Black Friday madness South Park

 Anyone that braves the mall on Black Friday is a masochist. That is our opinion, although trampling screaming soccer moms and wild eyed dads in search of The Elf on The Shelf does let out your inner agressions.  Technology and Toys are great for the family but why not get yourself something fragrant; you deserve it. Not a mass produced soulless scent but a perfume that is hard to find and extraordinary. Decants just won't do when you can buy the bottle.

Twisted Lily Boutique Bourem Hills Brooklyn

One of my favorite perfumeries is Twisted Lily Boutique in Brooklyn. I love the neighborhood, the relaxing atmosphere in the store, and never feel pressured to buy. When Twisted Lily Fragrance boutique first opened its doors in September of 2013  in Bourem Hills,  I don’t think the co-owners Brooklyn EricWeiser and Stamatis Birsimijoglou ever dreamed that their small 650 square foot shoppe would be the stomping grounds for niche, natural and artistic perfume lovers from all over the world.  They carried 25 perfume brands when the first customers walked into the store and now just a year later you will find  over fifty- from A Lab on Fire – Yosh Olfactory Sense. Twisted Lily expanded their natural and West Coast artisan perfume offerings as well as added hard to find beauty and fragrance brands.

Eric Weiser and me  at the October 25, 2014  Launch Event for Bruno Fazzolari

As someone who came of age in New York City, I bought many of my fragrances from Takashimaya (which closed its doors in 2010). My first exposure to many indie beauty and perfume brands was in the early 1990s when a startup named MAC created a city wide craze for a lipstick named Russian Red and a French perfumer Jean Laporte, created complex scents for L'Artisan Parfumeur. They were sold at Henri Bendel; this was back in the day when the store was next door to the uber hip fashion boutique Charivari (owned coincendently by a mother and son Selma and Jon Weiser, no relation) on 10 West 57th Street. Sadly as of September 2014, Henri Bendel at 712 Fifth Avenue only sells  private label accessories.  Today, Twisted Lily is one of the few perfumeries, like Takashamiya and Bendel were back in the day, that is a launching pad,  an incubator for up and coming olfactive artists. Stamatis, Eric and Boutique manager Anna Young host numerous events, most recently for the launch of Bruno Fazzolari Perfumes and a book signing for Barbara Herman's Scent and Subversion.  If you are not  in the mood for a perfume, the fabulous shoppe also sells hard to find beauty lines like Rouge Bunny Rouge and a carefully curated selection of home fragrance, exquisite home decor giftables, skincare,  bath and body products are what differentiate Twisted Lily from so many other niche perfumeries.

Twisted Lily Co Owner Eric Weiser and  Boutique Manager Anna Young

 I have been at the boutique when cartons of unsolicited fragrances arrive and although it might take awhile,  the Twisted Lily team absolutely takes the time to review everything that comes in. Some of these submissions are people's passion, their art, their life long work so unlike many boutiques who make snap judgements, without the sniff test, they always spend time reviewing  what is new… and you never know where that next gem is hiding.

Co owners Eric Weiser and Stamatis Birsimijoglou with Kali

According to Stamatis, "One of the most important things Eric and I have learned about fragrance, retail, the fragrance industry, the beauty industry… is to have a bit of fun, to relax… fragrance doesn't have to be so serious. We've learned many people are intimidated by perfume and turned off to fragrance from their experiences in large department stores or with aggressive sales people… and we are so happy to offer them a completely different experience with fragrance. We've also learned that Kali, our dog, tends to like florals".

Twisted Lily Gift Card $50

As a special thank you to ÇaFleureBon readers who were the FIRST to learn the news of the boutique's opening and have been strong supporters ever since,  Eric and Stamatis are offering TWO $50 gift cards for anyone anywhere in the world. Here is what you need to do be eligible: Go to www.twistedlily.com. Dig deep as there hidden gems and choose what is on your wishlist. Include that in the comment. (Mona di Orio Myhrr Casati anyone?) Also let us know  where you live and pick a gift for me (no, you won't have to use your GC to buy me one, but I would love to read what you think I am coveting that I don't already own). There is something I really want and the reader who guesses it first automatically wins one of the GCs. Draw ends November 28, 2014 BLACK FRIDAY.

–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

Note:  Stop by Twisted Lily and chill anytime during the holiday season. They are located at 360 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume

The Fine Print: Valid towards a purchase of $100 or more, does not apply to tax or shipping, cannot be used to purchase Gift Cards or Sale Items, must be used in full, cannot be combined with any other promotions