Perfume is a very personal choice. Discover a new favourite scent at these fragrance boutiques in Hong Kong
Beauty lovers in Hong Kong are spoiled for choice with lots of options to choose from, such as Korean beauty best bets, clean beauty favourites, and cruelty-free products for a kinder, more beautiful world. Feeling inspired by our fair city’s original name in Cantonese—香港 (heung gong), which literally means “fragrant harbour”—I went looking for Hong Kong’s best fragrance boutiques.
Scents and fragrances are thought-provoking. With one small whiff, a scent can unleash memories and feelings within us, which is why picking a fragrance is a personal experience. There’s no right and wrong; it’s like art but interpreted by the nose, not our eyes. I learned a lot from my conversations with some of Hong Kong’s fragrance experts, who are excellent at helping people understand the scents to which they feel drawn.
Fragrance boutiques in Hong Kong
1. Scented Niche
First up is Scented Niche, a bright and warm store that carries a range of independent brands that are exclusive in Hong Kong. Many of the brands they carry are from France, but they also carry fragrances from New York, Australia, Dubai and London. The knowledgeable staff can take you on an aromatic journey, sharing the different stories of inspiration from the creators of the scents. The perfume bottles themselves are worth a second look (literally) as works of art, many of which include handmade elements. Scented Niche also carries Trudon Candles, founded in 1643 to create candles for the royals of France (so some real history here).
Scented Niche has multiple locations in Hong Kong
2. Parfumerie Tresor
Parfumerie Tresor is another multi-brand experience, and an excellent place to discover unique perfumers and new-to-you brands. They aim to educate their customers and use a unique fragrance test, which was developed with a registered psychologist, to help you find your fragrance type. You can book the fragrance test workshop and the fee includes $200 towards a perfume of perfume products on the same day of the workshop.
Parfumerie Tresor has multiple locations in Hong Kong
3. Habibi Arabian Perfumes
Looking for something unusual? The cultures of India and the Middle East are known for scent, and we have communities from both regions here in Hong Kong. Which is how I found Habibi Arabian Perfumes, a small store filled from floor to ceiling with fragrances from the Middle East. Prices range from $150 to $1,200, so there’s something for everyone. Not only does Habibi Arabian Perfumes sell fragrances, home mists and sprays, but they also offer frankincense resin and Bakhoor (an Arabic incense). They have all different kinds of Arabian burners to burn the frankincense and incense; you can choose from manual coal style, electric, and gas—all of which are available in different shapes and sizes.
The owners were very hospitable and I tried a lot of different scents. Although they do have a few fresher-smelling fragrances, Habibi Arabian Perfumes is perfect for people that love a deeper, warmer scent.
Habibi Arabian Perfumes, Shop 72, 2/F, Mirador Mansion, 58 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, p.6061 1494
4. Officine Universelle Buly
Part of the LVMH luxury group, Officine Universelle Buly has history dating all the way back to the 1800’s. The brand was relaunched in 2014, and the Hong Kong store is one of nine locations around the world. Stepping inside the store is like stepping back in time, a must visit for real fragrance lovers. Like many of us, I am longing to travel again, so walking into the store in Central was like a visit to an old European beauty store. The historic original recipes for the fragrances have been given a facelift by the top French laboratories, and they’ve even created the world’s first water-based perfume. Experience and the art of gifting are a priority here, and the staff are trained in calligraphy and origata, the Japanese way of packaging.
Officine Universelle Buly, G/F, 20 Wyndham Street, Central Hong Kong
5. Kapok
Founded by Arnault Castel in 2006, Kapok is continuously bringing new brands from overseas to customers in Hong Kong. The store has many locations around Hong Kong, but the Wan Chai location in the Star Street area has a large beauty section. So I stopped by to take a good look around. The scent area is quite impressive, with perfumes, incense, and candles, and well stocked with brands like 19-69, Tobba, Astier De Villatte, Heeley and more.
Kapok, G/F 8 Sun street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
