A proper perfumier?

[Four125]

I have a very strong sense of smell which makes me fussy about perfumes, there are only a handful that I like.

Please can you recommend a perfumier?

Not The Perfume Shop or similar, but somewhere they blend fragrances and are able to make recommendations?

TIA

When you say 'blend fragrances', what do you mean?

Can't think of anywhere where they will do a custom blend for you. Done well, this would be extremely expensive. Le Labo blend each bottle for the client at point of purchase, although you cannot request a custom blend. They have a concession at Liberty and a store in Marylebone.

Les Scenteurs, again Marylebone area, are very good. Lots of different perfume houses and very knowledgeable. You can request samples, which helps.

Selfridges is very good for perfume, but you are limited in that the sales assistants are brand specific, so there is no one person who is able to advise across all brands, if you see what I mean. But they stock Chanel Les Exclusifs, and the full Hermes range including the Hermessence range, which Les Scenteurs don't. Liberty is also very good - Le Labo, Frederic Malle, Byredo, as well as a perfume room which has niche lines like CB I Hate Perfume (Christopher Brosius WILL do you a custom blend, but he is in New York, there is a long waiting list, and it costs thousands).

The Perfume Room on the 4th floor in Harrods is amazing with extremely knowledgeable staff. Very high end and very expensive lines though. I'm not sure whether Roja Dove at Harrods does custom blends. Again, will be hugely expensive.

I'm afraid I only know London, which might not be at all helpful to you. Les Scenteurs have an online service and you can purchase samples.

Thank you, that's helpful.
I'm not near London but I go there once every couple of months, so I could do that.

When I said blend I wasn't looking for my own unique fragrance!
I was meaning the sort of shop where the shop assistants know about the fragrances they sell and can suggest alternatives.
Not just a shop where they sell cling-wrapped perfumes and know nothing about them.

Ah! OK. .

L'Artisan Parfumeur has really nice perfumes, although they don't do 'blend your own' type perfumes, but they do have a really unique range where you might find something you like... Likewise Serge Lutens (although a bit more expensive, and L'AP is already reasonably dear). If you like lighter perfumes you might find something at Diptyque - and it's more readily available in the UK.

Also worth going to Ormonde Jayne (just off Sloane Square) and booking a Perfume Portrait. They guide you through the individual notes, and based on what you love/hate make suggestions from their line. Whether or not you find anything, it's certainly very interesting and helps you understand more about how notes work together and why particular scents either do or son,'t work for you.

If you were looking for a bespoke scent, Lyn Harris of Miller Harris could help you create your very own. You'd probably need long arms and deep pockets for the experience, but it would be pretty amazing!

Bloom over in Spitalfields are fabulous. Their staff are knowledgeable, patient and very helpful. They're quite happy to have a good chat over the phone, suggest fragrances and send samples to you. I really recommend them.

Not sure if you are anywhere near York. Burgins is great, very knowledgeable and have a good range

The Perfumer in the Cotswolds make bespoke perfumes and even hold workshops on how this is done.

Might be worth talking to them, I bet they're just as good but cheaper than any of the London based ones.

Angela Flanders is AMAZING.

This is all good advice.

I think maybe it's me too, even smells which should be long lasting don't last on me.

Today in my perfume quest I went to Boots. I tried Chanel no 5, Poison & another one, I forget what it was on my skin, they all smelt stale after a couple of hours.

So I went to L'Occitane, I tried two there, both were good at mid scent point but smell very sickly now.

I lurk on the perfume thread and I like to read it but I so rarely find something I do like that I can't follow their recommendations.

One perfume that does suit me is Aveda Purefume no 6, the same smell as Shampure.

But it's a bit samey and I'd like to try something else too.