SF Bay Area - South Bay

[kess]

I'm starting a thread for those of us in the South Bay.

Here are a couple of interesting places:

San Jose: Nordstrom Valley Fair -- they have an extensive perfume area on the ground floor: a dozen Annick Goutal, Jo Malone, Armani Prive (at the Armani counter) + the usual designer suspects. Their perfume counter is the largest of all the other Nordstrom stores in South/East Bay.

Los Gatos: Black Swan Boutique -- they carry niche lines, although not all fragrances from the lines: Bond No. 9; Clive Christian; The Different Company; i Profumi di Firenze; L'Artisan; Rance; Yosh. In downtown Los Gatos.

Palo Alto: Stanford Shopping Center - Neiman Marcus carries Acqua di Parma, Creed, Hermes, Jo Malone, Lalique, Robert Piguet, Guerlain, etc. Bloomingdale's has some Guerlains and occasionally parfum/extrait testers. The shopping center also contains L'Occitane, Kiehl's and Sephora.

 

[ROtto]

Thanks, I didn't know about Black Swan. A much larger version of this (with better local parking) is Mahin & Co. in Palo Alto, on California Ave. It has a fairly complete collection of L'Aritisan Parfumeur as well as some Bond #9, Different Company, and quite a few of Caron perfumes, and others. It's a family store, with the mother running the salon in the back, and the daughter, Namnam running the perfume/cosmetic section in the front. Namnam is quite knowledgeable about perfumes and is very helpful.

 

[Heartwood]

Thanks, ROtto! I keep forgetting about that place, and I've have never stopped in. I had been going to Bliss Beauty in Los Altos to sniff their limited line of L'As and AdPs, but I really need to remember Mahin.

 

[EllenWF]

ROtto, Thanks for the great tip on Mahin! I went there today, and yes, they have an extensive range of the abovementioned niches, Caron, and a few other unusual bits. Namnam was very helpful--we had a really nice conversation, and she was generous with samples, which I will share.

Much obliged,

Ellen

 

[Mimi Gardenia]

Thank you Kess and all for the tip re. The Black Swan Boutique- I went in search of it this weekend and tried many wonderful scents. A lovely boutique and nice people too.
PS. I love Los Gatos - I would move there in an instant !

 

[EllenWF]

Well, I have to mention that I was stunned last weekend when I stopped into Perfume Gallery on the second floor of Valley Fair Mall. I'd dismissed them since the original owners sold to a family that does not know much about perfume, a few years ago.

The man who was working that night still did not know much, and didn't seem very interested (and he was one of the family members). BUT they had a large, unexpected array of classics!!! Balmain, Guerlain, Caron, etc. I found testers (and merchandise) of Jicky, Mitsouko, Chant dAromes, Ivoire, Jolie Madame, Diorella, Diorissimo, Miss Dior (NOT the Cherie), and many others that haven't been at any department store I've visited in years.

The prices certainly aren't internet or Marshall's. On the other hand, as much as possible, I'd pay some more to support the existence of a local store where I can "meet" these classic fragrances without having to buy a de**nt. So I'll try to do some of my purchasing there.

Anyway, let's hear it for 'there's more to the south bay than they (or I) might have guessed!"

EllenWF

 

[Mimi Gardenia]

Thanks, I didn't know about Black Swan. A much larger version of this (with better local parking) is Mahin & Co. in Palo Alto, on California Ave. It has a fairly complete collection of L'Aritisan Parfumeur as well as some Bond #9, Different Company, and quite a few of Caron perfumes, and others. It's a family store, with the mother running the salon in the back, and the daughter, Namnam running the perfume/cosmetic section in the front. Namnam is quite knowledgeable about perfumes and is very helpful.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mahin-and-co-palo-alto
It's got pictures of the scent range and address details etc.

 

[Bey]

Ok... so this was all about the South Bay let's hear it for San Francisco proper? After Barney's and Saks what else is there, don't get me wrong both Barney's and Saks have been amazingly generous to me every time I've gone in but they don't/can't carry everything. Does anyone know about Perfumes Jacqueline - which is downtown. I stumbled up on it recently and saw some really amazing display sized bottles of all kinds of classics in the window but it was after hours and I haven't made it back down yet.

 

[Meatwad650]

Palo Alto: Stanford Shopping Center - Neiman Marcus carries Acqua di Parma, Creed, Hermes, Jo Malone, Lalique, Robert Piguet, Guerlain, etc.

I know they don't carry *quite* as much as SF, but do they carry Tom Ford? (Close enough that I can go visit.

Well, I have to mention that I was stunned last weekend when I stopped into Perfume Gallery on the second floor of Valley Fair Mall. I'd dismissed them since the original owners sold to a family that does not know much about perfume, a few years ago.

I'll have to give them a call - they may have my Envy!

 

[Ulsterman]

I know they don't carry *quite* as much as SF, but do they carry Tom Ford? (Close enough that I can go visit.



I'll have to give them a call - they may have my Envy!

I was there this week and they have the entire Private Blend line.