and sister KNOW I have to visit Hove' and Bourbon French. I do prefer the Hove' fragrances, but I asked to walk through the compounding room at Bourbon on my recent visit and they were all too happy for me to wander through, looking at labels and opening things for me to sniff at leisure. I wanted to go back to Hove' and do the same, but we had to leave to bring a family member to the airport, c'est dommage. . .
Robin, I did take a couple of photos there with the intent to send them to you or post them here, what would be the best way to get them to you? There was a great tableau when we exited Hove' of four men sitting on the steps outside waiting for their woman companions to leave the perfume shop, but just as I composed the shot to photograph them, their woman friends came out too! It was so funny, as though the men couldn't contaminate their masculinity by entering the perfumery, when fully half the stock is mens' fragrances.
I was able to not only get some more Tea Olive, which reminds me of a favorite place, but some actual vetiver roots with which to scent my linen closet. I adore this scent, and was so happy to find the roots. The proprietress told me that they're grown right there in Louisiana, just for the store.
Jen
This is a lovely place and the people are lovely that run it. They are extremely friendly and inviting and open to all questions. (and always have been, to my knowledge.) I love the video. that is SO new orleans!
I cannot think of a better place on earth to live that right there in the French Quarter. And those Olive Trees (and the Magnolia trees), it really is a heady experience to be among them in full bloom.
I don't think that the treatment that was posted was at all typical. All you have to say in a situation like that, is that you are a true perfume lover. Maybe you caught a sales associate on a bad day. Or they really did think you were a spy. 🙂
Also, on this topic, I rarely have trouble acquiring samples or information, except in VERY small towns, where the Sales Associates are either unwelcoming to foreigners, or lose their confidence when they think I may know more. I am alway upfront about being a fragrance person, who studies it and writes about it and critics it and another products. I have been very fortunate in making friends (in the nice cities, mind you) and been the beneficiary of MANY (too many) samples to even get to sniff and try.
I really think it depends on where you go. And what kind of day you catch someone on, and how busy they are or are not, AND that you make purchases from them from time to time at FULL price. Their livelihood depends on it.
Okay 🙂 that is all I have to say about that.
Happy New Year, Robin 🙂
Hi Jen, how cool that they sell vetiver roots, I didn't know you could buy them that way. What a great idea for the linen closet.
I'd love to see your pictures — my email is nowsmellthis at comcast dot net.
I would love to live in the French Quarter, for a time at least. I would imagine that eventually the tourists would make you crazy 🙂
It is true that sometimes you just catch people on a bad day, or right after they had a difficult customer.
Best of everything in 2008 to you!
You, too, R 🙂 (I miss New Orleans, that was my home for 25 years)
Ah, then I'm sure you miss it! I was so interested to read somewhere or another that Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie like having a house there because people don't bother them in NO the way they do in other parts of the US.
I really like them, they seem like such nice people. And they will find peace there. Many famous people in the arts grew up there or end up there. I highly recommend it, and it is on the mend. Every year it gets better (as I understand it.)