Galeries Lafayette and Niche and Luxury Perfumes

The perfume department at the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, located on the ground floor of the main store, is vast and comprehensive. Here we find global perfume hits, timeless classics, and the latest releases. However, hidden among the famous brands - and imperceptible to less trained noses - we also discover the so-called niche perfumes and special perfumes from major brands.

Niche perfumery as we know it today began in the late 1960s with the French brand Diptyque, followed by L'Artisan Parfumeur and perfumers like Annick Goutal and Serge Lutens.

Niche perfumes are artisanal and creative creations. In theory, they are free from market pressures, allowing for creative freedom and no cost concerns. The goal is to create a more interesting and provocative fragrance than the standardized offerings from major brands.

Some niche perfume brands sold at the Galeries Lafayette include:

Frédéric Malle: more than a perfumer, Frédéric is a 'perfume editor'. The fragrances of his brand were not created by him but by a series of other famous perfumers - such as Jean-Claude Ellena (Hermès, Bulgari, etc.) - who had complete freedom in the creation. Discreet luxury.Le Labo: a French brand founded in 2005 by two former employees of L'Oréal. They opened their first store in New York in 2006 and in Paris only in 2012. Their fragrance 'Santal 33' is a huge success. Cool luxury.By Kilian: a brand founded in 2007 by Kilian Henessy, grandson of the founder of the luxury group LVMH. Their perfumes carry a sophistication and old-world opulence. Traditional luxury.

Other niche perfume brands sold at Lafayette: Ex-Nihilo, Byredo, Diptyque.

It is well known that major fashion brands earn much more from their accessories and perfumes than from clothing. After all, almost everyone can buy a bottle of perfume.

Having one or several successful fragrances is the 'golden goose' of these brands. Such perfumes are created with basically two goals in mind: to please a broad audience and to sell well.

But some also launch collections that we can call 'niche': more conceptual, elaborate, expensive, and (almost) hard to find. The Lafayette sells some exclusively:

Chanel - Les Exclusifs de Chanel: a collection of perfumes made up of old forgotten fragrances from the maison - which have been updated - and new fragrances created from the universe of Coco Chanel.Prada - Les Olfactories: 10 fragrances whose concept is the collaging or olfactory juxtaposition within the same perfume, like, for example, masculine and feminine.Carolina Herrera - Herrera Confidential: 6 perfumes created from - and focusing on - noble ingredients such as rose, leather, and amber.

Not only do fashion brands rely on perfumes as a good source of income, but the major jewelry houses located at the luxurious Place Vendôme also invest in this trend and launch collections that are as hautes de gamme as their jewelry. At Lafayette you can find:

Cartier - Les Heures de Parfum: Cartier's most refined collection was developed by the brand's perfumer, Mathilde Laurente. There are 13 perfumes, one for each hour of the day, and a 13th called La Treizième Heure, in honor of the brand's store at number 13 rue de la Paix. Available only at Lafayette and at the Cartier store mentioned above.Boucheron - La Collection: the first maison de joaillerie to settle at Place Vendôme in 1893, Boucheron launched a collection, simply called The Collection, featuring 6 fragrances with an exotic spirit.Van Cleef & Arpels - Collection Extraordinaire: a collection of 7 luxury fragrances created by 7 perfumers who had free rein - and the best raw materials - to design within the theme 'the beauty of nature'.

1. Receive gifts with purchases over 50, 200, and 650 euros (download the vouchers below) and 10% discounts on cooking classes, wine tastings, and fashion shows, click here for all the details. Note: only one gift per person, per voucher, per day, per proof of tax-free shopping.

1 Galeries Lafayette tote bag with purchases over 50€

1 Galeries Lafayette coin purse with purchases over 200€

1 Rituals Beauty Box with 4 products + access to the Le Concierge lounge + appetizer with purchases over 650€

2. Get 10% off cooking classes, wine tastings, and fashion shows organized by the store using the code GLCONEXAO at the time of booking, click here to read our article that explains all the details.

cooking classes;wine tastings;macaron class;fashion shows.

The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is located in the heart of Paris, behind the Opéra Garnier. The address is 40 boulevard Haussmann.

The metro lines and their stations are:

line 7 and 9; station Chaussée d'Antin Lafayette - the closest;line 3, 7, and 9; station Opéra.

Official site in English: haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/

Galeries Lafayette Paris: 2023 benefits for Conexão Paris readersLafayette Gourmet and Maison: the gastronomic address of ParisWellness Galerie: the floor dedicated to wellness at Galeries LafayetteWine Tasting in Paris: How to Taste, Where, When, and DiscountsCooking Class in Paris: learn to make French dishesEvents and courses at Galeries Lafayette

GALERIES LAFAYETTE: Gifts with purchases over 50 euros made at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, click here for more information and to download the vouchers.

FRAGRANCE DE L'OPÉRA PERFUMERY: €10 off for every €150 spent at the Fragrance de l'Opéra - click here for all the information and to download the voucher.

CARRÉ OPÉRA PHARMACY: 10% off purchases made at Carré Opéra Pharmacy - click here for all the information and to download the voucher.

SAINT ANDRÉ DES ARTS HOTEL (charming 4-star hotel in Saint Germain): 10% off + 1 bottle of wine + breakfast - use the code paris-story.com when making your reservation on the hotel's site, click here to access.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: 5% off on your Travel Insurance using the code paris-story.com. Travel insurance is one of the documents that may be required upon your entry into Europe, click here to learn more.

TICKETS: 5% off on tickets, tours, and excursions sold on Tiqets using the code paris-story.com, click here to access the site.