[Our own Dr. Jessica] Murphy likened Printemps New York’s fragrance section to that of the since-closed Henri Bendel, which offered a sensorial escape from the busy New York streets on the second floor. But many Gen-Z and younger shoppers, who have largely driven the post-Covid fragrance boom, never experienced the department store heyday.“Department stores — the ones that still exist — are going to have to edit a little more tightly. They are going to have to have events, and they are going to have to distinguish themselves in ways that resonate with Generation Z and Xennial and millennial shoppers,” said Murphy.
— Read more in Can Printemps New York revitalize the department store perfume counter? at Glossy.
I went to Bendel’s fragrance department on one of my first-ever trips to New York and it was amazing, a series of rooms rather than one immense space. It all seemed thoughtfully curated — the usual department-store scents, sure, but also things that were harder to come by, that you were surprised to see, that maybe you’d never heard of. It’s where I bought the original coffret of 16 Etat Libre d’Orange minis — they wrapped the box up in Bendel ribbon and then cushioned it in tissue like it was a jewel, so fancy! If Printemps can duplicate that sort of magic in today’s retail environment, more power to them.
It was a lovely fragrance counter, as was Takashimaya NY. Sad they are both gone.
It really was.
Nothing was every going to duplicate the original “Street of Shops” experience at the first Bendel location (around the corner), but when the fragrance department in the Fifth Avenue store moved from the awkward corner at the back of the store up to that second floor, it was a golden moment. Classics like Caron…the complete L’Artisan Parfumeur collection…hard-to-find niche lines like Aqaba…even a few indie brands. I still miss it.
Robin, thanks for posting this! I do realize it’s ironic that I, a currently unemployed person who has never really worked retail, is issuing these dictates. But I do bring decades of NYC-based shopping experience and deep thinking about contemporary perfume consumption (and the longer history of perfumery) to the table. Anyway, everyone is a self-declared expert these days. 😉
But not every self-declared expert is articulate enough to support their opinions with a well reasoned argument.
And not use “iconic” for every other word. 🤪😡