Fragranted grandeur in Asia – La Maison Goutal flagship boutique, Hong Kong
For those who are French fragrance connoisseurs and collectors, the name Annick Goutal will certain ring a bell to you, given the beautiful fragrance legacy created by this remarkable and passionate late French lady perfumer, as well as the elegant and classic packaging that appeals to someone who loves French elegance and the perfume-marking know-how. For me, a bottle of their ‘L’ile au Thé’, which developed by the daughter of the lady perfumer - Ms. Camille Goutal, and, perfumer Ms Isabelle Doyen, this airy, greenery and refreshing fragrance has been one of my go-to option during the humid and hot summer days in Asia. Surprisingly, getting to receive the news that this luxury fragrance house is opening a luxurious and very first flagship boutique here in Hong Kong, of course, I am more than thrill to discover among with a selected group of prestigious guests in one of the recent pre-opening private viewing evening.
Located in heart of the shopping district, Causeway Bay, on Hong Kong Island, this new ‘La Maison Goutal’ flagship boutique looks like a modern little French palace, a little dreamland, or even an utopia for French fragrance connoisseurs and fans of this perfume house of course, to have a new splendid home to experience inside the beauty and artistry of the world of Goutal Paris. A spacious nearly 3,000 square feet flagship, designed by acclaimed Hong Kong-based architecture and interior studio via., the atmosphere is unspeakably grandiose and modern, warm and elegant illumination and in-store furniture, with array of thoughtful displayed fragrance table which enables guests to experience the fragrance by different groups of accord, precisely and approachable, even if one is not so certain about the choice they make, you can also have a sniff with the fragrance ceramic, which looks like a little piece of jewelry on the dressing table, before trying a splash on your own skin.
There are few things that are noteworthy when visiting this beautiful flagship boutique, one is, this is the first and the largest perfume boutique of Goutal Paris which outside France, consists of 2 floors (which the upper floor should be opened by next year); second thing is, the splendid floor-to-celing Perfume Organ which dominates this flagship boutique, which offers a breath-taking 360-degree of the house’s fragrance creation through the transparent cylinder-shape, multi-tiered displays, that almost feels like going into a fragrance museum yet in a very modern and sophisticated interpretation.
My personal favorite, is the exclusive and luxurious in-store lounge, The Sensory Lounge, which features an open U-shaped bar table with a polished marble countertop, with some minimalistic, modern-designed Robin-egg blue bar stools, and a cozy and alluring atmosphere, this lounge dedicates to the house’s exclusive Fragrance-wine Pairing Workshop, hosted by the perfume house’s French perfumer and sommelier, offering another kind of olfactory experience from the timeless elegance of Goutal Paris’ fragrances, in a more relaxing and indulging atmosphere.
Just facing the opposite side of the lounge, have a look closely with the artistic gallery wall, which the art on the wall was drawn by a French illustrator which exclusively for this luxurious Asia flagship, based on the story of each Goutal Paris’ fragrance, and interpreted them through 3 different stories in illustrations, and before you go with your shopping, don’t forget to pick a beautiful postcard along the postcard wall, which also only available exclusive in this Hong Kong boutique, each unique illustration was printed with a refined quality paper, combining the story from Paris to Hong Kong.
I just got my new bottle of ‘Un Matin d’Orage’ as a cocktail mix with my existing ‘L’ile au Thé’, what about your pick?
Goutal Paris Hong Kong flagship will open its door to public in 1st Oct 2019.
Add: Shop 20, G/F Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China
Image courtesy of Goutal Paris / Amorepacific Hong Kong
https://hk.goutalparis.com/zh