The Fragrance Library at Saks Fifth Avenue on FIVE (Photo via Saks Fifth Avenue)

I spent my morning at the Library. I wasn’t checking out books, I was checking out perfumes. Over the past year, Saks Fifth Avenue has put their money with their atomizers  are  by transforming their first floor and creating branded  and interactive environments replacing old fashioned counters.The first floor has become a destination for niche brands  including Bond No 9,  By Kilian,  Penhaligon’s  and Diptyque.

Today on FIVE, Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled The Fragrance Library, a concept shop featuring a large-scale installation that offers an assortment of iconic designer fragrances. Special features include “Fragrance Librarians” and a “library cart” mobile gifting station, all situated on the contemporary women’s clothing floor.

Each journalist received a bottle of scent of their choice as a gift, but my PRADA Candy was a factice  and was colored water. (my photo)

The Fragrance Library’s shelves are lined with signature designer scents including: Agent Provocateur Fatale, Armani Si, Balenciaga, Burberry Brit, Carven, Calvin Klein Euphoria, Dior J’Adore, Dolce & Gabbana Dolce, Donna Karen Cashmere Mist, Givenchy Dahlia Divin, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jimmy Choo, L’eau D’Issey, Estee Lauder Modern Muse, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Michael Kors Collection, Narcisco EDP, Prada Candy, Dior J’Adore,  Ralph Lauren Romance, Tom Ford Black Orchid and Viktor & Rolf BONBON, Clinique Happy and Thierry Mugler Angel.

 The Fragrance Library fuses a modern design environment, a contemporary white-on-white palette, with classic architectural elements interspersed with fragrances among curated books. A “Fragrance Librarian” will be on-hand to assist customers with scent styling: pairing each fragrance with the customers’ personal style or tailoring the scent to one’s special occasion. In addition, a mobile gift station, inspired by a traditional library cart, will offer special gift-wrapping services for easy and on-the-go shopping and gifting.

At the press event, Kate Oldham, Senior Vice President Cosmetics, Fragrance, Swim and Lingerie addressed an impressive crowd of bloggers and journalists. I ran into Daisy Bow, the amazing writer for Bois de Jasmin and Arielle Weinberg of Scents of Self .  We took our time making our way through the newer designer scent offerings that line the shelves (there is a selfie of Daisy and me somewhere). PYT SAs wearing suits and black frame glasses looked chic and professional.  Senior Corporate Fragrance Director at Saks Fifth Avenue Ondine Lamstein and Wendy Gottfried, Vice President DMM Fragrances and Intimate Apparel mingled with the event guests and graciously listened to our opinions about the new retail concept (which were favorable but of course we had suggestions).

WANT!!!!

I was familiar with all of the fragrances in the stacks with the exception of the new Givenchy Dahlia Divin, composed by Francois Demachy (fronted by Alicia Keys). I completely forgot about it in the clutter of new releases, and now it is my new obsession; a golden, luminous fragrance swathed in Mirabelle plum and diaphanous jasmine. A bottle is in my future.

All of the fragrances are curated for a younger audience (under my age at least) who is shopping Saks Fifth Avenue FIVE for contemporary fashion brands like Rag and Bone and 3.1 Phillip Lim, which seems to be counterintuitive to the perfume collection we saw today. Maybe hip fashion girls wear Dolce Gabbana Light Blue (which is a terrific scent but…)? Saks management did say that the Fragrance Library will be adding new additions, so I hope they bring up a few niche brands from the first floor like Diptyque and some more Tom Ford. Comme de Garcons would be nice too. For those who do not live in New York City, there is a Sephora on Fifth Avenue just a block away, which carries just about all these fragrances. It is savvy retailing to keep the customer in the store with  tried and true modern classic offerings that  top the best selling list year after year or are heavily advertised. It will be interesting to see the new tomes as they arrive and how the Fragrance Library checks out.

The Fragrance Library is located at Saks Fifth Avenue 611 Fifth Avenue, on FIVE.

Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief wafting Givenchy Dahlia Divin