The Perfume House

This place is a perfume lover’s dream, seriously. Me, my husband, and our friend were greeted as soon as we walked in the door, both by the smell of perfume and by the nice lady behind the counter. They carry Guerlain, L’Artisan, Serge, ELDO, Histoires… basically a ton of niche lines (Guerlain arguably isn’t niche, but you get my point). I was on a mission to try and possibly get a Serge Lutens. I smelled quite a few Serges, but as soon as I smelled Un Bois Vanille, I knew I had found The One. She also gave me free samples of La Fille de Berlin (for me) and Rance 1795 Le Roi Empereur (for my husband). Definitely plan on visiting again for another round of sniffing at this seemingly well-​curated, charming shop (I am not a fragrance expert, but I’m into fragrance, and I was impressed).

Dog and pony show; snobby and rude trickster…
I ran into an acquaintance who told me about the amazing Perfume House and how the proprietor had exclusive access to rare and exotic perfumes aged for centuries in oak casks in far away lands. The acquaintance said he bought a bottle of the rare perfume for $ 500 and how he and his wife cherished it and used it judiciously. I thought this was odd, as this acquaintance didn’t come across as someone who could afford such a luxury item*.
I went to the store and witnessed the owner giving the same exotic perfume spiel to a man who obviously looked like he couldn’t afford it… he was dressed slovenly and had bad hygiene*.
I then tried to enter the conversation, saying I had heard about this perfume and was very much interested in it. The owner became rude and gave me the cold shoulder. He was so rude that at first I thought it was some sort of discrimination, but I was well spoken and dressed in a business suit from Mario’s*. This should be the perfect mark as a potential customer for such as expensive item.
The owner then weasel away from me and and retreated to the back room. His daughter behind the counter also tried to ignore me and the scene that had just happened.
I thought, «What on earth could be cause of this rude and odd behavior?»
After much thought this is my conclusion. The proprietor looks for «average Joe’s» to enter his store. He then tells them about his exotic perfume. 99% of them can’t afford to buy it, but they are amazed by his story. They hopefully buy a regular priced bottle of perfume, then proceed to tell all their friends the amazing stories of the exotic perfume. Most people’s friends are usually in the same socio-​economic group, who in turn go to the store and buy other regular priced bottles of perfume.
In other words this is all a dog and pony show designed to draw attention to the store.
Every once in a while he runs into an «average Joe» that can afford to buy a bottle of his exotic perfume, which he apparently has limited quantities of. This is an acceptable loss, but he doesn’t want well-​to-​do people and their friends coming in and buying out his limited stock.
…Very weird experience.
* I apologize, I usually don’t think in such snobbish terms, but after much time thinking about what had happened this is the only conclusion I could come to.

What an extravagant experience, truly reserved for the kings and queens of high fashion, sophistication and ultimately, big wallets. My girlfriend has been talking about this establishment when she learned that our first vacation was going to take place in Portland. At first glance, this place may seem like a generic perfume shop with a few designer brands, like… ugh…well, I’m not very good with the names. But, once you step into the world of elegant l’eau de toilet, you’ll never look at your deodorant as an alternative to body fragrance ever again (at least not until you leave the shop). We were guided by the very lovely and knowledgeable Tracy, who explained all of the unique and rare fragrances to my GF and took at least 45 minutes, allowing her to try on all sorts of expensive perfume, in addition to giving us multiple 1cc samples for free! The shop itself is gorgeous, with jars of perfume displayed like fine liquor in beautifully lit cabinets. It truly felt like visiting another era.
So, my fellow gents, do you know what this means to you? It means bring a bigger wallet, but trust me, it’ll be worth it!

I had a wonderful experience here. I am delighted with the fragrances I purchased, moreover, I cannot wait to go back! The quality of service and knowledge of the employees is exceptional.

This place has been here forever. I’ve always
been really sensitive to scent and after buying my first bell jar of Lutens Chergui in Paris ten years ago I figured I’d better make it last forever. Was I wrong– perfume house carries that now pretty easy to get line, but with a much bigger variety than I’ve seen in other cities. Even their choices of Amber seem to out score small shops in Soho– honestly I know what I like and I’m no expert but every time I’ve been Tracy takes the time and is so sweet and gracious I’ll never go anywhere else. There are many 5 star reviews of this spot, I feel they’re all earned
and like Powells, this is just another Portland gem unique to us, and I’m bloody grateful for it. Thanks as always Tracy and Perfume house, we’re damn lucky to have you.

The business hours posted on their website and their door says they are open until 5:00pm. I call BS! I have been there twice in the past week and a half at 4:45pm and the sign says closed and no sign of life in the building. I sent an email and they said if I had just knocked they would have come and let me in. I DID! It totally sucks that this is the only place in the area that sells the perfume my girlfriend wears and that I can’t get it online quick enough for our anniversary. It’s at least a 45 – 60 minute drive from where I live and having to fight traffic to find the doors locked is infuriating! Plus, why the hell would you close at 5:00pm in downtown Portland? I can only guess that the owners don’t like to make money.

Wonderful selection of perfume! The staff was knowledgeable but snobby and somewhat rude. They answered many phone calls with customers in the store and stayed on the phone for quite some time. Poor customer service.

The Perfume House is the definitive niche perfume shop in the pacific northwest. Not even Seattle (which has a few great boutiques for this stuff) can compare.
Tracy is awesome! She can guide you toward something that’ll be right up your alley. I’m a big fan of the Serge Lutens, Amouage, Montale, Tauer, Mona di Orio and Clive Christian lines. If I have any complaint at all it’s that many of the new up and coming indie and niche lines don’t really have any representation here, but then again I believe Chris (who started the perfume house) is more focused on French/​European niche perfumery, though I’d welcome the store expanding to cover more lines.
Niche perfume can be expensive so take your time with it. Don’t spray yourself with anything unless you *really* like it, otherwise just use the cotton balls. If after 10 – 15 minutes of looking the scent is evolving nice on your skin, kindly ask if they would mind making you a sample. Usually they are good about this (especially if you’re a repeat customer). Tracy has turned me on to many great fragrances and really expanded my love for these unusual scents.
Lines I hope one day they carry: Xerjoff, Parfumerie Generale, Parfum d’Empire, Frapin, Majda Bekkali.
Walking into this store is truly like walking into a different place and time. Just be forewarned, the hobby can quickly grow into an addiction!

This place is amazing. So many scents it will make your head spin.
Knowledgeable staff who are friendly and attentive, nice environment that makes you feel like you are in another world.
Some of these beauties are recipes from the 1800’s that haven’t changed, tre chic!

I have been a customer and ardent fan of The Perfume House since the year it opened, and it’s still my favorite store in Portland, or anywhere really. It’s a magical place, a little retreat from the real world, and I always find something wonderful that I had not seen or smelled before each time I visit the store. The owners and staff could not be more delightful, knowledgeable and helpful, and customers are NEVER pressured to buy.
The Perfume House has always carried an impressive array of fragrances from established houses like Guerlain, Caron, Jean Patou and Rochas, and in recent years it has added a great selection of newer niche and artisan brands such as Serge Lutens, Montale, Tauer Perfumes and Mona di Orio. There is literally something for everyone here, and I can’t imagine not finding exactly what you want in every price range — although it may take several visits to make up your mind, since there are literally thousands of perfumes to choose from.
For visitors to Portland, this is THE place to go if you are interested in perfume; every other store will seem lacking once you have experienced the mini-​museum of vintage perfumes, the imposing «Wall of Fragrances» for men and the «Caron Shrine» that includes real crystal perfume urns. After three decades it is still as wonderful for me as the first time I walked in the door. It’s not just a store, it’s an Experience!

Hawthorne District reminds me of hippies. I guess it’s hard not to think it any other way when you have two large second hand stores located right adjacent to one other in the heart of this charming community. Things around this neighborhood are very retro, anything from the merchandises sold and the buildings.
Therefore, when my partner and I came across The Perfume House, I said to him we have to take a look. We walked in, went upstairs to the second level and was warmly greeted by Pam, who has been working in that shop for over 13 years. Pam had great energy and most importantly, she is the most knowledgeable perfumist I’ve ever met by far (now I can’t wait to meet her boss). I told her I haven’t shopped for a perfume for myself in a while and my collection has gotten unsuitable for my age. The ones I own smell just as nice as I bought them, sweet, fruity, floral, (like tropical candies) but not so age appropriate now.
Pam listened attentively and pulled a few items from the store, which are mostly European brands. She has excellent listening skills because she found the «category» that I was wanting to smell like. The scents she picked out were floral, feminine, and elegant. She helped me narrowed down a bottle which I really like. Unfortunately it was quite pricey and I couldn’t see myself buying it for myself at this point of my life. I asked her for a small sample which she generously filled the whole sample tube.
People, if you are looking for gift ideas for your significant others, I highly suggest this place. You will not be disappointed.

I love this place, not as much as my husband does, but I think it is an experience a girl should have at least once in her lifetime. Back in the day when I was starting out my Career, the hubs brought me here to find a «signature» scent so I would not smell like the rest of the female suits in the office.
The owner spent a great deal of time testing fragrances and helping me hone in on what I liked and what hubby liked as well. I found my scent and have been wearing it for more than 20 years. I am not telling what it is so you don’t steal it, LOL. It is pretty hard to find anyway.
This is not the Macy’s counter, expect to spend time time, if you don’t like the idea of waiting around then come during their off peak times which is what I do.
Beautiful place, charming, and very knowledgeable people who do this for a living not just a job.

I had a great time at The Perfume House trying on different perfumes with the end goal of finding a «signature» scent. The salesperson was very helpful, patient, and knowledgeable.
I know very little about perfumes but want to learn more. I told the saleswoman I wanted a «grown-​up» fragrance and didn’t like anything «sweet.» She patiently had me smell a number of perfumes and by process of elimination, figured out what I liked. She spent lots of time explaining how the top note can differ substantially from the end result, and helped me find just the perfect scent.
The selection is staggering — I’d never seen so many perfumes in one place. The prices are high but this is real perfume with quality ingredients. If you’re looking for a nice fragrance, this is a great place.

I love this place! Expect to find fragrances that aren’t in mainstream stores. You might even find an old favorite that you thought was long gone. Then there’s a selection known as. (deep sigh here) … Private Reserve. (another deep sigh)
When you’re not on a time schedule get to know the owner. He is a vast library of fragrance information and is one of the premier Noses in the business. My friend and I spent a few hours here fully charmed by him, his stories and this store. By pure luck we started chatting with him and I have never thought of fragrance the same. The sales staff are polite and have a great knowledge base to make recommendations that are always spot on.
I dare say, I had so much fun last time I was here that I had forgotten to check in. Magical? Yes. my inner girlie, girl becomes silent and hopes if she’s well behaved we’ll leave with something special.

This is a true Portland gem; there is just no other word for it. We are so lucky to have this store in our city.
It is so, so rare to find fragrance sales people who know the first thing about what they’re selling much less who have the level of expertise that the Perfume House staff have. The contrast between shopping here and shopping at a department store counter is as dramatic as the difference between an oriental and a marine fragrance… which the staff at Perfume House will gladly explain to you.
When I asked for help grasping this thing called amber gris and its roll in fragrance, I expected the clerk to round up a few bottles and start spraying. Instead, she fetched a jar… a jar of actual ambert gris for me to smell and then launched into a very informative lecture. It took a while for her to start selecting bottles and get to spraying, but when we did get to the actual fragrances, the experience was so much more meaningful. Going here is always an education.
The building literally is an old house. The showrooms are crowded and cramped and the whole thing is downright labyrinthian which only adds to the sort of sense of discovery and adventure.
Parking is a real nightmare in this neighborhood. Expect to walk quite a distance.

I loved this place. It is very old fashioned, but at the same time timeless. You enter this world of fragrance and you feel transported to Paris. I was looking for something new. I have been wearing Cashmere Mist for over 10 years and I want a change, however I have to be very careful since I suffer from migraines. Some scents can trigger one and that is no fun. I explained to the lady who works there all this things and she was more than happy to help me out. After testing 6 or 7 on a cotton ball, I almost settled with one. I think she realized I was not that thrilled, so she showed me this other one. BINGO, it was amazing. I can’t wait to start wearing it. I don’t want to open my pretty bottle until I am back in AZ next week. All through the day I could get a whiff of the scent. It is so wonderful. This will be a place I will visit every year.

An insanely huge collection of nearly everything you can think of; classics, modern, everything. Far more extensive than Scent Bar or the Guerlain boutiques, which is why I’m giving it five stars.
Carries the following lines (among many, many others):
Amouage
Caron
Serge Lutens
Montale
Guerlain
Patou
Etro
L’Artisan Parfumeur
Comme des Garcons
and many, many more hard-​to-​find, difficult-​to-​get things…

This place is amazing. Where else are you going to find Guerlain, Comme de Garcons, Serge Lutens, L’Artisan, Creed, and so many other rare and amazing luxury, designer and niche frags in one house, in Portland, let alone AMERICA? Come on, this place is out of control. If I have a holy grail scent, I hope to find it here. They are not creepy and pretentious like most perfume counters snobs are, they are so knowledgeable and helpful. Everyone in Portland should experience this amazing resource once. If you love this place, don’t keep it a secret! Tell everyone, so they can be in business for a long time…

Just got a new bottle (happy birthday to me!), and I love it. I keep sniffing myself, it might make other people uncomfortable but I can’t stop. I’m not sure what it’s called, I can’t pronounce the name you see, but I don’t care.
All I know is that I wanted something new (I’ve been wearing a perfume from the Perfume House that I love, and I’m not going to tell you the name, because I’m jealously guarding it for myself), not that I knew what this «something» was, just that I wanted it. So the woman who works there (whose name I must learn, because she’s fantastic) said «I know what you want, try this». And yes it was what I wanted. And only gets better for every hour I wear it. It’s like she looked into my soul and said, I know this person and this should be here «scent».
If you see some girl walking down the street smelling her arm, that’s me.

To be honest, I’m torn about writing a review. On the one hand, this is the best hidden gem in all of Portland and I want to keep it all to myself and my close friends. On the other hand, this place is so amazing that everyone should check it out. It was here that I discovered the true romance and magic of perfume.
My dad became friends with the owner many years ago. It turns out he’s one of the few certified «noses» in the world (meaning: he can identify a certain number of individual scents in a spritz of perfume all before the purfume hits the floor). Because of his international reputation, The Perfume House carries some of the most exclusive scents, ones that are only available in a very few if not no other location in the United States. As a gift, my dad bought me my first bottle of perfume here and the owner helped me pick it out by giving me nearly a two hour-​long tour of scents.
Ever since, I find I must shop here exclusively for my perfumes because (1) they can always help me find something I love, that no one else has and (2) I learn the stories behind each perfume which makes the experience of owning and wearing these scents a very special and magical experience.
If you are a man in need of a gift that will melt your lady’s soul, you can come in and describe your gal and they can help you pick the perfect perfume (it worked for my brother anyway and its so much more personalized than buying Ralph Lauren’s Romance from Macy’s).