New York's Niche Fragrance Haven Gets Its Own Scent

Since 1995, Aedes de Venustas in the West Village has catered to NYC’s niche and luxury fragrance hounds, specializing in scents from Amouage, By Kilian, Editions de Parfums and more. But, aside from a 2008 collaboration with L’Artisan Perfumeur, the boutique hasn’t had its own signature scent - until now. 

Debuting this month, Aedes de Venustas Signature Eau de Parfum ($225 for 100mL) features notes of rhubarb, tomato leaf, red-currant, honeysuckle, vetiver and incense, housed in an aubergine glass bottle with the Aedes insignia imprinted on the cap (if you’ve visited the store, you’ll recognize its color scheme and design sensibility reflected here). It smells, in short, amazing - fresh and warm, neither too masculine nor too feminine.

The juice was created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour - he’s also L’Artisan Perfumeur’s resident nose, and created the earlier Aedes collaborations - who describes it as “a game of supports in an unexpected, even improbably olfactory architecture because the green effect increases while the heavy dark resinous incense and chypre accord is largely deceasing and getting more abstract.” Translation? The scent's construction doesn't adhere to the traditional pyramid model with top notes, heart and base, but is more of a “round” experience with the rhubarb at its axis. 

A candle ($85, available May 1st) and soap ($35) round out the signature line for now, but the boutique plans to release "several" more fragrances over a five year period. The current offerings are available at Aedes de Venustas boutique, Barney’s and online.