Merz Apothecary's Top 10 Niche Fragrance Picks for 2016

Merz Apothecary picks its top ten fragrances from around the globe for this holiday season.

Merz Apothecary Store Front

​Merz Apothecary, Chicago’s oldest apothecary, is home to thousands of products from across the globe including its top ten fragrances for this holiday season.  With hundreds of different fragrances to choose from, Merz has selected ten niche perfume brands that meet an array of criteria that set them apart from the rest.  This includes everything from newer, more edgier fragrances, to more sophisticated and established brands on the market.

“Choosing our top ten was tough,” says President Anthony Qaiyum, “we work especially hard to stay on top of all the new fragrance releases.  We are known for our large but curated selection and we strive to offer high-quality fragrances that are hard to find and truly unique.  Limiting it to just ten was a hard task, but we’ve put together a list of niche fragrance brands that we are really excited about and proud to carry here at Merz.”

Choosing our top ten was tough. We are known for our large but curated selection and we strive to offer high-quality fragrances that are hard to find and truly unique. Limiting it to just ten was a hard task, but we've put together a list of niche fragrance brands that we are really excited about and proud to carry here at Merz.

Anthony Qaiyum, President

Despite the difficulty of selecting just ten brands, Qaiyum and his team put together a list of this year’s favorites, which includes a new line for them called BeauFort London from England.  This line is rather bold and is inspired by Britain’s maritime history, complete with the smells of sea trade and war and has been enjoyed by many of the Merz regulars. 

Finishing its seventh year as a premiere French lifestyle fragrance house, Maison Francis Kurkdjian has easily made the list. Francis Kurkdjian is a world-renowned perfumer who has helped create fragrances for large brands such as Burberry, Ferragamo, and Giorgio Armani to name a few.  

Inspired by life’s journeys, including all the knowns and unknowns it brings along the way, the fragrance house Memo Paris, is a Merz favorite. The line was launched nearly a decade ago to bring out the daring and adventurous side of its users and it hasn’t disappointed.

Nasomatto tops the list and for fragrance connoisseurs that will come as no surprise.  This perfume line was made for those that have a discerning palate and are looking for something truly unique.  The brand boasts its secret ingredients and creative formulations. 

Orto Parisi is a daring collection of fragrances that were inspired by the nose’s grandfather, Vincenzo Parisi, who loved working in the garden and enjoyed the perfume of life.  These unique scents have been a popular choice at Merz for both men and women. 

The tradition and spirit of eighteenth-century luxury live on and are still a favorite today with the line Parfums de Marly.  The prestige of this perfume goes back to its roots as the line was created for King Louis XV and the raised horse emblem on the beautiful flacons are in tribute to the horse races that he loved.

In contrast to the established brands of Paris, master perfumer Andy Tauer has created his own fragrance line that is modern and truly unique.  Tauer is a diamond in the rough; he is self-taught in the realm of perfumery and quickly gained a loyal following for his work.  He has combined some of the purest ingredients from around the world to create his masterpieces.  

Continuing on a modern theme, we have the much celebrated fragrance line, Juliette Has A Gun.  These fragrances can be described as a “weapon of seduction” and speaks directly to the women’s liberation movement.  This is a boutique brand focusing on quality and sophisticated scent combinations that are elegant and classy. 

For those that are inspired by a simpler time that relied on herbal remedies and native medicine D.S & Durga is the pick for you.  All of the fragrances are made in house focusing on high-quality, small batch production.  With the array of herbal and natural products available at Merz it is no wonder D.S. & Durga made the short list. 

Finally, we have Diptyque Paris.  Made famous by its line of luxury candles, the eau de toilettes and eau de parfums are just as loved and sought after.  Diptyque quickly became world famous for its rich and refreshing fragrances combined with beautiful and refined packaging. 

Contact:  Chris Wilson - chris@argentavisllc.com

Source: Merz Apothecary

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