Floris is the premier perfumery in London, having established itself in 1730, and has prided itself…read moreon excellence since that time. Floris has a store across the street from Fortnum and Masons where the entire range of its fragrances are available. Scents range from floral to sweet, and smoky to citrusy. Floris counts King Charles among its clients, and carries the royal warrant. His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II was also a customer. I own 3 colognes from here and love each of them.

This is a truly remarkable business - my favorite store in London. You will be hard pressed to find…read moremany businesses with the heritage of Floris. Here are a few reasons to love this store, and why my last business trip to London won't be the last occasion I buy from this perfumerie: 1. History: Floris has been making perfumes since 1730. This business is older than my country. 2. Client List: Their list of former and current customers reads like a who's-who of royals, celebrities, captains of industry, and other high-profile folks. Ian Fleming loved Floris perfumes so much that he wrote them into his novels - James Bond wore the No. 89. Floris also has multiple royal warrants, including one from the Queen. 3. Surprisingly friendly, down-to-earth staff: When I wandered in here, I spoke with Margarita, one of the employees. She was excited about the products (always refreshing), friendly, yet not pushy. She displayed an impressive knowledge of the company's storied history, and was eager to talk about it. Thanks to her, I walked out with their 4-cologne pack for men, which included the No. 89 worn by Ian Fleming (and James Bond). 4. Custom-made perfumes: Floris custom-makes perfumes as well, though the price is not cheap (about 450 pounds if my memory serves me correctly, or two for 800). If you elect to have your own perfume, you are taken to a back room filled with numerous small bottles, each a different scent. They test your skin's properties, ask you about your personality, and based thereon make a one-of-a-kind concoction just for you, which is then recorded in their enormous book. The next time you order your custom perfume, it's only 150 pounds or so. Margarita gave me a peak at the ancient-looking book. Every other name was a "Count so-and-so, had an "Esq." title, or something like that. Some very important people have walked into that room. 5. Pride: They package your purchase beautifully, something you don't really experience much in the US (even when you shop at a Saks Fifth or a Neiman Marcus, they usually just wrap your purchase in tissue and throw it in a bag. Not so here!). Ribbons, beautiful packaging, a nice bag, etc. 6. Ancient scents: As I was walking out, I asked the folks working here what their oldest scent was. It was a perfume created in the 1700s. I forget now the name, but I remember the scent - like a bouquet of flowers. That perfume is STILL for sale here! I love this place, and they sell items online. Hope to return in the future.

This delicious French perfume boutique has a scent to suit all tastes. So much so, it's yet another…read moreplace that made it tough for me in the decision stakes. I loved their long-term classic l'eau de l'artisan: a delicious, refreshing herbal/citrus fragrance that instantly recalls sun-drenched days. It definitely has unisex appeal. Other in-house fragrances, that enticed me here, include the happily named jour de fête (day of celebration) which majors on sugared almonds and vanilla, as well as the pretty, white-floral la chasse aux papillons (butterfly hunting). Their amber-infused carved wooden balls are an unusual gift idea; they not only look decorative but also provide long-term home fragrance (mine has lasted for years). If you need expert guidance, or thinking time, you'll be comfortable here; you can sniff and test - to your heart's content - as well as taking away some samples, to see how they suit you, before buying.

I got a oil perfume there in 2016 it was in the shape of a heart. The best I ever had. But I can't…read morefind it . I wish I could buy it again.

Has anyone noticed a strange-looking shop on Oxford Street that looks a lot like an airport lounge…read moreand where everything is hidden behind glass cabinets? Well, this is Arabian Oud, a luxury scent shop founded by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al Jasser of Saudi Arabia. My mum, who happens to be from Egypt, dragged me into this shop and fell for the 'Arabian luxury' spiel - hook, line and sinker. She paid a small fortune for a terribly overpowering musty scent which was housed in its own miniature cupboard and I can't help feeling she was had a little bit. My point is, that although these products are beautifully packaged, and some of them I admit do smell rather exquisite, I just don't know whether they're catering to the right audience on Oxford Street, and with scent prices reaching the £1,000 mark, I get the feeling this place would be much better received next to Harrods. One more thing - check out the web page. It looks like a airline website.

Best product around best customer service and what a genuine lovely group of people ! I hope they…read morego worldwide

Not quite your typical quality perfume shop, but nonetheless, beautiful…read more Fragrancing the shop are deep and rich pomegranate, orange blossoms and such natural Sicilian scents. Even more appealing than the smells are the beautiful bottles and packaging, which illustrated with leopards and palm trees could almost come straight out of Africa. Ortigia perfumes, candles, bath oil and moisturisers make perfect presents for those who do not want to walk around smelling like a rose garden. This is a grown up and exotic fragrance shop for grown up and exotic people.

After walking around London for a bit, it's nice to freshen things up and restore my nose to the…read morescent of my morning perfume. Since, I'm usually picky about the scents that I purchase, this shop is perfect for helping me sort out my scent. I choose between blends that have a citrus, wood, floral, rosy, etc. flare and can even put it in the lamp of my choice. Although the shop is small, its packed with delicious scents for men, women and even your home!

Quick place to pick up some toiletries and make up. They often have good offers on. The last was…read moreArmani perfumes at 50% off. Their threading service at 5£ is very good. They seem to be marginally cheaper than boots or I could be mistaken

i went to superdrug today and the stuff there were very rude. its a shame that you are hiring such…read morepeople with no manners and is really off putting to come there again which is a shame as i am a regular costumer..one particular girl who looked asian ( indian) was giving me nasty looks which i tried to ignore and when i went to check out and got done i said thank you twice and she didn't reply which made me sound like a joke..it's really ridiculous because its apart of her costumer service to keep a smile on her face and be polite ..i think its time to start finding other appropriate stuff that know their manners and limits.

Quality/Quantity - Upscale department store. I am sure it will be hard to compete against…read more Lots of expensive upscale brand names, many I am not familiar with. But also many "American" brands. See their website for all they sell. Atmosphere - Open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm and on Sundays from 11:30am to 6pm. Good size department store, almost like a maze...? Not sure if it is due to an older building or done intentionally to make you walk the entire store (think Ikea). Or it could have just been me since they have a bar here and I got confused/lost my sense of direction... Service - Okay. I am always in favor of businesses with bars. My wife shops and I drink. And she can bring her bags to me to watch so she doesn't have to carry them; win/win! Price - 4 to 7 pounds a beer at the bar; reasonably priced for an upscale department store. I did ask what my wife bought, but honestly I prefer not to know. :) Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2003 with your 8+ locations and 9+ restaurants/bars.

Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge remains a quintessential destination for luxury shopping in London…read more Situated just steps from Harrods, this iconic department store offers a curated selection of high-end fashion, beauty, and gourmet products across its multi-level space.

Such a cute market! Loved all the little vendors and shops. So many different things to see, eat…read moreand buy. Worth a stop if you are in London, also in a cool area!

We loved this market. We went on Saturday, which I believe it is open only on Friday and Saturday…read more Much less crowded than the Borough Market, which you can barely move through certain sections during peak hours (though great selection). I enjoyed a quiche. My daughters enjoyed strawberries topped with Nutella. We all shared a fish and chips meal from Poppie's which I highly recommend. Probably the best fish and chips we had while in London. There are olive bars and paella and all sorts of amazing foods to enjoy. Also pick up a Notting Hill bookstore linen tote while you are there.

Tips: - The foodhall is worth the visit. Enter from Oxford…read moreStreet. - Candy is on the lower ground level. - If you come here around Christmas, the Christmas section is lovely. I was in London in December 2013. I visited a bunch of department stores. Part of me was curious about how they are set up versus how the flagship department stores in Canada were set up. I visited the flagship Selfridges store on Oxford Street. Rest in peace to the flagship Eaton's store in Winnipeg that I frequented often when I worked across from it. I also miss the flagship Hudson's Bay stores in Toronto and Winnipeg. I will toss in the flagship Simpsons store that preceded the Hudson's Bay. I stayed in South Kensington. There was a bus stop steps away from the hotel and around the corner from Gloucester Road station. I took the 74 Putney bus that got me to this store. I could have also taken the underground to Piccadilly Circus, but the walk would have been a bit longer. I wasn't sure how much damage I'd do here! I entered the store from Oxford Street, which gets you on the ground level. I remember seeing sushi on a convenor belt to my left. It was cool. It was Yo! I'm glad that this eatery is still around. You can dine here or do takeout. I entered the foodhall. I was so happy. I saw cupcakes, oysters, caviar, and more. Everything looked fancy and yummy. The ground floor had a beauty section and a pharmacy. This store is large. It's the second-largest department store in London, behind Harrods. I spent most of my time on the lower ground level. It's where the candy, wine, and cookshop sections are. I love candy and confections. I saw everything from macarons and chocolate malt balls, to fancy bourbon and wine. I bought some chocolate bars. They were perfect to hand out to colleagues. They were also Christmas-themed. I got milk and dark chocolate varieties. They were delicious. This floor also had a cinema. I didn't check it out. I was too busy visiting the technology and stationery sections. I was so happy on this floor. I spent the most time here. I did check out the women's clothing, which occupies levels 2 and 3. There was a lot of designer clothing. It didn't suit my casual, cheaper style. I loved coming here just before Christmas. It was festive and fun. The Christmas section was enjoyable to peruse. I have fond memories coming here. I hope to return someday. This store is over a century old and I'm pleased that it continues to endure. (49)

This place is beautiful and can be compared to a Saks store. On our visit, it was really packed and…read morecrowded since everyone was trying to get their holiday deals. Plus, it is beautiful during the holidays. The store has a total of 4 floors with a huge Jellycat Fish and Chip pop-up on the top floor. If you are here for that, be prepared to wait since it is a 2 1/2 hour wait. There is also a walk-in line if you were unable to create a reservation. Merch here is on the pricier side but if you are looking for something trendy, you can definitely find it here. Plus, there are a few food and snack locations if you get hungry while shopping your hearts away.

The name that is synonymous with and basically spawned the high-end candle craze... first they were…read moreselling out of Baies, then it was the Figuier...you'd think they were actually worth something *substantial* the way that Diptyque candles are so sought after and coveted. To be fair, Diptyque's candles are indeed luxurious as far a wax-filled votives go. They have a long burn-life. They generally smell pretty darn good. They are impeccably packaged. The prestige each one comes with is complimentary. And further, they've managed to concoct their scents using all natural oils without using anything synthetic - cheers to them especially for that. By far the most interesting innovation to come from the House of Diptyque of late is the candle: "Essence of John Galliano." Even though it smells like a smokestack (I guess this is *literally* his essence) and I wouldn't buy it, I still think it's pretty cool. I have to say that I don't like the way they've turned some of their bestselling candle fragrances into perfumes - some of them just don't work... far too sweet and not complex enough to wear on the skin. But the sales staff is pleasant and helpful... more than willing to dole out samples and let you sniff whatever you'd like.

The name that is synonymous with and basically spawned the high-end candle craze. And boy, are…read morethese candles upmarket and bound to burn a small hole in your pocket, quite literally. Diptyque was founded in 1961 by three friends, Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Gautrot and Yves Coueslant, all with an artistic and interior decoration background. In 1963, continuing an old English tradition, the company launched a line of scented candles which was the beginning of a long success story. They are impeccably packaged, and have devised original scents using natural oils, low on synthetic, high on the eco-friendly dial. Sniff away to your heart's content!