If they ever had a contest for the smallest retail perfume space in the world, the Parfums de Nicolaï shop in London would surely be a hot contender.
Barely six feet by twenty, the shop is tucked into a corner on the plush end of Fulham Road. There’s no time for spacy minimalism here — every spare inch of the space is packed with goods. It’s like a treasure cave.
The main window display holds glass shelves of fancy perfume bottles, while the inside walls are crammed with personal fragrances, room sprays, candles, scented oils, soaps and toiletries and large bottles of lampe perfumeur liquid.
If you take your partner with you to shop, it might be best if he/she went for a coffee — there really isn’t space for two customers and a sales assistant!
Best sellers: Number One, Maharani Intense, New York.
Getting there: 101A Fulham Road, London SW3 6RH. Tel: 020-7581-0922. Tube: South Kensington
Leave the tube station by the exit that ISN’T the one with the tunnel to the museums. You emerge into a sweet little arcade; turn left onto Pelham Street and keep walking. At the crossroads with Fulham Road (Chanel shop on the left), cross diagonally to the right and walk along the opposite side of the Fulham Road. The Parfums de Nicolaï kiosk is just past Jigsaw and the tiny newsagents shop.
Nearby: There are lots of designer shops on this part of the Fulham Road — Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Theo Fennell to name a few. Also, don’t miss Bibendum in the old Michelin building (near the crossroads, see image at right) — it’s Grade II listed* and very fetching (also there’s a downstairs café, where a partner might be left with a latte for fifteen minutes or so…)
— images & report filed by Nina.
See also: Perfume Shopping in London
* This is a government classification meaning that the building is of historical/architectural interest and can’t be knocked down or altered much.