Food & Drink
Anthousa
Follow your nose to this boutique fragrance store in South Lake Union.
By Seattle Mag April 18, 2012
This article originally appeared in the May 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
It isn’t the soft-lilac-hued walls or sparkling chandelier that first draws shoppers into the new Anthousa (South Lake Union, 900 Lenora St., Suite 105; anthousa.com) so much as the wafting aromas of crisp cucumber or spicy nectarine. The antithesis of a cloying scent shop, the pocket-sized boutique is the new headquarters of local fragrance guru Maria Christofilis’ Anthousa home fragrance product line; it features exquisite glass bottles of fragrances and scented candles inspired by her Mediterranean travels.
Follow your nose to the sparkling lemon notes of the aqua verbena ($40–$90) or a zesty vanilla, grapefruit and blood orange blend ($16–$32 for candles) set out on the long antique table.
Or, peruse the rows of limited-edition scents; the smoky leather originally made for New York’s Aedes de Venustas stores seems especially well-suited for a rustic Northwest lodge. Christofilis often hosts trunk shows featuring Northwest perfumers or jewelry artists such as Francesca Lacagnina, whose antique-inspired jewels are right at home in this elegant little trove.