West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

(27 posts)

RAVE: Knows Perfume!

Started 1 year ago by RarelyEver
Latest reply from Irukandji

RarelyEver
Member Profile

Had run out of perfume and after two unsuccessful trips to the mall (and I HATE the mall!) I stepped into Knows Perfume on California Avenue last Saturday, not sure what to expect.

OMG, this is by far the best new shop in our neighborhood, not only due to the INCREDIBLE selection of artisan perfumes but also due to Christen, its wonderful owner.

Her fragrances are original and evocative (Russian Caravan Tea! Burnt Leaves! Dzing! I could go on!), and Christen is very knowledgable and had great suggestions based on the perfumes I used to wear.

Don't expect to find the Jessica-Simpson-mass-produced crap here... experiencing Christen's scents is the olfactory equivalent of Dorothy leaving dreary Kansas and waking up in technicolor Oz.

GO, if you haven't yet - your nose (and the noses of those around you) will thank you. I've already been asked about my fragrance THREE TIMES today, and it's barely past noon!

To Christen - thank you for your expert help, the free samples and the CD you burned for me while we got coffee next door. I'll be back soon! :)

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
Member Profile

Wholeheartedly agree! RarelyEver, what scent did you end up with? I fell in love with the Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs scents, especially "Alice." I bought four of them at once! (Well, three - Christen had them on a buy three, get one free special.)

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
Member Profile

Don't know why I didn't start this thread, I love Christen and her shop! I needed a new scent, went in, tried about 15 different things, left with 6 samples to try out and came back to buy Buddha's Fig. LOVE it! Oh, and Christen fussed over my dogs too, so I had to love her.

Posted 1 year ago #
RarelyEver
Member Profile

SarahScoot -

I ended up buying a fragrance called "Elixir" (I forget the manufacturer.. it's no one I've ever heard of). This scent is SO awesome - spicy, woodsy, not too warm and therefore not overwhelming like "Opium" or some such.. just perfect!

I just posted a review on Yelp, too, and read what other people wrote.. Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs came up a couple of times and I'm super-curious about it now. I'm going back this week to check it out! :)

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
Member Profile

R.E. - the style of the BPAL line is a bit "darker" than I like, but some of the scents are just amazing. "Alice" is supposed to smell like "milk and honey with rose, carnation, and bergamot," according to the BPAL website; the milk, honey, and rose notes are strongest on me, but it's not cloying or flowery at all.
I just love Knows Perfume, though... have to resist going in there sometimes because it's so tempting to buy something each time.

Posted 1 year ago #
RarelyEver
Member Profile

GoGo -

I tried "Buddha's Fig", too, and loved it! My last fragrance was "Un Jardin en Mediterranee" by Hermes, which is very fig-ey (or, figgy? did I just make up a new word?), so Christen suggested I try something new. I'm glad she did, I'm really happy with "Elixir", but I'm going back to get at least one more.. and I can't wait!!

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
Member Profile

The next Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Full Moon Party is on the 21st, I can't wait for that!

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
Member Profile

Yes, GoGo! I plan to be there, and am excited!

Posted 1 year ago #
Garden_nymph
Member Profile

I agree with you all, Christen is lovely and it really IS all about the conversation. Cristen is easy to talk to and is very informative. She shares her knowledge without being preachy or elitist. The shop is welcoming and absolutely beautiful. It's impossible to walk out without a purchase! The prices span the range from very affordable, I found one at $35, upward. I know I will be back!!! Feel the love Christen, feel the love.

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
Member Profile

BPAL perfume oil vials are $18, FYI - quite affordable.

Posted 1 year ago #
Traci
Member Profile

I agree that Knows is a wonderful place! Some of my knitting friends love perfume, and I went in myself one day not expecting much (I've never really cared for strong perfume). The owner was SO sweet. I left with over 10 vials of perfume to sample, and she wouldn't let me buy anything until I knew it was right for me. I was sold immediately. She really loves what she does and isn't a perfume pusher :)

I have two BPAL scents that I wear everyday, and have a pricier perfume in mind for later. It's a nice change from the occasional Burberry!

Posted 1 year ago #
ellenater
Member Profile

I agree with you all wholeheartedly! Knows is the best of both worlds: you get the incredible hand-picked boutique selection, but without the snobbery. Christen is doing what she was born to do and it's so obvious. The BPAL full moon parties are amazing and she always has great cakes and usually champagne or wine also. They are intimate, dramatic, artsy, and yet cozy and warm. Also, mall perfume gives me a headache but her selection does not. I am totally in love with the Greyland. Mmmmmm. I love BPAL, too and have the Flor de Muerto, Sin, and also Dia de Natitas (which is today!).

yay Knows Perfume!

Posted 1 year ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

BUMP!

Posted 1 year ago #
HunterG
Member Profile

Anyone know anything else about her scents other than they smell great?

Alcohol based? Natural oils? Synthetic? My guy has chemical sensitivities and can only have natural oil based perfumes. So, I constantly smell of Patchouli and Vanilla. Would love something else as I have been rockin that scent since 2000...

Posted 1 year ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

She has it all there. Naturals and synthetics.

Posted 1 year ago #
Jasperblu
Member Profile

I am the proud owner of a bottle of Dzing! from Christen's shop... among other scents as well, but Dzing! is my favorite.

I wholeheartedly concur with this RAVE. Christen is awesome. The shop is NOT what you "pefume haters" would remotely expect. And I promise, if you stop in to let Christen lead you (and your nose) around the many varied scents she offers, you will at the very least catch some of her enthusiasm for what she does there at Knows.

I've heard her refer to herself as a CURATOR of scents. That is a spot on description.

Do go in and give Knows Perfume a look-see. I can't recommend her, or her product line enough.

Posted 1 year ago #
Christen
Member Profile

Okay, I am going to come and read this whenever I need a boost in morale! I am grinning ear to ear right now. Thank you for such kind words - I feel so lucky that this is what I get to do every day, surrounded by things that smell good and great people who want to discover them. I have a blast every time I get to help solve the puzzle called 'Help me find a fragrance to love!' Thank you for being so welcoming to me and my fledgling shop :)

RarelyEver - girl, you are welcome to my '80's New Wave music any time! And you should come to a Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab party - I think you would have a great time. I cannot say enough about how wonderful BPAL fans are...

GoGo - I love it when people bring their pooches! Mine are too ill-behaved to be shop dogs, so I just cheat on them shamelessly with all of the Junction dogs.

HunterG - we will find something for you. I have naturals and oil-based scents, and did I mention I love to solve a puzzle? ;)

Thanks again!

Christen from Knows Perfume

Posted 1 year ago #
charlabob
Member Profile

I'm really happy to see this thread -- for a number of reasons. I've always been a "person of scents." I associate scents with good or bad experiences in my life. I can't remember the name of the guy I dated after my (long ago) first and only divorce, but I still remember his "dress up" scent and react a little when I encounter it now. I plan to go to Knows as soon as I save up a little discretionary cash or tomorrow -- whichever comes first.

I'm pleasantly surprised at the universally "positive feedback" because I've gotten used to the perfume-adverse and scent-challenged who can't stand any kind of perfume. I've even seen public places with signs urging people to avoid perfumes (and strong soaps!) Does this mean people are getting beyond that? Or that Knows has less allergenic scents? Or that (for once) we're cuttng some slack? Whatever it is, I love the raves and can't wait to know Knows.

So, Christen, if I were to tell you that someone gave me an Israeli perfume Israel called "Chutzpah" 20 years ago and I've been trying to find it or something like it every since, could you find and/or duplicate it? Actually, if you just called *any* scent "Chutzpah" I'd probably buy it.

Posted 1 year ago #
RarelyEver
Member Profile

Charlabob -

Interesting bit of information here.. one of the lines Christen carries is called "I hate Perfume"; she gave me a couple of vials of their scents to try and they are DELICIOUS! :)

Posted 1 year ago #
Molly
Member Profile

Everything everyone has said is all true! I go in every couple of weeks to hang out at Christen's counter and chat about scents (and music...and books...and stuff...), and have found half a dozen new fragrances I now cannot live without.

Since others are giving favorites by name I'll give mine too: L'Artisan's Tea for Two (chai tea and leather and smoke), Smell Bent's Incensed (incense and vanilla) and One (cardamom and woodsy paperbacks), BPAL's Dee (leather and woods and sweet libraries), Mbeze's Koko Haze (coconut!)...okay, there are more, but I'll stop.

Oh, and Elixir is by Penhaligon's, and is delicious! I'm tempted by that one too. Exotic spicy church incense is what I get from it. Yummm.

Thank you thank you, Christen!! Never leave us!

Posted 1 year ago #
HunterG
Member Profile

That would totally rock Christen!

I have been mixing my vanilla and patchouli essential oils from Ten Zing MoMo forever and my vanilla is just about tapped out, and the vanilla scent is borderline "not okay". I am looking for something you can't smell more than 3 feet away that is spicy, non floral that will dissipate to be almost non apparent by the end of the day.

I'll have to come see you soon.

Posted 1 year ago #
Escondido
Member Profile

I dropped in yesterday... the store is great - so very comfortable and welcoming. I need a new scent and dreaded going to a 'big store' to buy it. Christen was busy with three (!) other customers so I'm going back again today. It is such a pleasure to see a store like this is West Seattle.

Posted 1 year ago #
Christen
Member Profile

Charlabob - I'd buy any scent named 'Chutzpah,' too! It's been discontinued, but there's actually a bottle on ebay right now :) And of course we can find something lovely to replace it - I have a few ideas already...

Molly, you are the bee's knees. I always have so much fun yapping about books and smells and life with you!

I wish I could have met you yesterday, Escondido - glad to hear you'll be coming back! I have a helper after 2:00 on Friday, and I have a helper on Saturday - to help with my 6-month anniversary sale. Stop by when you have some time to sniff and explore :)

Posted 1 year ago #
Irukandji
Member Profile

That's it. On the next preschool day, I'm IN. I dumped a heap of favorite perfumes years back because of a chemical-sensitive spouse.

Christen: If you could start scheming on a twist to my old favorites, I'd LOVE your help!

Fath de Fath
Safari by Ralph Lauren
Original DKNY
Green Tea by Bulgari

I can't WAIT!

Posted 1 year ago #
Christen
Member Profile

I'm realizing I should have posted this earlier, but tomorrow is my six month anniversary here at the shop. I'll have champagne and sweets and all sorts of treasures on sale - it's a good time to stop by :)

See you soon!

Christen

Posted 1 year ago #
moxilot
Member Profile

I really try to avoid walking through the makeup and perfume departments at the mall. The salespeople are plastic-y and pushy and every counter reeks of alcohol soaked potpourri. Knows Perfume-- Exactly the opposite. Holy cow this place is rad. It's comfortable and casual, and Christen is unbelievably helpful. She was patient while I tried my best to describe what I liked and what I didn't like ("I don't really like that one because...it smells too.....sharp?") and after a few samples to narrow down the field she was spot on with her recommendations. I’m lovin’ this place. Thanks for opening such a great shop!

Posted 1 year ago #
Irukandji
Member Profile

Cumming :) and a little Tea for Two!

Posted 1 year ago #