The best perfume stores in NYC

Like the boudoir of a pre-revolutionary French courtesan with a bit of a perfume-hoarding habit, Aedes de Venustas is bedecked with a profusion of fresh-flowers scented candles ($100). Fragrance lovers Karl Bradl and Robert Gerstner opened their West Village shop—which name means “temple of beauty” in Latin—in 1995 as a way to bring over high-end European scents not available in the U.S. Having moved to the Lower East Side in 2018, they continue to stock more than 50 niche and haute lines, including Maître Parfumeur et Gantier and Thirdman. Want an expert opinion? The vibrant shop offers fragrance consultation by a dedicated perfume advisor.

Ben Gorham, the pro-basketball player turned perfumer behind these unisex perfumes, opened his Soho storefront in June. You might notice similarities between Byredo’s squat glass bottles and its first U.S. store—they’re equally minimal and frills-free. But it’s fragrances, like the gloriously musky Bal D’Afrique (a strong blend of bergamot, lemon and African marigold, $225 and up), will tantalize your nostrils and keep you coming back for more.

Founded in 1961 by interior designer Christiane Gautrot, painter Desmond Knox-Leet, and theater director and set designer Yves Coueslant, Diptyque produces wearable yet edgy scents created in the tradition of fine French perfume making. All are inspired by far-flung travels, including the cult-favorite L’Autre (100ml $175), which evokes Moroccan spice markets, and Olène (100ml $180), which captures the narcissus, wisteria, jasmine and honeysuckle of Venice.

Sandwiched between East Village bars for nearly three decades, this cozy fragrance shop is one you don’t want to pass by. More than 200 oils line the shelves and the option to customize your own scent (just call to make an appointment!) makes the perfect gift. If you’d rather revive an old favorite, the staff here can accommodate that, too: you come in with a discontinued designer fragrance, and the shop will try to match the scent for you. How cool is that?!

No brand has tapped into Americans’ love for clean, transparent scents better than English perfume label Jo Malone. Although the label famous for fragrances such as Lime Basil & Mandarin (30ml for $85, 100ml for $165) and Earl Grey and Cucumber (100ml for $165) has branched out a bit with its Cologne Intense collection, which includes darker scents such as Velvet Rose & Oud (50ml for $160, 100ml for $225) and Amber & Patchouli (100ml $225), even those manage to stay true to a signature lightness.

This Meatpacking District boutique is named after owner Kilian Hennessy (he’s also a descendant of the creator of the top-shelf cognac brand). And much like the ingredients in a great cocktail, all of the fragrances here are totally intoxicating. Apple Brandy on the Rocks (a yummy blend of bergamot, apple liqueur and cardamon, $255-$380) is a top-seller and for good reason—it’s inspired by the Big Apple. Ask the staff for a free sample and take it for a test drive.

Founded in 2007 by former chemical engineer Eddie Roschi and perfumer Fabrice Penot, who developed the Armani Privé and Acqua di Gio lines, Le Labo creates scents that are built around a primary ingredient using a blend of essential oils. Calling the Nolita store its “lab,” the brand boasts hand-mixed rather than factory-made perfumes: Each time a sale is made, a staffer takes the ingredients from an industrial-size refrigerator on the premises and decants and mixes the fragrance on the spot. The bottle is then stamped with the date for freshness (which remains optimal for a year) and the customer’s name.

Inspired by her great-grandfather Boris Dreiding, who founded Zurich’s Osswald Parfumerie in 1921, owner Tanja Dreiding Wallace decided to open a stateside location of the family-run business in August 2012. The operation has since moved from the original West Broadway space to Mulberry Street, but the recessed-wood shelves and brushed-copper tables still display those Swiss skin-care products from Valmont ($75–$440) and scents from luxury perfume brands such as Chabaud (100ml for $120-$280) and MDCI (75ml for $250-$375—many exclusive to the NYC boutique.