Yesterday Harrods with all its fragrant delights was on my schedule.
First my friend E. and I went to the fifth floor where Roja Dove’s Haute Parfumerie is located.
A beautiful boutique filled to the brim with the best of the best, selected, or I am almost tempted to say, curated, since it has a bit of a museum-feel to it, by Roja Dove.
We had the pleasure to chat with the store manager Anette Nejad, who is a very nice and exuberant person, who has a palpable passion for perfume.
I inquired especially after the MCDI (further testing is needed, nothing stood out in particular) and Xerjoff (love Irisss, no surprise there) lines, since I do not have access to these at home and tried the Roja Dove perfumes as well. Of the three regular ones, I liked Unspoken best. The semi-bespoke fragrances are interesting, there is a contingent of 50 bottles per scent, and once these are sold, the formula is retired. The owners of those 50 bottles can always have more of course, but it can not be bought any longer by anybody else. 50ml go for 1000£.
After that intense sniffing session, I went on to meet a lovely reader of Olfactoria’s Travels (Hi Tara!) and together we took a stroll through the perfume hall of Harrods which is great. There are the exclusive Guerlains, we made our way through them and I finally got a sample of Opus V at the Amouage counter, where I wish now I had stayed longer to smell all the attars.
Later in the evening I went to a Gallery opening of a contemporary art show called Down to Earth. I liked the pieces shown quite a lot more than I expected.
We had dinner at an Indian restaurant and ended the evening at the Martini bar at our hotel, where Sir Ian Fleming got the inspiration for his hero’s drink preferences, “shaken not stirred”. 🙂
Today the intense sniffing action of the prior days was paused, primarily due to my slightly delicate state (see yesterday evenings activities), but I look forward to a evening appointment at L’Artisan Parfumeur.
So stay tuned!
Olfactoria's Travels 
Oh, Indian food in London – Birgi, you make me “homesick”… In Vienna no one wants to believe that some of my best meals I’ve had in London !
I believe you! This week was incredible on the food front, we have been guided very well by our friends here.
I wore my new Shalimar Ode a la Vanille today and I love it! So pleased Harrods still had some. Enjoy your evening at L’Artisan.
I am glad you still got a bottle!
L’Artisan was amazing, lots about that upcoming next week!
Oh B I’m loving this travelogue!! Wondering what you had for dinner!
since eating is my expertise i am taking the liberty of answering.
we went to hakkasan, a michelin star awarded chinese restaurant. it was the best chinese we have ever had and although i can not vouch for any other location you should go there if you ever find yourself hungry in london (2), miami, abu dhabi or mumbai.
Hakkasan is from Alan Yau ?
I’m a regular in his Yauatcha (I guess, he sold it in the meantime) – awesome. But I was never brave enough for Hakkasan, and even less for Sake No Hana…
no need to be brave. you will need to reserve well in advance though and going with at least 3 other people seems a good idea variety-wise. sake no hana is actually about 50m from the hotel but somehow i am not drawn towards it. maybe some day i will just have to force myself.
Thank you, BF! The husband took care of your question, I see, lol.
you sound like you’re having a super time- perhaps too super if you needed a little rest today! hope you really enjoy the rest of your visits
It was not so bad, but one Martini is a lot when you never drink anything normally… 😉