Guerlain Boutique, Covent Garden
Guerlain just opened their first London pop-up, on Covent Garden’s Piazza (the North side). And it’s FAH-BU-LOUS, darlings.
It is principally a showcase for L’Art et la Matière, the Guerlain fragrance collection that showcases specific precious ingredients, whether that be rose (in Rose Chérie, Rose Barbare or our absolute new favourite rose, Santal Pao Rosa), or vanilla (Spiritueuse Double Vanille), white flowers (Néroli Outrenoir, Cruel Gardénia, Joyeuse Tubéreuse), and more. One corner, however, is reserved for Guerlain's gorgeous make-up, should you fancy a quick zhoosh before a theatre outing, or to buy a lipstick for a friend. (Or yourself, come to that.)
There's an exquisite salon for private appointments (above), an events space, and – always pushing our buttons – LOTS of personalisation opportunities, with the L'Art et la Matière bottles (see below): select your cap – different metallic options, or studded with faux gems, select the colour of the thread around the neck...
But above all, it's a space for discovery, really immersing yourself in this extraordinary (and yes, pricy) collection. Jolly knowledgeable staff, as you might expect, to hold your hand (metaphorically, at least, in these strange times).
And as if the Guerlain pop-up wasn't enough of a reason to visit Covent Garden right now, though, it's become a SERIOUS beauty destination, not least with the Lisa Eldridge boutique next door to Guerlain, L'Occitane, NARS, Miller Harris, Charlotte Tilbury and Jo Malone London, as well as big guns like Chanel and Dior. All that, and Covent Garden's street performers, too!
Meanwhile: if you can't visit London (or don't fancy it 'in the circs'), you might like to know about the Guerlain Personalisation Atelier, an online service offering all of the above options to make a fragrance super-special, along with the choice of one of Guerlain's iconic 'bee' bottles, and/or having someone's monogram or name engraved or hand-written in pure gold.
So all round, it's most definitely a Happy Spritzmas from Guerlain...
Unit No.10 Royal Opera House Arcade, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8HD
Weekday opening hours: 11am-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm
Guerlain Personalisation Atelier (online) – click here
