Season 8 • Episode 18: Perfume Shopping in Paris!
Can you imagine a whole day dedicated to wandering the streets of Paris and smelling their scented wares? Utter olfactory heaven, right?! Well, recently Suzy had a morning and afternoon to do just this, and in this week’s episode, she and Nicola retrace her steps and recall the gorgeous and inspiring Parisian boutiques she managed to visit, reviewing each of the fragrances sniffed and recounting the scent memories and moods they evoke….
Update [We recorded this episode well before the recent unrest in Paris. Our thoughts are with the shopkeepers, staff and communities affected. It’s heartbreaking to see damage to businesses and historic buildings in a city we love, and we hope our celebration of its perfumeries is heard in that spirit of affection and support.]
As you listen to this episode, we urge you ro look up the boutiques and perfumes mentioned, so that you can plan your own perfumed trip to Paris. Quite apart from the shops and scents Suzy got to experience, Nicola also adds some personal recommendations of places to stop and watch the world go by and have a spot of lunch - should you be so inclined to follow the perfumed path Suzy took, and which Nicola so fondly remembers during her time of living in Paris.
So: from exclusive Parisian perfumes not sold anywhere else, to newly launched scents, and the unique architecture and aesthetics that make these houses so worth your time - why not settle down with a (good) coffee and fresh croissant, and indulge in this Parisian fragrant fantasy of an afternoon with On The Scent podcast…
Boutiques Suzy visited during a morning and afternoon in Paris…
314 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
Designed by founder Thibaud Crivelli alongside Myriam Akl, the space functions as an "agora of perfume" combining personal objects collected ted from his travels, a stunning woven ceiling in the consultation room upstairs, signature terracotta tones, burnt wood curved benches, sculptural totems, and a series of interactive exploration boxes for visitors.
326 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Designed like a contemporary art gallery combining architecture, lighting, and modern design. The Osmologue is an exclusive in-store technology system that lets visitors personalise and tailor signature fragrances to their individual preferences.
Paris exclusives:
Timeless Lovers
‘An exclusive fragrance created for the Galeries Lafayette, as an ode to Paris, it embodies the city's universal elegance and its romantic spirit.
Paris, the cradle of passion, proudly displays a flaming red color, reminding the typical red lipstick Parisian women wear. The fragrance opens with a spicy Pink Pepper top, then in the heart Cedarwood gently compliments a sensual yet sophisticated floral heart of Rose.
Eventually, Leather & Amber notes with Agarwood bring depth and power to this Parisian love story.’
Paname Palace by Ex Nihilo ‘…is a fresh, fruity unisex fragrance released in 2022. The composition opens with a bright and slightly spicy accord of bergamot, cinnamon, and pink pepper, leading into a heart where creamy fig is paired with rose and ylang-ylang. The base blends cedarwood, tonka bean, and vetiver, giving the scent a woody, softly sweet, and earthy drydown. This fragrance is available exclusively in the brand's Paris store.’
312 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
Velvet Tonka Extrait
‘Almondy and vanilla-infused, Velvet Tonka is an oriental gourmand creation dusted with icing sugar, built around tonka bean, almond and orange blossom.
Velvet Tonka celebrates the tonka bean, between powdery softness and woody facets, like an oriental indulgence dusted with powdered sugar. Paired with almond and orange blossom, which lend it a luminous facet, it unfolds in a vanilla and honeyed accord, wrapped in amyris wood and tobacco. An addictive, velvety and translucent trail.’
"The scent of tonka bean has always been reminiscent of Proust's madeleines for me. Brazilian tonka bean enriches the perfumer's palette and creations with its warm and sensual almond notes. I am particularly fond of its balmy character and its milky hay aspect, which makes it incredibly addictive."‘ Perfumer Alexandra Carlin
310 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Lumiére d’Automne
‘Inspired by autumn in Paris, where golden light dances across Haussmann façades and trees are dressed in amber hues. This gourmand fragrance unfolds around a roasted chestnut accord,creamy and addictive, blending into a comforting trail of vanilla and sandalwood.’
‘The fragrance opens with notes of angelica, carrot seeds and ambrette, bringing a musky, aromatic breath. At its heart, roasted chestnut reveals a creamy, delicately smoky sweetness, evoking the melting flesh of a chestnut still warm from the fire. In the base, vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood come together to create a warm, enveloping atmosphere. An authentic olfactory stroll, celebrating the understated elegance and beauty of Parisian light in autumn.’
"I wanted to capture the golden light of autumn in Paris and the comforting gourmand emotion of roasted chestnuts, memories that are inseparable from this season."‘
Yann Vasnier – Givaudan
205 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Created in collaboration with French designer Dorothée Meilichzon, blending Italian craftsmanship with a Parisian aesthetic. It features signature architectural arches, high-gloss yellow lacquer accents, marmorino walls, and wooden totems shaped like the iconic Colonia perfume bottle. Features an intimate consultation space at the back of the boutique highlighting the Maison's history and iconic collections.
306 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
‘The new 46-square-meter space reflects the brand’s philosophy. Designed by Swedish architects Halleroed, the boutique features limestone, wood, bronze, and handblown blue glass. Therefore, the space feels both refined and rooted in craftsmanship.Inside, visitors find two distinct areas. One displays the full fragrance collection. The other offers a sensory journey through raw ingredients. Because these materials change with the seasons, each visit feels new.’
207 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
‘Founded in 1926 in Grasse, France, Fragonard is a family-run perfumery known for classic floral compositions and distinctive golden aluminum estagnon bottles. A stone's throw from the Jardin des Tuileries and the Place Vendôme, the Saint-Honoré boutique offers in a magnificent setting all the Fragonard ranges: perfumery, cosmetics, fashion, accessories and decorative objects.’
L'Oranger
This is a special anniversary fragrance centered around its signature orange blossom heritage. Created by perfumer Daniela Andrier, it features a bright bouquet of bergamot, Italian green mandarin, and lemon petitgrain at the top, a heart of orange blossom absolute blended with lavender and French cypress, and a soft base of white musks and blond woods.
Orange blossom has been Fragonard's signature scent since 2004, and the brand also celebrated the 2026 centenary with a special heart-shaped, orange-blossom-scented stamp issued by La Poste
356 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
‘Scent creations are stored in a temperature-controlled, UV-protected cellar designed similarly to a fine wine cellar (grand crus) to preserve the integrity of the perfumes. • Visitors can customize iconic bee bottles and flacons by selecting bottle colors, custom text engraving, neck threads, ribbons, and packaging. These custom designs are recorded in a serial-numbered logbook, and the bee bottles can be permanently refilled.’
7 Rue Duphot, 75001 Paris
‘Located in one of the French capital's most prestigious areas, halfway between a boutique and a cultural centre, you'll find iconic Diptyque creations and a range of artistic and cultural experiences, all in an architectural setting reminiscent of a Parisian aesthete's apartment. Designed like a 400m² Parisian aesthete's apartment featuring rooms such as a library, garden, home fragrance salon, bathing salon, and museum/exhibition spaces. Iconic and exclusive Diptyque creations, perfume refills, personalised engraving, gift boxes, recycling services, and rotating artistic or cultural events. Enjoy an exclusive personalised service in Le Salon Privé, where you can turn your inspiration into reality and create an extraordinary made-to-measure extra-large candle. 200 possible combinations of scents and finishes for a singular and precious creation.’
45 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris, France (in the Le Marais district)
A 19th-century-style apothecary counter paired with a revival of the historic Grand Café Tortoni, blending fine fragrances with a classic Parisian café experience.
Menu Highlights: Artisanal espresso, homemade hot chocolate, tea, flavored sodas, and French pastries like Tonka bean madeleines and double-raspberry tartlets.
Service Options: Features an indoor marble counter and a traditional street-side service window (à la fenêtre)
Nicola’s recommendations of places for a lunch break during a ‘sniffari’ in Paris:
Nicola says: ‘It’s Rue st Dominique for the cafes and where I used to live Le Jardin de Mademoiselle 69 rue st Dominique is very quirky and cute. And the market is on Rue Cler. Both are located in the 7th arr!’
Which of these would you like to visit, we wonder? Are you curious to try any of the exclusives? And where else would you visit…?
Also; Don’t forget to look at Nicola & Alice du Parcq’s Parisian pharmacy must-haves saved on their Instagram highlights - @outspokenbeautynicola & @aliceduparcq respectively.
And finally: the quirky little independent parfumerie Suzy was trying to remember the name of (and didn’t have time to visit on the one day she had in Paris this time) is called Marie Antoinette (how could she forget?!) It’s a delightful bunch perfumery with many differing brands to explore. Located in Le Marais at 5 Rue d'Ormesson, 75004 Paris.
And you can explore online, here: marieantoinetteparis.fr
5 Rue d'Ormesson, 75004 Paris, France
Want to get in touch with feedback or prescription questions for Suzy & Nicola? Message via a DM @onthescentpodcast and they’ll try to get back to you or answer on the show!
