Oct 31

Oct 31 Libertine Parfumerie opens Sydney flagship store

Purveyor of luxury fragrances Libertine Parfumerie has opened its flagship store in Sydney, crafted by local interior designer Tamsin Johnson to showcase a collection of the world’s most spectacular perfumes. Located on Oxford Street in leafy Paddington, footsteps from the fashionable Glenmore Road intersection and a growing number of beauty-centric shopping destinations, the boutique represents owner Nick Smarts 15-year dream.

“Establishing a flagship in Sydney is a momentous occasion for Libertine Parfumerie. Since opening our first boutique in Brisbane the brand has experienced significant market growth – especially through our online store – matched only in momentum by our portfolio of brands which has broadened to include some of the most revered names in fragrance,” Smart says.

“The Sydney flagship stands as a timestamp of our journey so far and Tamsin was the perfect design partner to ensure Libertine Parfumerie makes its mark among likeminded, luxurious labels in Paddington. We wanted to a create a space that hasn’t been seen in Australian beauty retail.”

Renowned for imbuing spaces with her signature collected style, Johnson has brought to the flagship swathes of new and vintage flourishes, balancing classic European influences with a relaxed antipodean aesthetic. Upon arrival, a look through the store’s glazed facade offers the first hint of her decorative style: two old French chiffoniers face Oxford Street and the 1800s sandstone walls of the Victoria Barracks, their hand-painted surfaces providing merchandising real-estate for candles, room diffusers, homewares and fragrances.

Corralling collections from cornerstone brands, including Amouage, Creed and Trudon fragrances, the bespoke timber joinery throughout the 200-square-metre space offers a nod to apothecaries from as early as the 14th century. “I set about researching a lot of classical European druggists and other stores and reflecting upon them as inspiration for this project,” Johnson says. “One of my favourite things to do is explore classical pharmacies overseas, particularly those very old ones in Milan, Vienna and throughout France. They are so dignified and ornate. I wanted to recreate that feeling here.”