Something’s cooking: Kuwaiti perfumery The Fragrance Kitchen opens in NY

A waft of the Middle East has blown into the beauty department of Bergdorf Goodman this week – and not in the way you might expect. The Fragrance Kitchen is a Kuwaiti perfume house founded by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah that blends the traditions of Middle Eastern perfumery with the French philosophy and expertise of Grasse. Its outpost at the store marks a first American foray for the brand and features over 40 fragrances that reflect the diverse and distinctive scents that Al-Sabah has created.

The Fragrance Kitchen has truly turned its corner of the legendary department store into its own. Installed on two walls is an undulating architectural wall feature that references the slopes of sand dunes in the Middle East. Made from laser cut oak wood, the fins emerge from glossy, black-mirrored walls to create a mesmerising design feature that lures the eye. Designed by Jassim Al Shehab Architects (Arch JS), the wall is a miniature iteration of the interiors of The Fragrance Kitchen’s flagship store in Kuwait.

To cap things off, the outpost is exclusively home to the scent, ‘A Rose With A View’ – a woody floral that mixes rose, violet and white flowers with sandalwood, patchouli and musk. Like the other creations in The Fragrance Kitchen’s collections, the scent is inspired by Al-Sabah’s memories and experiences of culture and poetically sits in that sweet spot between tradition and modernity.