The Scent Room In Dallas
Dallas has long prided itself as the fashionable heart of Texas. Even Coco Chanel herself acknowledged a debt of gratitude to Stanley Marcus after WWII when the Chanel name had lost its luster and post-war Europe was struggling to get back on its feet. It was the society ladies of Dallas, hungry for fashion from Paris after the austerity of the war, that flocked to Neiman Marcus and placed orders that helped a struggling Chanel get back on her feet. But aside from Neimans and a couple of smaller outlets that offer limited niche perfume selections, the fragrance shopping experience here has pretty much been limited to the mall or the arrival of a package from some distant perfumery. It was with great delight that I read in April about the opening of The Scent Room in the Dallas fashionable West End group of shops and restaurants.
Deborah Turner of The Scent Room in Dallas, Texas © Chelsea Raleigh
Deborah Turner of The Scent Room brought this beautiful space into existence and it started with her own quest to have access to unique perfumes and a personal scent. Deborah also wanted to bring a luxurious and stress-free shopping experience to those whose perfume buying encounters had been contained to department stores, sometimes staffed with less than knowledgeable staff and a hurried hard-sell experience.
I asked Deborah to tell me about the creation of The Scent Room, and it all began with a second honeymoon, a return to Italy where she and her husband had married seven years before. Deborah said, “We went into Rome and I said to my husband that I really wanted to get a perfume that nobody else on the planet, or at least in Dallas, is going to have, but I didn’t find anything.” Deborah continued, “We went to Siena and were walking around and I was drawn to this beautiful little shop. We went in and that’s where I met Vincent (Gambino), the shop’s owner.” While her husband paced outside, Deborah spent an hour having her own personal perfume experience in Vincent’s shop. “Memories of my husband patiently waiting is one reason I now have a seating area in my shop,” Deborah laughed. “And, scotch, because my husband would have been a whole lot happier!”
Deborah Turner with Silenzio by Simone Andreoli, the scent that started everything
She ended up buying a couple of scents, one of which was Silenzio by Simone Andreoli, a brand she now carries in her shop. “I thought, what’s going to happen when I run out of this? I was already heartbroken thinking about it.” Deborah kept in touch with Vincent Gambino and the idea began to germinate to open a perfumery in Dallas. She eventually told Vincent of her plan, and he said, “You need to come over if you’re serious, and we’re going to Milan.” She was on a plane two weeks later.”
Deborah hung out at Vincent’s shop in Siena, learning more about perfumes and essences, then she accompanied Vincent to Esxence in Milan where he introduced her to many perfumers. “He was there two days and after that he left and I had to walk around by myself and get a feel for things”, Deborah said. “I was such a rookie. Nobody knew I was opening a store, so it was kind of nice to be incognito.”
One thing Deborah wants for The Scent Room and the customers that walk into this serene scented space is a one-on-one experience to find that special personal scent, much like what she experienced in Vincent Gambino’s shop in Siena. I visited The Scent Room in early June and it had only recently opened. The space is narrow and deep but a glass front allows filtered light to enter the store and the overall impression is one of clarity and openness. The walls are lined with shelves holding an array of bottles, some clear and glinting like crystal cut glass and others with colorful and elaborate bottle designs. There is a rustic long wooden table just inside the entrance where Deborah highlights various brands to capture the attention of guests as they immediately enter The Scent Room.
I consider myself fairly well versed with perfumes so it was with some surprise that I found several scent brands of which I had no previous knowledge. Deborah’s love for Italy has carried over into her shop because there is a definite nod to Italian perfumers and even though the shop is bright and modern it still managed to exude an Old World appeal. There were so many bottles I wanted to spritz and try, and it was that moment when you wish you were an octopus with eight wrists!
The Scent Room already carries 36 perfume brands, with more to come. Deborah is also excited about expanding the luxury candle selection. “We’re getting some candles and room sprays made by perfumers with real perfume in them. Literally they will have top, middle and base notes. I’m really excited,” Deborah stated.
Deborah also wants to create a perfume community in Dallas at The Scent Room by offering masterclasses with perfumers. It was evident to me that she has already had success with this endeavor. I went to a perfume masterclass with Italian perfumer Vincent Gambino, who will be introducing his own line next year, debuting in the USA at The Scent Room. About twenty four of us gathered around a long table to smell essences and Vincent’s newly created perfume formulas, and to just share our love of fragrance. The staff who works at The Scent Room is also a point of pride. Deborah said those working there actually sought her out because they love being around fragrance, and their knowledge shows when you interact with them and they help you find a new perfume.
“We’re very patient with our clients,” Deborah says. “We want you to be happy. Spritz yourself, see how it works for you, and take a sample. If you like it you’ll come back.” The Senyoko brand was at The Scent Room this weekend and the sales director was there to meet with interested shoppers. Deborah hopes to bring Simone Andreoli, the perfumer who makes the perfume that started her on this path, to her shop next year. And who is her ultimate perfumer she would like to have visit The Scent Room? “I want Roja Dove to come here!” Deborah said.
Leah Burgdorf, a Cafleurebon reader, and Deborah Turner at The Scent Room in June.
The next expansion will be an online shopping website. There is already a landing spot; it just remains for the details to be entered and a shopping website to become operational. Soon everyone will have access to this great selection, but for now Dallas (and Fort Worth, my nearby home town) shoppers are happy to have such a beautiful store to tempt them with fragrant delights.
Here are just some of the brands carried at The Scent Room which opened only in April of 2019 (all links to past reviews by current and former editors and contributors):
Neela Vermeire at The Scent Room
And More!
The Scent Room, 3699 McKinney Ave. Suite 301, Dallas, TX 75204, Phone Number 833-723-6876
Cynthia Lesiuk, Reader, Guest Contributor and author of The Fragrant Journey
Thanks to the Scent Room in Dallas Texas we have your choice of two options for a registered US reader ONLY: a $100 GC (should you win, Michelyn will connect you message her through Instagram for what you would like to put the Gift Certificate towards) or a bottle of Senyoko La Tsarine. To be eligible please leave a comment on what you enjoyed about your virtual visit to The Scent Room in Dallas, what you might choose should you win, and what brands do you think would be a nice fit for the store. If you want Senyoko LaTsarine… instead please let us know. Draw closes 9/25/2019.
Check out Instagram: @scentroom for all brands carried. @cafleurebon @thefragrantjourney
All photos by Cynthia for CaFleureBon© unless otherwise specified
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