Something’s cooking: Kuwaiti perfumery The Fragrance Kitchen opens in NY

A waft of the Middle East has blown into the beauty department of Bergdorf Goodman this week – and not in the way you might expect. The Fragrance Kitchen is a Kuwaiti perfume house founded by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah that blends the traditions of Middle Eastern perfumery with the French philosophy and expertise of Grasse. Its outpost at the store marks a first American foray for the brand and features over 40 fragrances that reflect the diverse and distinctive scents that Al-Sabah has created.
The Fragrance Kitchen has truly turned its corner of the legendary department store into its own. Installed on two walls is an undulating architectural wall feature that references the slopes of sand dunes in the Middle East. Made from laser cut oak wood, the fins emerge from glossy, black-mirrored walls to create a mesmerising design feature that lures the eye. Designed by Jassim Al Shehab Architects (Arch JS), the wall is a miniature iteration of the interiors of The Fragrance Kitchen’s flagship store in Kuwait.
To cap things off, the outpost is exclusively home to the scent, ‘A Rose With A View’ – a woody floral that mixes rose, violet and white flowers with sandalwood, patchouli and musk. Like the other creations in The Fragrance Kitchen’s collections, the scent is inspired by Al-Sabah’s memories and experiences of culture and poetically sits in that sweet spot between tradition and modernity.
The perfume label blends the traditions of Middle Eastern perfumery with the French philosophy and expertise of Grasse
For its new space, The Fragrance Kitchen has installed an undulating architectural wall feature that references the slopes of sand dunes in the Middle East
Designed by Jassim Al Shehab Architects, the mesmerising design is a miniature iteration of the interiors of The Fragrance Kitchen’s flagship store in Kuwait
Exclusively available at its New York outpost is the perfume ‘A Rose With A View’ (pictured) – a woody floral that mixes rose, violet and white flowers with sandalwood, patchouli and musk
INFORMATION
The Fragrance Kitchen’s ’A Rose With A View’, $320, is now available at Bergdorf Goodman
ADDRESS
Bergdorf Goodman
754 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
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Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
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