This is Peter’s second instalment in my guide to perfume-shopping in Paris. What’s more, Peter has taken some enlightening pictures from inside the inner sanctum of Guerlain’s flagship store at 68 Champs Elysees.
The celebrated Champs Elysees is a natural home to what was a family owned business for five generations from 1828. Only in 1994 did Guerlain become a subsidiary of the luxury group LVMH.
The founder of the business was Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain who initially studied Chemistry in London. In many ways the uniform apothecary-style presentations stay true to the foundation of the business as a perfumeur vinaigrier (perfume and vinegar maker).
Stylised window displays, ornate bottles and unique packaging all ensure that Guerlain and its products remain a key part of the luxury goods market.
The sparseness of the interior of Guerlain's flagship boutique is uber chic in a way that only the most prestigious labels manage to achieve.
This is how the official Guerlain website describes the interior design of 68 Champs Elysees, "The visual effects of gold and transparency join forces as light glints through glass bead curtains".
Guerlain remains one of the most influential perfume houses. Thanks so much to Peter Olson for capturing these images of the Guerlain store. Read Part One of my guide to Shopping for Perfume in Paris.
See pictures of London's Avery Perfume Boutique, the Le Labo store in Maryebone and my London perfume shopping guide.