Amidst the vitality of Sydney’s inner west, Libertine Parfumerie opens the doors to its third standalone boutique. This boutique transcends the conventional vernacular of retail to represent an interplay of fragrance, materiality and storied antiquities. Burrowed within the Burwood Westfield precinct, Libertine Parfumerie is an expansion and discursive elaboration of the brand – a testament to its unwavering devotion to the interstice of fragrance.
Crafted by the illustrious Tamsin Johnson, whose interior design oeuvre is a masterclass in the amalgamation of European classicism and mid-century modernity, the boutique extends her works with evocative precision. Johnson, who first imbued Libertine’s Paddington flagship with her signature aesthetic, revisits her muse – this time with a more intimate, theatrical cadence. The space, in its entirety, pays homage to the apothecary traditions of the Enlightenment, tempered by an ode to the design bravura of the 1970s. “This boutique embodies our raison d’être,” shares Nick Smart, founder of Libertine Parfumerie. “It is both a celebration of our trajectory and a testament to the evolving appetite for niche perfumery in Sydney’s dynamic inner west.”
The boutique manifests as a chiaroscuro tableau of materiality and texture. Chocolate-stained oak joinery punctuates the space, its gravitas offset by walls articulated in a hand-painted marble effect. Elsewhere, a French marble vanity is mounted against antiqued mirrors while, above, Murano glass chandeliers cast illumination over the walls through a prismatic interplay of jewel-like sconces.
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Names such as Amouage, Creed, Trudon, Santa Maria Novella and Xerjoff populate the curated displays, their olfactory narratives ensconced within. Here, the 18th-century heritage of Astier de Villatte ceramics finds an artful mise-en-scène, juxtaposed against furniture such as reclaimed Italian marble tables and antique Spanish dining chairs, each artefact chosen with discernment. Beyond its material, the boutique offers bespoke consultations and masterclasses. These rituals invite aficionados into a world where fragrance is approached as an extension of one’s self. Within a private room, visitors are also guided through involved landscapes by the erudition of in-house specialists.
