As some of you may be aware, about 4 years ago, I published a guide to my favourite perfumeries in London. Little did I know how successful that post would turn out to be. It enjoyed critical plaudits. It quickly became the most frequently-visited article on this site. And, most gratifyingly, it led to countless emails from and encounters with scentusiasts who said they found it invaluable during their wanderings around the capital. In order to keep up with a constantly shifting retail scene, I have updated it fairly regularly, but I've decided that the time has come for a more extensive revision. So I am now very pleased and excited to unveil the brand new London Perfume Shopping Guide, version 2.0.
The small print is essentially the same as it was last time. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the scent-selling outlets in London. Instead, it is a reflection of what I consider to be the finest aspects of the city's perfume shopping scene. If I've omitted any noteworthy spots, please let me know, and I'll consider incorporating them. To the best of my knowledge, all the information below is correct; I will continue to review and update it. Unless stated otherwise, the fragrances I mention as being stocked by certain shops may well be available in others. Please check opening times before you undertake any long journeys. Don’t try to cram all of the below into one day. If you'd like to visit every single shop listed, I’d suggest being kind to your nose and putting aside at least two days.
I've presented the shops in what you might call a vaguely geographic order, meandering from Knightsbridge in a twisty, turny, north-easterly direction (check out the Google map below). A few tips before you head off into the scented wilderness. Take an umbrella with you. Put on some comfortable, sensible shoes. Make sure you have access to a map of the city (either in the form of a paperback A-Z or an app on your phone). And grab a notebook and a pen for all those blotters you're likely to accumulate. Most importantly: enjoy the journey! Here we go...
