perfume boutique

Lisbon's new perfume concept

Have you ever dreamt of creating your own unique perfume? Look no further, because there’s a new perfume concept in Lisbon and it’s all about you! OPAR is a cute little place where you’re invited to create your own bespoke fragrance. It might sound daunting, but trust me, it’s a lot of fun and not difficult at all.

First you’ll talk to the perfumer about what smells you like and don’t like. You could even mention other things, like foods, experiences, places – whatever you think is important in the creation of your scent. From there on, you’ll get to smell various ingredients/notes, and rate them from 1 to 5. A few of the notes that I smelled were: black truffle, tomato leaf, absinthe, rhubarb and clary sage.

The perfumer (in this case the lovely Marie, pictured above) will then select the notes you rated 4-5 and see if they all fit together, perhaps remove something or add something, and then start creating the fragrance. Drip, drop, you’ll see the different ingredients blend together in a glass container and once everything is mixed, you can try it on skin. 

If you’re not really into the first version, don’t worry! You can always increase the amount of some of the notes, and try it again, and that’s how it goes. I think I had 6 or 7 different versions before I was satisfied with my creation, and chose the final edition. But the possibilities are truly endless.

Once you’re happy, the perfumer will make a full 100 ml bottle of your fragrance, and put a label on it. You can choose the name yourself too! For my fragrance, which I aptly named “Pick Me Up”, I was really into the idea of doing something strong and boozy. Here are the notes I chose:

Top: Yuzu, Fig, Absinthe
Heart: Whisky, Virginia Tobacco, Rice, Black Tea, Coffee
Base: Light Patchouli, Suede, Guaiac, Vegan Castoreum

To visit OPAR, you should book an appointment using their online form, and be ready to set aside about 90 minutes for your visit.

As of June 2024, there is a second OPAR location, which you can find at the edge of Principe Real, close to Praça da Alegria. Here, the concept is basically the same, but focused more on group experiences. OPAR has also launched two novelty fragrances, Maresia and Veraneio, as well as matching candles. For the launch party, they served delicious non-alcoholic beverages from Awesome Beverage Co, paired with each fragrance.

Here are more details on the two new fragrances:

Maresia (inspired by the ocean drive towards Guincho)
Top: Sea foam, Bergamot, Spearmint
Heart: Eucalyptus, Solar Flowers, Incense, Elemi
Base: White Musk, Vetiver, Thyme, Sea Salt

Veraneio (repels mosquitoes and smells great!)
Top: Lime, Mint, Basil, Lemongrass
Heart: Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Rose
Base: White Woods

Cheering the opening of OPAR’s second location, together with my friend Uvika (@skintensely).

OPAR locations:
R. Garcia de Orta 71C lj11, 1200-678 Lisboa (Individual appointments)
R. da Alegria 41D, 1250-182 Lisboa (Group appointments + ready fragrances/candles)

Happy creating! And don’t forget to follow me (@scentrified) and OPAR on Instagram!

PS. Would you like to see your boutique/brand on the blog? Write me an email and let’s talk!

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Visiting Embassy Niche Perfumery

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Welcome to the first part in a series I’m calling Scentrified Interviews, where I will explore the stories, inspirations, and dreams of owners of perfume boutiques and brands, people who have truly dedicated their life to the pursuit of scentual excellence.

So let’s start by embarking on an olfactory journey with the passionate owner of a charming Portuguese perfume boutique. In this exclusive interview, I delve deep into the Lisbon boutique that has captivated the hearts and noses of Portuguese and international perfume lovers alike. Read on to discover the secrets behind curating a unique collection of perfumes and gain insights into the fascinating world of niche fragrances. 

“We want to democratize niche perfumery and showcase the best.”

Embassy Niche Perfumery opened its doors in December of 2016, just a few days before Christmas. And they started out small, with brands like Rania J, Stephane Humbert Lucas and Andy Tauer. They mainly stock “the niche of the niche”, as owner Ricardo Claudino calls it, and always aim to find brands with a specific DNA, and from many different countries. There are of course a couple of bigger brands too. 

“We don’t need to be on the biggest streets where everyone is walking, because not everyone is interested in niche perfumes to begin with.”

It won’t matter if you’re living in Lisbon, or if you’re just visiting. Embassy truly isn’t hard to find, located just a few steps away from the city’s most luxurious shopping street Avenida de Liberdade. Perhaps this is where you’ll find yourself when your traveling companion wants to visit a museum you don’t find all that interesting? 

“Our mission has always been to show Portugal what niche perfume can be. We don’t go for the biggest and most expensive brands, but try to have a good mix of brands that are sometimes harder to find.”

Niche perfumery in Portugal is still somewhat new, and has recently started growing. Ricardo mentions that they stocked the British brand BeauFort London in the beginning, but those fragrances were a little too complex and challenging for an audience that was just beginning to understand that there’s a world outside of what you’d find at at department store or in the duty free section of an airport. 

“But they’re ready for it now! I think BeauFort would work if we started stocking them again. The market has changed so much in the last couple of years.”

Curiosity for niche and indie perfumery in Portugal seems to have started in specific Facebook groups, and then grown from there. The covid pandemic also helped, as many started their scented journeys when they were stuck at home with nothing else to do. 

Ricardo himself started his career as a model, and frequently traveled to Milan, where he would discover the many varied perfume boutiques. He then worked with luxury brands and boutiques in Lisbon, where he gained deeper insights about the industry. 

Ricardo felt like there was a big opportunity to do something within the niche market when he opened Embassy. He explains that they like communication, and love getting to know their customers. “Without them, we are nothing. They are our boss!” he adds, with a smile.

“Without them, we are nothing.”

A typical Portuguese person interested in perfume wants big performance, projection, longevity. They like something that lasts, preferably all day long. Some people still seem to believe that perfume is a female interest, something to do with make-up and beauty, but Embassy can easily prove them wrong, as the majority of their clients are actually men. And most of them like sweet, fruity and gourmand scents. “Opulent stuff with lots of sillage”, says Ricardo.

And customers from all over the world seem to love Embassy. Not long ago they received an award from renowned Spanish magazine Beautyprof, proclaiming them as the best and finest international niche perfumery of 2023.

“It feels amazing that so many important people from the industry voted for us, it’s an indication we’re doing something right.” 

3 rapid fire questions with Ricardo Claudino:

  1. Favorite note(s) in a perfume?
    Tobacco, bergamot, nutmeg

  2. Best fragrance for summer in Lisbon?
    Torino21 by Xerjoff

  3. What’s a smell you can’t stand?
    Rhubarb and licorice

At the moment of writing, Embassy stocks almost 40 brands. Some of these include Ramon Monegal, Francesca Bianchi, Born to Stand Out, Clive Christian, Profumum Roma, Les Indémodables, and Baruti. For a full list, head over to their website. As of September, they are also offering a sample service, any 5 samples of 2ml each, for the low price of €30. 

The success has encouraged Ricardo to open another Embassy boutique, this time in the northern city of Porto. The brands offered there will vary slightly from what is currently offered in Lisbon. Ricardo also runs a Xerjoff Boutique next door from Embassy in Lisbon. This store offers exclusively Xerjoff perfumes, also worth a visit if you’re already heading to Embassy. 

Lisbon boutique: 
Rua Rodrigues Sampaio 112 C

Porto boutique:  (opening in december 2023)
Rua de Ceuta 17

Happy shopping! And don’t forget to follow me (@scentrified) and Embassy on Instagram!

PS. Would you like to see your boutique/brand on the blog? Write me an email and let’s talk!

Niche perfumes and traveling

When I travel, one of my favorite activities is searching for niche perfumeries and indie brands. These hidden gems can offer a unique olfactory experience, where artistry and craftsmanship come together to create captivating scents. From bustling cities to smaller towns, I love to embark on a sensory adventure, seeking out perfumeries that are both on high end streets and off the beaten path. Each boutique unveils a world of aromas, blending rare and exquisite ingredients to create perfumes that tell stories and evoke emotions.

The process of finding these niche perfumeries has become a cherished ritual, allowing me to discover the essence of a place through its fragrances. Whether it's stumbling upon a small family-run establishment or visiting a renowned perfumer's atelier, these encounters are enriching, connecting me to the local culture and leaving an indelible imprint on my travel memories. And so I’d like to start a new series of interviews/stories here on the blog, to share some of these experiences, specifically about niche perfumeries, ateliers and their owners.

First stop: Embassy Niche Perfumery in Lisbon! Full interview with owner Ricardo coming very soon.

We want to democratize niche perfumery and showcase the best of the best.

– Ricardo Claudino, Embassy Niche Perfumery

PS. Would you like to see your boutique on the blog? Write me an email and let’s talk!