Beauty entrepreneur Nicky Kinnaird recently expanded her chain of Space NK Apothecary shops to the United States, including two locations in Manhattan. The jaded New York shopper might initially ask herself or himself whether this city really needs another venue for luxury toiletries; however, a visit to Space NK’s airy SoHo flagship boutique suggests that this company has found a niche of its own.

In addition to a small but smartly edited selection of fragrances and home fragrance, Space NK showcases high-quality, hard-to-find lines of skincare (Leaf & Rusher, Eve Lom, and Sheerino’Kho, plus many others), haircare (including Arrojo and Christophe Robin), and cosmetics (such as Lipstick Queen by Poppy King). Space NK’s store brand of fragrances and body products, which includes scents for both women and men, is also particularly appealing.

The interior of Space NK is smoothly designed, with blond-wood flooring, cream-colored walls, and white fixtures, all the better to let the merchandise stand out. The products are impeccably arranged, with shelf signage listing their brand descriptions, fragrance notes, and prices. Yet the mood never becomes too clinical, thanks to light-hearted details such as 1960s French pop music playing in the background and tabletop arrangements of white stargazer lilies in chemistry-lab flasks. The sales staff is well versed in the boutique’s merchandise, and the atmosphere is pleasant and low-pressure. If you have any favorites among Space NK’s product lines, or you’re in the mood to explore something new, this is a worthwhile downtown alternative to many of the city’s crowded department stores.

Fragrance brands: Acqua di Parma, Agent Provocateur, Aromatherapy Associates, Art of Shaving, Caudalíe, Chantecaille, Diptyque, Laura Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Not to be missed: Stylish purse-size atomizers of Agent Provocateur fragrances and boxed gift sets of Space NK’s own toiletries and fragrances.

Details: Space NK Apothecary, 99 Greene Street (between Prince and Spring Sts.), New York, NY 10012; 212-941-4230; website.

Nearby: Anna Sui (113 Greene St.), Jill Stuart (100 Greene St.), La Perla (93 Greene St.), MAC (113 Spring St.), Molton Brown (128 Spring St.)

— report and first image filed by Jessica M, second image courtesy of Space NK and MediaCraft.

See also: Perfume Stores in New York City