You have four days in New York – what would you do?
Which perfume-related destinations are a must?
Where would you eat?
What would you want to see?
Have you ever been to New York?
Are you from the city? What would you recommend from the inside-perspective?
My Answer:
I have been to New York City several times, but never as a full-fledged Perfumista. So in a way this is a premiere for me. I am going to NY on Thanksgiving Day and will stay over the weekend, flying back on Monday. The reason for going at this time of the year was the exhibition curated by Chandler Burr for the MAD Museum, but that has been postponed until the Fall of 2012, for reasons unknown to me. (Anybody know anything?) But no matter, there is still a lot to do and see.
I’m very exited to go, I really need some time sans children (although I will miss them every minute of those four days and won’t stop whining about that fact, in all probablility), and I look forward to some real-life travelling again.
And New York is a place where you can get almost everything (no Bell Jars though. 😉 ).
So I really look forward to your recommendations, and of course I will blog about my trip.
Olfactoria's Travels 
Wow! That sounds like a great trip. I am sure that there is plenty to do and see over the Thanksgiving weekend. Shame you will miss the parade, but you can always go back one day with your children for that. I was there years ago but without perfume destinations. Sorry, can’t be of any help there. I loved the city and what it had to offer and enjoyed the museums, theater and window shopping. I also enjoyed high tea at the fancy hotels as it was a perfect way to recharge after walking all day long. Have a fabulous time and I look forward to reading all about your trip.
The days will fly by fast, there is so much to do and see! Can’t wait! 🙂
I’m really curious about the insider suggestions !!!
I’ve been only once in NY and only for few hours (was over for bussiness and had a flight back to Vienna from Newark airport) – but it was good enough to get that awesome athmosphere. Of course, I managed to get to Barneys and Neiman Marcus…
Have a lovely time, B. ! (but a “city which never sleeps” is not the right one for bears in winter sleep 😉 )
This bear will take what it can get, and shopping is surely the next best thing to sleeping! 😉
I have nothing useful to add – I’ve never been to NY but can’t wait to hear all about your trip! 🙂
It seems to be the time of year for travel. 🙂
We work in unison to cover the great perfume destinations of the world! 😉
Oooh this is so exciting, you are going to have the BEST time! I have only been to New York once and that was pre-perfumania. If I was going too (I can dream!) I would go to the Guerlain boutique in Bergdorf Goodmans as they have a lot of the exclusive bottles there and probably the Frederic Malle boutique on Madison Avenue just because it sounds so super luxe. It would also be cool if you could make a trip to Brooklyn to CB I Hate Perfume to meet Christopher Brosiust, who seems like an interesting guy from the BBC documentary. Can’t wait for your blog updates!
I can’t wait for the Guerlain boutique! It is first on my list. Malle too, but I probably won’t go to Brooklyn, this time at least.
I have only ever shopped in NY for business (yes, I used to be paid to shop before I had children) From what I can remember (age and children both having an effect on memory) the beauty halls in the department stores were out of his world, sadly I was not a perfumista at the time so did not pay much attention to the perfume halls, I hope you have a wonderful time and look forward to reading your blogs so that I can feel like I am virtually there. 🙂
Ah, shopping for a living – that sounds very nice! I will do my best to report back accurately! 🙂
I would try to visit Aedes, and have a sniff of their namesake BD scent. Theyn of course all the major destinations, Barney’s, Neiman’s, etc.
Like you, and others here, all my New York trips were pre-perfumista! My last trip was… Six years ago? Well, someone needs to write a guide to perfume tourism in NYC, and I’m looking forward to the first chapters from you 🙂
Have a wonderful trip my friend!
Thank you! It won’t be as great as I had hoped though, a crucial part is missing… 😦 (Sorry, I know there is nothing you can do, but I need to mope a little at least.)
I hope you have fun in New York City! On my next trip there I plan to go to Brooklyn to visit CB I Hate Perfume, to Le Labo to sniff the NYC exclusive, and to Frederic Malle. I visited Aedes on my last visit and enjoyed it there immensely. I also visit Century 21 department store, where I last found a bunch of Annick Goutals marked down. Stock varies at that place though. I also liked CO Bigelow pharmacy/apothecary. They carry L’Artisan products and other perfumes, but also have their own line of stuff and they carry other personal care items. It’s a fun shop. I hear one of the fancy department stores (Bergdorf Goodman maybe?) carries the JAR line and that might be an experience worth having. It’s a crazy expensive line so I don’t dare try to sniff it, but just thought I’d mention in case you’re interested. I’d love to find some vintage perfume shops in the city next time I’m there. I hope you have an amazing time and I look forward to your NY post!
Hi Mo,
thanks for all your suggestions.
I will try to smell the JAR line, although it is not within my budget. 🙂
Oh I forgot – you could go to Dawn Spencer Hurwitz on Broadway and also Min New York. Happy shopping!
MiN is on my list, thanks!
Oh nevermind DSH is in Colorado! Must cross her off my list 😛
🙂
Aedes de Venustas, the New Museum in the Bowery, MoMA, the Strand Bookstore, and excellent eats at S’MAC on 12th Street. 🙂
Thanks for your tips, Meg! The husband is currently googling the restaurant! 😉
A walk on The High Line…
Interesting suggestion!
..and after the walk indulge yourself at Rice to Riches 😉
Yum! 😉
Seems like everyone else has the perfume shopping covered. If you have time for other things… Visit the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. See if there are any last minute tickets available for a Broadway play at TKTS. The last time I traveled to NYC by myself, I ate at Gramercy Park Tavern. They didn’t have a spare table, but I sat at the bar. The food was delish. When I asked the bartender for a wine recommendation she poured me three tastes that I then chose from. The staff was warm and welcoming. Another Danny Meyer restaurant near there is the Union Square Cafe. There’s a wonderful little Italian espresso/coffee bar on 6th Ave between 56th and 57th St. I tend to stay away from Starbucks. I’m sure there are other good coffee places around town, they just need to be found. Doesn’t sound like you’ll have enough time, but for an adventure, traveling up to The Cloisters is always a beautiful experience, once you’re there. And the tree in Rockefeller Center should be up and lit!! They usually do that the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I like to watch the skaters in the plaza. I second a visit to The Strand bookstore. Whatever you end up doing, have a wonderful time!
Thank you for your wonderful tips, Tatiana! I will certainly try to fit in as many things as possible.
I visited NY City for the first time just a few months ago and absolutely loved it! I was really surprised at how friendly and helpful people were. I didn’t expect a busy, crowded city to be like that. No one has mentioned the MiN store yet. They carry many fragrance lines, the store is lovely and the staff are very spritz and sample generous!
Have a wonderful time. I can’t wait to go again myself : )
It is such a great city! I’m glad you had such a good time, Cymbaline. I’ll surely visit MiN.
All my visits to NYC were pre-perfumista and for work, though I have heard about the perfume destinations since getting involved in this hobby!
I second Tara’s suggestion of the Guerlain concession in Bergdorf’s, not least because that is where the lovely Jason works, who swapped that thin and feeble bottle of PQJ without a quibble. You never know – he might have some spare stock out the back – worth asking the question…: – ) We have spoken a few times on the phone so I almost feel as though I have been to the store!
I also second the tip about Aedes de Venustas and Barneys. And wherever I go, meeting fellow bloggers/perfumistas who are based in the city in question would be as high on my agenda as visiting the top stores, as I am sure it is on yours!
Otherwise I would do a lot of walking to soak up the feel of different neighbourhoods and visit MOMA if you still have time!
The Guerlain boutique will be my first port of call to inquire after a bottle of PQJ, you read my thoughts. 🙂 MoMA is a fixture in my itinerary too.
I haven’t been to NYC since the summer before 9/11 and before I was a full blown perfume addict (but I did stop into my first Sephora that last trip, the one on Times Square). I have been there SOOO many times but usually spent my time in the East Village (since I was there mostly in the 80s). You’ll have so much to see and do I really cannot suggest other than go to Museum of Modern Art and the Public Library (my two fav places to visit). Also agree; The Strand and the Cloisters (odd that I didn’t mention one true perfume place!? LOL)
The Public Library, oh yes, I must go there again, a great place!
Thanks for your tips, BF!
My second visit to NYC was this past June. Part of my vacation to this great city was totally Perfumista oriented. I loved the trip to Aedes but wasted a whole afternoon trying to locate
The CB I Hate Perfume gallery. The gallery was closed, but it was located in a run down garage
loft. I have never been so disappointed. I would not encourage anyone to visit this place. We
managed to visit all the upscale stores , in the north part of Manhatten , that we could fit into
our schedule. It was fun smelling all the niche perfume lines that they had to offer. I really enjoyed the 3 Broadway musicals that we went to see during the week that we were there. A tour of Little Italy and Chinatown were fantastic. There are 3 or 4 large tour lines that give you a great imforative tour of Manhatten. We had a fantastic time at the Chelsea Market
Place. This is where the Food Network and Cooking Channel are located. Even in a week we just barely had the time to scratch the surface of all the parts of the city that we wanted to visit. This next June we will be making another Perfumista trip back to L.A. to visit all our favorite perfume
shops and stores we found on our last visit. I hope that you have a fantastic visit over Thanksgiving. I will be sitting in envy that you will be there.
Your trip sounds fantastic, Dremybluz!
Aedes will be great, ah, I can’t wait for next week!
I’ve been to NYC a few times, just like everyone else it was before my perfumista days. Now I would probably go to CBIHP, Malle, and MiN. Enfleurage would be nice for something a little different. My favorite thing about NYC is Central Park and I spent a few days wandering through it last time I was there. But it won’t be the proper weather for that, probably and who goes to a park when they are in NYC? If it is a nice day, brunch at the Boathouse in the park is lovely.
The park is great, although my strongest memory is hunting in vain for what seemed like forever for a restroom, it was very stressful! 😉
Can’t give you any perfume destinations in New York, as like so many others, my New York trip was pre-perfumania. You should find a great restaurant. We decided to try the Four Seasons. It is an old school dining experience. The wait staff completely understand customer service. Your wish is their command. One of my party noticed the cotton candy desserts and mentioned to her husband that she wished she could have gotten one of them. A couple of minutes later one arrived at our table– gratis! The food was wonderful, the service was amazing; it was one of my best dining experiences ever!
We also got tickets to see a taping of The View. (I had an ‘in’ with someone on the staff!) It was much more fun for me than it was for my DH. He just put up with it! If you can get tickets to see a taping of any show filmed with a studio audience it might be fun.
Thank you, Alice. The husband is the food expert of the two of us, and is responsible for finding the best places to eat, I relayed your recommendation to him. 🙂
Show tickets would be great, but are probably hard to get, especially on short notice…
I LIVE in NYC, so if I don’t see you while you’re here, I shall cry. =)
I would love to meet you! I’ll email you!
Hey! I ‘ll be in New York the same days!
Till November 27 there is “Sensorium”, an exhibition @ Sephora Meatpacking District in collaboration with Firmenich: it sounds mainstream but not so bad.
I read your blog every day, but this is my first comment. Have a nice trip!
Hi Fabio, thank you for commenting!
I have heard about the Sensorium, I’m not sure yet, whether I will go. So much to do, so little time! 🙂
How lucky for you, B. As for me, I’m a native of New Jersey, living in California the last 20 years (!), but I go back to the area almost every December for the holidays. My family lives about 1.5 hours by train from NYC, but I have now three friends from college who live in the city, so for the past few years I’ve spent at least one night up there, and for about the last 3 years — the period of my perfumista-hood — I’ve done just a little shopping and sniffing. My first year was only Aedes (starting small), and then last year I did a whirlwind tour of Henri Bendel, Barney’s, and Bergdorf-Goodman. The last, I feel, is a must. This year, I’m thinking of going to the Caron boutique to see the fountains. I would also love to see Aedes again — it’s small, but so cozy, and Karl there was so friendly and helpful — and perhaps MiN.
Enjoy your visit, and be sure to tell us all about it, of course.
The three B’s tour is what I look forward to the most! 🙂
The Caron boutique sounds like a must-go too, for the beautiful sight of the urns alone.
Thanks for sharing your NYC tips, Joe! I hope you are having a great time there too this year!
I think you are completely covered with all the fabulous suggestions!
I could stay a few weeks and not be able to do it all! 🙂 Well, that is grounds for more visits, I dare say…