The Different Company shop in Paris is in the Jewish quarter of the Marais district, on the same quiet road as the Miller et Bertaux boutique.

The shop sells the full range of The Different Company products — bottles, leather cases, etc. — but also carries other ranges that match the The Different Company aesthetic of beautiful presentation and packaging. At the time of my visit, the ‘guest’ line was Maison Calavas, which offers cosmetics in gorgeous palettes, many of them leather-clad in a similar way to the The Different Company's leather containers.

There are several ways to sample the scents. On one long shelf there are brandy glasses (see image above), each with a small pool of juice at the bottom. This allows you to get an intense hit of the scent, although obviously doesn’t tell you much about the drydown. Alternatively, there are scented cardboard cones into which you can plunge your nose.

It seems the Ellenas (perfumers Jean Claude and Celine, who created the brand's fragrances) don’t come to the shop often; Celine was there for the launch of Sublime Balkiss, but it’s not the place to visit in the hope of chancing on Jean Claude, alas.

Getting there: The Different Company, 10 rue Ferdinand Duval, 75004 Paris. Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 78 10 34.

Nearest Metro station: St. Paul (le Marais) on line 1.

Nearby: Further up the rue Ferdinand Duval is Miller et Bertaux.

You’re a short walk here from the River Seine; walk south and you’ll come out opposite Īle St. Louis and be able to see Notre Dame on the Īle de la Cité.

Don’t miss: Round the corner in rue du Roi de Sicile is an amazing antique shop selling stuffed birds and animals, including swans, parakeets and small rodents!

— images & report filed by Nina.