Gone are the days when the only way to test a new scent was to visit a department store or flip through a magazine. Portland actually punches above its weight in perfume stores per capita—and variety. From the historic to the hard to find and even a DIY option, these Portland shops make perfume shopping accessible and, frankly, fun.
The Marie-Marie
Just entering The Marie-Marie is a transportive experience.
You press a vintage buzzer to be let in. The petite storefront then opens into a jewel box of dark wood built-ins, gilded antiques and wall-to-wall displays of niche perfumes. When starting the shop in 2025, owners Henry Aesoph and Nicole Miller took inspiration from old Paramount movies. “It’s a fantasy influenced by classic hotels and department stores,” Aesoph says. “It’s also a fantasy level of service.”…