Portland, OR

I was in Portland visiting family for the holiday weekend, and paid my first visit to The Perfume House. It is very special, indeed. I was there for almost two hours, but could have stayed for four. The selection is fantastic and the people who helped me are delightful and welcoming. If I lived in this city, I don't think I'd ever go back to a department store perfume counter.

The Perfume House really is amazing. The selection is fantastic, and the people who work there are wonderful. The woman who helped me last week spent nearly an hour dashing between the counter and the storage room, fetching two or three testers whenever I mentioned a new scent. Not once was she the least bit pushy or impatient. Once I find my holy grail, this is definitely the place where I'll buy it!

Best place ever!

I haven't been to the Perfume house yet (though I used to live right next to it!). I'm a perfume newbie so I'm still a little intimidated.

Today I had a fantastic experience at the JC Penny Sephora at Washington Square! I've been there a couple times before and was helped by the same lady who was nice but sort of had that typical department store vibe, which makes me a bit nervous. This time there were two incredibly nice people and it was the best experience I've had in a perfume store yet! They were really helpful and made me feel very comfortable. They offered me a ton of samples and taught me a lot about the different perfumes. It's too bad I don't think they work on commission because if ever anyone deserved it I think it's them. I'll probably ask if they have comment cards or something next time.

When I go to Portland sniffing I cannot always go to the wonderful Perfume House since it's out of the way. But I make it my birthday destination and it was wonderful! Selection and people, both absolutely fabulous, not to be missed!

But when there's no time for that, a Pioneer street mall is a nice place too. I had great fun and luck trying things out in the L'Occitane boutique located there and the Saks 5th Avenue there is also very nice.

Friday's schedule has a rather large hole in it and it is very likely a trip to the Perfume House is going to be what fills that hole. After living in PDX for 22 years, I just discovered the store even existed only a couple weeks ago. That and Fred's Sound of Music need a visit.

The Perfume House is just that : a house in the Hawthorne district which has been converted into a store that sells nothing but perfume.

I'm a bit of a newbie, but know enough to tell that they carry just about anything you might hope to see: they are basically floor to ceiling with juice in 4-5 rooms. The full line of Amouage ( the president of the company was due to stop by the day we were there ! ) and the complete lines of many other high-end brands. They've been at this location for over 30 years, and it's hard to imagine another shop with as many things as they carry.

And... the folks there are as nice as they can be. Plus they were kind enough ( after my sister asked if they had a sample we might take home ) to send each of us out with a big Amouage spray sample.

( I must admit that I did mentioned the magic word "Basenotes" and that may have gained us some extra traction. )

Folks come from far and wide to visit, so a place not to be missed in while in Portland. If you find yourself in downtown, simply head east over the river on the Hawthorne Bridge and you'll find it at 33rd and Hawthorne, right in the heart of the very coolest section of the east side of town.

Nordstrom's downtown carries Bond and a decent selection. Very helpful too.

Perfume House has an amazing selection and is very helpful on the first visit but be warned, if you don't buy anything (they were out of the two scents I wanted) they become very surly future visits. A great place to go once but bring your wallet and make sure to buy something.

The first time I went in I smelled about 6 different fragrances and they were very helpful and gave me a tiny sample of Black Oud. The second time I went in and asked if they could educate me on oud, something I was completely unfamiliar with and they were not nearly as helpful simply telling me if I smelled a couple of fragrances with oud I would know what it was. The third time I went in and asked how much the Montale perfumes cost (I was ready to buy) and just getting a price was like pulling teeth. After the third question I was finally told that Black Aoud was $200 but they were out. I asked about Ambre Sultan and they were out of that too. Then I asked about Yatagan and guess what, they were out of that too. So, the three fragrances I wanted were out of stock and instead of offering when they might be back in stock they simply asked me "what are you going to buy?" I walked out and may never go back regardless of their amazing selection of hard to find fragrances.

I immediately went home and ordered Black Aoud from Montale in Paris with extra concentration for about $130 and Ambre Sultan from an on-line retailer that had a lower regular price and a 15% off coupon, total cost of about $85. So they lost my sale that would have been $320 and may have lost a customer forever, and I got the same fragrances for $215. I am glad to have the same items and very happy to have an extra $105 in my pocket.

Update:
I have not been in this store since August last year. I decided to go in again last week because I was looking to buy Knize Ten which I remember they had on my last visit. I walked in and asked specifically for this and here is how the conversation went...

"I'm looking for Knize Ten."
"We don't have it."
"You used to carry this."
"We still do but we are out of stock right now."
"When do you expect to get it in again?"
"I don't know..."
"Can you check?"
"No. It comes from Canada or Mexico or someplace, I'm not sure. It's on order."
"Can you put me on the list and give me a call when it comes in?"
"No. You won't get it...there are too many people on the waiting list already."

Okay, I'm impressed! Somebody else knows about Fred's Sound of Music!!! <hehehehehehe>

Had a very interesting experience at The Perfume House today.

I stopped in to show one of the SA's who's a friend of mine some of the peonies which I hybridize, and afterwards I stayed to do some sniffing around. It was quiet : just myself and a couple of scruffy and somewhat unlikely looking fellows, both of whom looked like they could use a shave, and who were just basically sniffing around like I was.

I looked at the one fellow once....then I looked at him again, and damned if it was not Andy Taure, along with Brian Pera, the fellow he's been collaborating on those movies with. They were not there to promote their line (the PH does not sell Andy's stuff..yet) but appeared to basically be tourists in town who had stopped by to chat with the SA's and check the place out.

We talked about my peonies, and movies, and a bunch of other stuff, and basically I got to hang out with the two of them and sniff perfume for an hour or so.

It made my day, if not my month, I must admit.

I had no idea this place existed, and I live right next to downtown Portland! I'll definitely have to go, but Akahina's post has concerned me a tad. I always order online, as I am a student and don't have much money, so I always try to stretch my dollar as much as possible. I would love to go in to the Perfume House to sniff often, but I don't think I'll ever buy from a perfumery in person... I suppose the Perfume House might only be worth a few visits before they tire of me.

Yep, The Perfume House now carries Andy Tauer's things.

One of only four locations in the US as I understand, the other three being in either NYC or Beverly Hills.

Blackbird is now closed. Too bad because I bought two bottles from them and went back to get a third only to find their store empty. In a terrible location in a great area so they failed.

Live near the Perfume House, currently. That's obviously the best place, with an in house "nose" who can tell stories for months.

If you like natural and occult scents, I recommend Moodshadows on Belmont, about a ten block walk from the Perfume House on Belmont and 38th. Nice people. Classic Portland shop.

Someone mentioned Escentials, which is always great. That's where I got my start in perfumery and interest in it.

The new age bookstore New Renaissance is pretty good for essential oils, just to know it's there. I would add to that several of the natural food markets, such as whole foods or New Seasons, just to keep them in mind.

Last but not least Liberty Natural products is in Portland, and one of the best essential oils suppliers in the world (they supply the aforementioned Escentials shops, for example). You must purchase at least $50.00 at a time, and be willing to pick up at a warehouse, as it's a wholesale distrubutor. But who cares?