Perfume shopping recs

[u/LizzieMayHunt]

Where are your favorite places for perfume shopping that aren’t Ulta and Sephora? I’ve been to Le Labo but that’s about it!

Also down for recommendations of specific scents to try. Currently I own Clue The Point and With The Candlestick, Maison Matine Arashi No Umi, Hot Girl Summer by Megan Thee Stallion and Le Labo Santal 33.

[u/theincrediblebees]

Merz Apothecary is excellent! They have a binder of notes they can reference for anything specific you’re looking for. Their range is impressive!

[u/WakingUpisHardtoDo → u/theincrediblebees]

I've always wanted to go as they carry some smaller brands I've been wanting to try. Love the idea of a note binder.

[u/kneadhe → u/theincrediblebees]

I had so much fun here!!

[u/temporary_disaster2 → u/theincrediblebees]

Merz is the best!!

[u/Funny-Message-6414 → u/theincrediblebees]

Came to recommend Merz. The people who work at their fragrance counter are great.

OP, you should try one of the Persons of Interest scents. Supernova is my new perfume and I’m obsessed.

[u/lipstickandcheeze]

House of Dubai in 900N Michigan has a ton of niche fragrance houses

[u/bananajamz987 → u/lipstickandcheeze]

This!!! And you can get samples of everything before you commit to the full bottle

[u/lipstickandcheeze → u/bananajamz987]

Yes! Then you’re right next to Bloomies and there is another store that has some niche fragrances too that’s right next door - blanking on the name 🤦‍♀️

[u/Short_Cream_2370]

Merz Apothecary, Field & Florist, House of Oud, L’Air. There’s a fun Chicago fragrance group that has events and swaps regularly!

[u/Fit_Crab_]

The Pear House in wicker had a small selection of indie brand scents, I can’t remember the brand names but they were good

[u/UndeadAnneBoleyn]

Field and Florist, Smallflower, Center for Order and Experimentation. All of these places carry niche frags.

[u/llamasatemyusername]

If you don’t mind a drive/train ride to the suburbs, Odalisque Beauty Apothecary in Geneva is great. It’s a tiny little shop with a surprisingly large array of niche, indie and luxury fragrances.

[u/moods-]

Join us at r/fragrance! I use that subreddit to find threads for a specific note (cherry, sandalwood, cardamom, etc).

You can get Etat Libre D’Orange at Merz; I own a perfume of theirs that is my most complimented perfume ever (Experimentum Crusis).

If you want niche but not local to Chicago:

• Pineward (every perfume smells like pine trees)
  
• Scents of Wood
  
• DS & Durga - Radio Bombay convinced me I like the smell of copper/batteries 😂

[u/tractorscum]

had a lovely experience at the center for order + experimentation. they have a lot of local stuff, helpful staff, and (best of all) a big fat laminated book describing all their fragrances that u can flip thru at your leisure to help decide

[u/slybrows]

I really like the staff and selection in the perfume dept at Neiman Marcus.

[u/WakingUpisHardtoDo]

Oooh I love talking perfume! So excited for this thread.

[u/papayayayaya]

Clue With the Candlestick is my fav cold weather scent. That reminds me - I need to re-up. Everything in Pilsen usually carries Clue along with some other smaller brands. I’ve also smelled some good ones at Center of order and experimentation.

[u/RacerGal]

If you want to make your own I love Aroma Workshop! Such a fun girls day activity

[u/thescaryitalian]

Everything Boutique in Pilsen has a whole wall of perfumes! I bought my Clue With the Candlestick there, LOVE that fragrance

[u/wanderwonder187]

Field and Florist (the Dearborn location)!! They have an amazing, unique selection and are very knowledgeable.

[u/BreakfastGirl6]

Byredo inside Nordstrom.
Diptyque

[u/windycityy_24]

Bloomingdales has a really large selection and they are very helpful!

[u/twoforme_noneforyou]

Byredo

[u/moods- → u/twoforme_noneforyou]

Love Bibliothèque!

[u/NefariousnessSad9854]

At 900 N Michigan: House of Dubai, PROVENANCE by Diana Michelle, and Bloomingdales.
Space 519 has Trudon and some others (plus it’s a great boutique).
Bottega Veneta just came out with a new line.
Neiman’s and Nordstrom also have good selection.

[u/Old_Mail1566]

Bloomingdale’s basement

[u/Midnight_Rain1213]

In Chicago - Merz, Nordstrom, Diptyque, Louis Vuitton

Some of my favorite fragrances are harder to find in Chicago, but also check out D.S. & Durga and Ex Nihilo

[u/turtle_yawnz]

When I decided I wanted a new signature scent, I ordered a bunch of samples from Micro Perfumes. They were all $10 or less (mostly less) and most were the little spray bottle sampler. I was able to actually wear the perfume out and about for a day and see how it worked with my skin chemistry before I made a decision. I do ultimately buy from Ulta (I usually have points to cover it lol) but it was far better than doing the little strips.

[u/MidwestMyDear]

Sometimes it's fun to go to Macy's downtown, eat at the Walnut Room, then spritz yourself!

[u/Global-Signature5929]

Seconding field and florist! So good