By Tara
Bright and early last Saturday morning I met up with a gaggle of perfume lovers in east London’s trendy Spitalfields. (Perhaps we should have our own collective noun, a “flacon of perfumistas” maybe?). After a coffee and croissant we set off for Angela Flanders‘ perfumery, just a stroll away in Artillery Passage.
Angela opened her first shop in the famous Columbia Road Flower Market in 1985 and sells her own perfume compositions as well as home fragrances and skin care preparations. There are about 40 perfumes in total across three collections (Signature Collection, Collection Florale and Collection Noire) including six male fragrances.
Angela’s perfume Precious One won the FiFi Award in 2012 for Best New Independent Fragrance. It’s a warm green chypre, highlighting notes of jasmine, tuberose, oakmoss and vetiver. Other best sellers include the citrusy Mandarin & Mint, the floral oriental Ottoman and the whiskey infused Aqua Alba.
Second up was Bloom, located nearby on Hanbury Street. This is a boutique offering a range of niche perfumes as well as other scented products. Brands stocked include Vero Profumo, Parfumerie Générale, Huitieme Art, Grossmith, Blood Concept, Ann Gérard, Nasomatto, Six Scents, Jovoy and Néz A Néz.
I took the opportunity to try the Ann Gérard perfumes, which I’d heard lots of good things about. I tried two on skin, of the three available. Cuir de Nacre is a sort of “new car” leather scent and Perle de Mousse is a striking green chypre with lily of the valley.
The latter is really well done and includes notes of pink pepper, aldehydes, bergamot, green mandarin, galbanum, ivy, lily of the valley, hawthorn, rose, clove, jasmine, gardenia, lentiscus absolute, ambergris, musk and vanilla. You can buy samples in store at two pounds a time.
Vanessa of Bonkers About Perfume at Bloom
We then trooped off to the tube station and headed to London’s West End. Here we stopped off at Geo F. Trumper, a renowned gentlemen’s traditional barber with an unparalleled range of male grooming products. Their best selling colognes are Extract of Limes, Sandalwood and Eucris. The latter is noted for its association with James Bond and features notes of blackcurrant, cumin, coriander, jasmine, muguet, sandalwood, musk and moss.
Trumper’s has been in existence since 1875 and its range of top class shaving paraphernalia, balms, brushes, soaps and shower gels is really impressive and reeks of old world elegance. Several of my fellow ‘fume fans walked out with something and I don’t blame them one bit.
Three o’clock was time for tea and scones at the world famous store, Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly. Once we were fully refreshed, the perfume sharing and sampling continued. Perfumer Sarah McCartney generously shared her range, 4160 Tuesdays, with us. She began making bespoke perfumes that reminded people of happy times and now three of her fragrances; Sunshine & Pancakes, Urara’s Tokyo Cafe and The Lion Cupboard, are available at Les Senteurs, 2 Seymour Place. Sarah’s perfumes have an interesting quirkiness to them which is reflected in their gloriously offbeat names. Sunshine & Pancakes started out as a bespoke “happy times” scent for Sarah’s mother-in-law. It’s a stunner, evoking bright, carefree days filled with joy. Its notes include lemon, jasmine, honey, vanilla and cedarwood.
A wander around the perfume department on the 2nd floor revealed the Caron urns and a few of hard to find brands. Fragrance houses available include SoOud, Xerjoff, Clive Christian, Creed, Grossmith, Nasomatto, Juliette Has and Gun, Lorenzo Villoresi, Robert Piguet and Illuminum. I guess a store with a Royal Warrant must stock the brand that provided the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding scent.
This is where we parted ways as the evening drew in. I’d like to thank the fabulous Pia (of Volatile Fiction and known ad Nukapai on Basenotes) for organising such a fun event and the following fragrance fanatics for making it such an enjoyable day: Sarah McCartney, Lisa, Vanessa (of Bonkers About Perfume), Nick (one third of Fragrant Reviews), Karen Gilbert (who runs perfumery workshops) and Liam (of Personal Odour). I very much hope we can do it again some time.
Now it’s Giveaway time!
I would like to share 4 perfume samples from Angela Flanders Perfume and a decant of Sunshine & Pancakes from 4160 Tuesdays by Sarah McCartney with one lucky winner. You can enter from anywhere in the world by stating that you’d like to be included in the comments. The draw is open until March 18, Midnight GMT and Olfactoria will announce the winner on March 19 on this blog.
Please be aware that I cannot be responsible for the vagaries of customs regulations or replace the package if it goes astray.
Good luck everyone!
Olfactoria's Travels 
I’d love to be included in the draw. Thank you for organizing such a cool giveaway–the day sounds like a lot of fun!
It was A LOT of fun! You’re in the draw.
I am quite envious of you….a day of perfume and tea with perfume obsessed friends! What fun 🙂 ! I would love to be entered in this draw…thank you, Tara!
brie, it is a benefit of being in London though others traveled from Wales, Surrey and the Midlands. You’re in the draw!
Oh, and I forgot to say that I meandered over to Liam’s blog and very much enjoyed the read….(had a bit of insomnia this morning 🙂 !). thanks for the intro…I hadn’t heard of his blog until your post.
That’s great, brie. I’m glad you’ve found, and like, Liam’s blog.
It sounds like such a lovely day. Food, friends and fragrances. What more could one ask for? I’d love to be included in the draw. Thank you. 🙂
Absolutely! All my cash went on food and drink, it has to be said!
You’re in the draw.
I’d love to be included in the draw. I’ve read previously about “Sunshine and Pancakes” and was intrigued by the description. Thank you for the giveaway!
TaffyJ, Sunshine & Pancakes is great, a real mood-lifter. A squeeze of lemon over jasmine to start with vanilla pancake to follow.
You’re in the draw!
hi, love to try something new! thanks for the review, please enter me in!
Radmila, from Ukraine.
Hi Radmila, it is definitely nice to try something new. I’d never sampled anything from Angela Flanders before and 4160 Tuesdays only briefly, so it was a real treat.
You’re in the draw!
I’d love to be included- thanks for the draw
wonderful pics
You’re in, Irina!
Glad you liked the pics, they are not exactly my forte.
Great account of a wonderful day! It was so good to see you again. That’s funny about Illuminum in Fortnums, hehe. Sorry I couldn’t stop for the final sniffing foray there.
No need to enter me in the draw. Oh, my friend was blown away by the sample of Oudh Noir I got for her at Angela Flanders. She has only ever worn perfume oils, being a bit “sniffy” about perfumes, but is majorly revising her opinion thanks to the clutch of oud scents I have given her lately.
I’m pleased to hear you’re managing to convert your friend to “proper” perfume and that Oudh Noir helped.
We didn’t linger terribly long at Fortnum’s as I think most of had tried a lot of the lines before.
Wow, nice perfume collections. Hope i can win one of those.
Well you’re in the draw, so you never know!
I’d very much like to be included in this giveaway as these perfumers are totally unknown to me. Please count me in!
Consider yourself in the draw Veni!
I always love reading about perfumista meet-ups. 🙂 And you practically spent the whole day together! What fun!
As I never tried any of the perfume in the draw, I’d like to enter.
Ines, it was pretty much the whole day! Luckily I had Sunday to recover 🙂
I loved reading about the time you, Suzanne and Asali met up.
You’re entered!
That sounds like a great day. I’d love to be entered in the draw. Thanks for the chance!
No problem poodle, you’re in!
Such a lovely perfect day: perfumes, some fine English tea and a bunch of perfume obsessed friends! I’d love to be entered in this draw. Thank you! Madalina from Romania
PS Nice pics as well! 🙂
Madalina, the only thing that would have made it even better is if ALL my perfume friends could have been there, but I’m being greedy now 🙂
Glad you liked the pics. Vanessa has done a post about it too with more photos, on her blog Bonkers About Perfume, if you’re interested.
I love perfume crawls. Thanks for sharing and would love to be included.
Me too, Sophie!
You’re in the draw.
Sounds like a wonderful day! So many of the brands you mentioned aren’t available here in Sydney, so I’d love to be entered in the draw! Thanks for sharing your day 🙂
You’re very welcome Ruth!
You’re entered into the draw.
What an enviable day! I love the photos!
Please enter me in the draw.
Thanks, Darilyn! You’re in the draw.
Please include me. Sounds like you had a great day! Well Jel.
I was fortunate enough to be gifted Tokyo Cafe by Angela with a purchase. Such a transporting scent so I would love to be able to wear more of her work
Ha, ha! For those not in the know, “well jel” is Essex slang for “extremely jealous” 🙂
I assume you mean Urara’s Tokyo Cafe by Sarah McCartney?
Either way, you’re in the draw.
Sounds like so much fun! Do please count me in.Thank you for offering.
No worries, you’re in the draw!
Thank you for the vicarious shopping and tea! Sounds like so much fun. I would love to be entered in the draw – how can anybody refuse a chance at a perfume called Sunshine & Pancakes? 🙂
ringthing I know, it’s the best name!
You’re included in the draw.
I love the idea of a perfume crawl! I’ve recently fallen back in love with wearing perfume, so please include me in your draw.
I’m glad you’ve fallen back in love with perfume. We’d hate to lose you!
You’re included in the draw.
I’d love to be included, too 🙂 And thanks so much, Tara, for such a cheerful post and wonderful pics!
I’m glad you enjoyed it muza!
You’re in the draw.
Count me in! And thank you for the lovely perfume crawl!
Glad you liked it. You’re in!
What a wonderful time you had strolling around London for perfume pleasures! Once I visit London I’ll try to step by these places too!
Please do join me in the draw 🙂 Thank you for this generous chance
You’re very welcome. You’re in the draw.
yaay!
Sounds like you had a glorious day Ms.Tara. Please include me in the draw and thanks for the wonderful opportunity!
My pleasure, Bhama! You’re in.
Caron fountains- so pretty. Please include me inthe draw.
You’re included shellyw!
I’d love to try these scents.
Well you’re in the draw so you never know!
Thanks for the opportunity Tara! I would love to be in the draw!
You’re very welcome Terry! You’re in the draw.
Thanks for the tips: Bloom is now on the cards for my upcoming meanderings in Londinium!
And please enter me in the draw ^_^
It’s nice to add somewhere new to the perfume map, isn’t it?
You’re entered.
The day you just described sounds like absolute heaven! My friends roll their eyes when I start to wax rhapsodic about perfume. To have such knowledgeable and like minded friends seems to me an ideal world. I still hope someday to meet a fellow perfumista in Orlando (yes, a bit of a cultural wasteland) and gab on and on about our mutual love of fragrance. Until then I look forward to my daily visits with savvy perfume bloggers who share their stories and wisdom.
Tora, next time Now Smell This do a Lazy Weekend open thread you should ask if there are any perfumistas in Orlando. You can’t be the only one! It’s great to be connected via the internet but it’s even more fun in real life.
Let us know if you’d like to be included in the draw.
Oh Yes! i would like to be included in the draw!!
No problem Tora, you’re in!
What a treat, getting to read your account of the day, which dovetails so nicely with Vanessa’s. I love the photos, too (particularly of you sitting pretty with your chocolate croissant over at her blog, and now this one of Miss V, whose longer hair looks so great on her). Sounds like you all had a great and very full day of sniffing!
And thanks for the chance to enter your drawing for a decant of Sunshine & Pancakes. I’d love to be included.
Suzanne, it was a really full day and that croissant had a yummy slab of chocolate in the middle that I had to snap! V does look lovely in that shot.
I’d love for you to try Sunshine & Pancakes, you’re in the draw.
Yay, please include me too =) Caron urns, always such a pleasure to see!
Anna, gotta love those Caron urns!
You’re in the draw.
I would like to be included and thanks for the draw! 🙂
No problem Lori, you’re in!
Wow, this really sounds like a lot of fun! I’ve never been to London, but always wanted to go, and a perfume crawl would be the ultimate visitor experience! I am in the US. Please enter me in the draw…would love to try these.
I hope you come to London one day Maureen, and do a perfume crawl for yourself!
You’re entered into the draw.
Thanks for including me in the draw and for the delicious write up of your adventures.
O.K. you’re in!
I’d love to be included in the draw. Sounds like a fabulous day!
It was thanks! You’re in the draw.
I enjoyed reading about your Perfume Crawl and would love to be included in the giveaway. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it James! You’re entered into the draw.
What an exciting exploration stroll you had! Great! And I haven’t heard of a major part from the mentioned perfumes…
I would like to be entered in the nice and generous draw! Thank you!
It was a great day! You’re in the draw.
Who doesn’t want to smell of sunshine and pancakes? I can’t imagine what it smells like but I love the sound of it.
I am jealous of your day perfume shopping and sniffing, I am lucky if I get half an hour sniffing with the other half.
I would love to be included in the draw.
Hi Andrea,
I think you’d like Sunshine & Pancakes. You’re in the draw!
I would love to be included in this wonderful draw.Your blog never fails to delight the mind and senses.If I ever get to London,I am going to visit all those incredible delightful perfume emporiums. Thank You
Thank-you Rene! I hope you get to London one day.
You’re in the draw.
It was a fantastic day, and it was especially lovely to meet all the perfumistas and perfumistos whose blogs and reviews I read online. In case you hadn’t guessed, Tara is absolutely delightful in ‘real life’. (Thank you for guiding me to the right underground train!) I hope we get to do it again soon. x
Lisa! That’s very nice of you to say. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you.
I’m sure we’ll do it again, it was too much fun!
What a fun day! I need to go to London soon! Please include me in the draw.
Do come! You’re in the draw.
I’ll be following in your footsteps in August! Please include me in the draw. Thank you.
Have a wonderful time when you visit in August. You’re in the draw.
I want to try the Tokyo cafe perfume someday because I am living in Tokyo until June. Please enter me in the draw.
I wonder what you’d make of it, David. You’re in the draw.
Annual Event?
Hmmm, A posse of perfumistas. A perfume posse. A galaxy of perfumistas; you are all stars in the fragrant stratosphere.
More frequent than annual I hope.
You’re one of those stars too Jordan!
I’ve never met Angela Flanders Perfume’s before – it’s such a great opportunity to test some)) thanks Tara! … I would love to be included in a draw too:) –
I have say Ellia that I didn’t know the brand before Saturday either.
You’re included in the draw!
Oh it sounds like you had a wonderful time and how have I never heard of Angela Flanders or Bloom before?? I have wanted to try the Ann Gerard scents since Birgit reviewed them and until recently I had no interest in the Illuminum line, but Black Rose has changed my mind, and now I would love to explore it further – hurrah. Now I just need a free day…
So please don’t include me in the draw, I will seek them out myself!
Alex, I didn’t know of them either! I’m glad you now have a couple of new perfume locations in London to explore next time you’re free.
What a fun day you and the group experienced. Please enter me in the draw. Thank you for your generosity,
You’re very welcome and you’re in the draw!
Lovely travel diary there. Now I have a map of stores to visit. Thanks.
Of course I wouldn’t mind being included in the draw.
Civava, I think it’s good that we covered a couple of lesser known places. Hopefully they will be a little more known, by us anyway!
You are in the draw.
Thanks for sharing about your fragrant voyage! I’m so jealous of those who live in the great perfume-shopping cities like London. Thanks for entering me in the draw as well. 🙂
susan, I do appreciate how lucky I am, I have such good access to a wide range of perfumes when I travel into town and it saves money on samples. It’s a good meeting-up point too, as you’ve read.
You’re in!
Thanks for sharing your lovely day with perfumista’s and double thank you for hosting such a generous draw. I love the name “Sunshine and Pancakes”.
rosiegreen, the wonderful name alone made me want to try it and luckily I was not disappointed!
You’re in.
I’d love to be included in the draw, as I just discovered your terrific blog (searching for notes in bel respiro, which I found in your 2011 archives (thank you!)
I’m glad you found the blog! Birgit is an amazing writer.
You’re included in the draw.
Sounds like a great adventure! I too love the Ann Gerard line, they are a beauty~
I would love to be included in the draw as I’m excited to try the bespoke perfume =)
It really was a great adventure! The Ann Gerard perfumes are really well done.
You’re in the draw.
I would love to be included in the draw. It looks like you had quite the fragrant adventure! The photographs you took were beautiful, especially the gold decorated glass urns of Caron fragrances and crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Thanks! Fortnum & Mason is a beautiful store all round, but the Caron counter is something special.
You’re included in the draw.
would love to be included in the draw! 😀 the stores look fabulous!
All the stores were so beautifully done. You’re included!
I’d love to be included! you just made me want to go to London! 😀
Do come Andrea, i’m sure you’d love it!
You’re included in the draw.
Thank you for taking us on this virtual tour!
You’re very welcome Victoria! Glad you enjoyed it.
Do say if you’d like to be included in the draw.
What a wonderful trip, sounds like! The few hours I spent in London between plane trips last Summer wasn’t enough for this sort of hunt, but I know what I’ll be doing if I ever get back! I’d love to be included in the draw : )
You’ll have to come back for a proper holiday next time Kacey.
You’re in the draw!
No need to put me in the draw, but I just had to say thanks for the post, Tara! You introduced me to several London stops that I’ve never heard about before and which I will surely add to my list for my next visit.
Glad you liked it, Natalie. Do visit soon.
I learned about a couple of new places too!
Pingback: Tara’s London Perfume Crawl Giveaway Winner Announced | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Monday Question – Is There A Little Known Perfume Brand You’d Like to Share? | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Perfume | Love My Dress® UK Wedding Blog