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In the past, shopping for a new cologne meant wading through department store kiosks with salespeople trying to sell you the latest “sport” iteration of an established classic. The groundwork for something different began bubbling 15 to 20 years ago with a surge in the prominence of niche fragrance houses, a stark departure from the mass-produced fumes that once dominated the market.
— Read more in The 9 Coolest Cologne Stores in N.Y.C. at Robb Report.
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A new feature of the shop is a discreet lounge where customers are invited to personalise their candles by choosing from around thirty imposing jars and eight candle scents. "The candle is then made in our workshops in France, and you have to wait about six weeks to receive it," explains Emanuela Bauriaud, pointing out that the prices of her "semi-measure" candles start from 500 euros.
[...] Another new feature of Maison Diptyque is a room dedicated entirely to workshops. The programme includes flower arranging, painting, potting, etc.
— Read more about Diptyque's new Paris and London stores in Discover Maison Diptyque, the brand's new concept store for scents and objects at Fashion Network.
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Indeed, the experience here is unlike anything you will likely find in a hectic department store. Take a seat in one of the plush private suites, refreshments in hand, and your concierge expert will bring a tray of personally selected options for you to spritz your way through – and keep spritzing until you find The One. There’s no obligation to buy, no nudge towards the checkout and crucially, no fragrance jargon.
— Liberty London has a new Fragrance Lounge. Read more in Inside Liberty’s perfume revolution at Harper's Bazaar UK.
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On his way out, there was a bottle of 2011 Dior Homme perfume. Ryan grabbed it and sniffed. “I was like, this is the best thing I’ve ever smelled!”
“That would be the point in my life that changed my entire life,” he said.
— Michael Ryan of San Francisco perfume store Ministry of Scent explains how he became interested in perfume. Read more in People We Meet: Michael Ryan from Ministry of Scent at Mission Local.
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Whether it was spritzing on perfumes in a department store or fantasizing about a more organized home in the seemingly endless aisles of Bed Bath & Beyond, shopping was once a far more pleasurable experience than it is today. It was both a social and languid activity, an opportunity to connect with a friend or explore our materialistic desires in contented solitude. Retail therapy, we called it.
Now going to the store, whether it’s a Macy’s in a suburban mall or the neighborhood CVS — basically, all but the most luxury of retailers — is a battle that leaves consumers feeling defeated.
— Read more in “Going shopping” is dead at Vox.