Fumerie has turned seven years old, and to celebrate we decided to have a giveaway that celebrates the spirit of our boutique space, the desire to represent fragrant art, and our lovely community. We asked our customers to write us a fragrant memory associated with Fumerie to be entered into a raffle to win a bottle of the luxurious Idole by Lubin (which Lubin so graciously donated to us for this cause, and to celebrate our years of working together). Your willingness to share your fond memories humbled us and touched our hearts, thank you!
Below you will find the (over sixty!) stories and memories of our community as they were submitted to us. We hope they serve as interesting and fun, as well as a time capsule for the last seven years in our little corner of the world of fine fragrance. We hope that if you haven’t yet had one of these memories with us, that you will soon! Using our free online consultation service or stopping by our boutique would certainly be an opportunity to create your own fragrant experience and memories.
Fumerie Fragrant Memories- From Our Lovely Community, 4.6.23
“I had only had experiences with department store perfumes prior to Fumerie. I remember learning about woody and warm notes from Tracy and how special some small producers are. Remember Me was a treat and Oriento an early purchase that is still a favorite! Every trip down to Fumerie makes a special memory!”
- Jill W.
“It's hard to think of just one amazing memory, as every time I come into the shop, I feel the warmth and welcome to celebrate and explore the artwork that fragrances can be. However, I think a shining moment was several years ago, when I arrived rudely early for a Tauer event where Andy would be speaking. When I arrived, I was surprised to see not only Tracy setting up shop, but Andy Tauer himself getting in your way, talking up a storm. You more-or-less planted him in front of me with a bottle of Hyacinth and a Mechanic and then moved along to finish setting up for the event. I got nearly an hour of one-on-one time talking fragrance with Andy Tauer, a dream for me as a lover of his work, and a blessing for my deeply introverted soul! It was an amazing experience, and hopefully you were able to do what you needed to do, too, before the festivities began. Congratulations on 7 years! Here's to many more!”
- Marjorie H.
“When I was reading Tarot at the now-defunct Secret Forest across the street I'd often stop in to chat with Tracy and experience new fragrances. She always has time for everyone; one never feels rushed or pressured to buy. She has been generous with samples, too. Tracy is wonderful! She even remembers that I don't drink wine, and has grapefruit seltzer for me at the special events, which I appreciate enormously! I also enjoyed Luca Turin's talks at Fumerie very much. He is a delight -- pulls no punches and is extremely entertaining as well as knowledgeable. The book he and his wife, Tania Sanchez, wrote helped me narrow down which of the thousands of perfumes on the market today might be worth trying, and led me to discover my favorites: Tauer's Au Coeur du Desert and Ormonde Jayne's Ormonde Woman. Which I buy at Fumerie. “
- S.C.
“My husband found your shop listed in a perfume magazine he received and wanted to stop by to see for himself when we were visiting my parents in Vancouver, WA. I remember feeling as if I had entered a treasure chest filled with exciting and new things to discover. I wasn’t disappointed- not only did I find some of my favorite lines which you carried, you generously helped me learned and explore similar, but different, options to my favorites. Fumerie is one of those places I recommend friends to visit when looking for something extraordinary. Congratulations on your anniversary!”
- Stacey N.
“My memory of your shop is when I was starting in my fragrant journey 7-8 years ago and was looking for interesting things to try. Your team recommended I explore Slumberhouse and a new love was born - this was so unique and different from everything else I have smelled.”
-Marianna K.
“Stumbling across your store with my then seven-year-old son (who is now twelve). He was confused about why we weren’t going to Atlas Pizza. Then having him welcomed in the store and having him share his impressions of five scents. “That one smells like the backyard.” I wish I remembered what it was, but I was hooked — and I’ve come back many times ever since.”
- Pauls T.
“This is not so much one memory but kind of a composite impression of all the times I’ve made an impulse stop in the middle of a stressful workday. It’s such a treat to walk into the calming atmosphere of the shop and see Tracy and Michael’s smiles behind the counter. I love the moment when I open the door and the cloud of fragrance wraps around me and pulls me in. Often there are interesting strangers with similar proclivities to share notes with, and always something new to learn. Fun conversation and laughter ensues. Then, with lovely fragrance treasure in hand, I stumble back out onto the street rejuvenated, ready to meet the next challenge smelling like a rose!”
- Delinda F.
“Two years ago I was so excited to visit “The Fumerie” as I have been following Tracy’s blog and emails.
We were heading to the Portland airport after a vacation at Cannon Beach. My husband drove to your store and I was having heart palpitations. He said how much money do you need as he said $100.00 dollars should be enough right? I gave him my famous look and pout and said just forget it let’s head to the airport.
We flew back home to Pittsburgh during a very quiet flight, as I was still pouting. We got home and my husband finally broke down, so he got me a ticket to fly back to Portland the next week by myself just for the day (5 hours on the ground) just to visit your store.
A week later I was at your store again heart fluttering ready to go in. I went in and there were a few customers so I sat down and took your store in. WOW….I was in heaven. Not sure if the pup there was the store mascot but I gave him some loving while waiting my turn. My turn came up and I got to meet Tracy. She was so gracious and made me feel comfortable as she took her time with me. I already had some things written down on what I wanted to smell. She also showed me some other fragrances which had the same notes or the same perfumers. I purchased two lovely fragrances and she also gave me a few samples to also play with when I got home.
When I tell folks about my trip they say “really?,” but I tell them it was a dream of mine to visit your store.
On our trip last year to Cannon Beach, guess where we stopped on the way home? My husband actually came in and was impressed by the volume of scents and the cool atmosphere. Of course we are coming back this October for now my annual visit to see the great Tracy and use her nose and expertise to get another fine niche frag (or two or three) I’m a new lifelong fan!”
- Shirley R.
“When researching Portland as a place to move after leaving the military, I came across a film of the Division street area by monocle magazine where Fumerie was highlighted. My husband and I decided Fumerie was a must see and visited on our research trip- I’m not saying we moved to Portland because of Fumerie, but we were blown away by your store and the specialist who helped us (tracing the career by memory of Edmond Roudnitska) and it was definitely in the back of our minds when we made our decision!”
- Lisa Y.
“I travel through Portland 2-4 times a year on a very long road trip. One stop at Fumerie was after 7 hours in a car. I was a mess, however that did not seem to affect who I was greeted. I was asked what I might be looking for. I remember being shown several fragrances along those lines. I was not rushed. It was almost like I had the shop to myself. I could really take my time and sniff, look and ponder. Money for perfume on a school teacher's salary is rare and I appreciated the help, time, and peace in order to make my selection. My sister had gone shopping down the street and it was fine for me to sit in a corner and look at perfume books while I waited for her. I love the calm, less crowded and knowledgeable help. And I love the Ormonde Jayne Tolu I ended up buying. I wish I lived closer!”
- Shelly W.
“My Scent Memory of Lubin’s Korrigan is that of how I imagine the Snoqualime Lodge in Twin Peaks. A burst of fall apples, balsamic juniper and cedar, warm whiskey and a buttery leather accord..there I sit by the fire in that chair, spellbound”
- Mindy G.
“I bring my kids to the shop every year to buy fragrances for Fathers day. Each kiddo picks something they like. Tracy always makes this "picking out" process so easy and fun. And after pulling 50 bottles, clearly amazing patience!”
- Erin J.
“The year was 2018, I believe, when I first set foot in Fumerie Parfumerie. About a year or so before I had just started to explore the world of creative niche perfumery and was quite excited to learn about the presence of a few perfume shops here in Oregon, albeit still quite a drive from Central Oregon. Still, I decided to take advantage of a visit to some relatives in Eugene and made it my mission to make the trek up to Portland after spending some time with them. My plan was to peruse fragrances at Fumerie, and possibly one or two other shops depending on the time I had available.
From the outside, this charming shop looks quite unassuming apart from the ornate lettering of the Fumerie sign, but upon entering the door you know this is no ordinary store. The sensation is akin to stepping back in time into an antique apothecary, a mesmerizing world replete with shelves full of strange, magical olfactory potions housed in ornate bottles. Your nose just quivers in anticipation to unlock the power of each fragrant creation. Yet, I was struck most of all by Tracy, the heart and soul behind Fumerie Parfumerie, a person brimming with warmth, intelligence, and love for all who entered. It was an incredible joy speaking with someone exuding such passion for the art of perfumery. I can't recall the first fragrances I asked to sniff, but Tracy tirelessly obliged my curiosity in sampling everything that interested me. This was truly my first time experiencing many works I had only just read about. Time seemingly stopped as bottles of Jovoy, Masque Milano, Jeroboam, Bruno Fazzollari, Tauer, Ormonde Jayne, Profumum Roma, and many others were brought out. At any time, I had countless tester strips before me as I embarked on amazing scent journeys to realms previously unknown. All the while, the minutes, then the hours imperceptibly ticked by. I was totally enthralled and delighted. Every now and then other people would come in to sniff fragrances or purchase bottles, and Tracy treated everyone with incredible love and a casual, yet professional, knowledgeable demeanor. The highlight of my first visit to Fumerie was when Tracy was kind enough to let me smell some legendary creations, some of which are no longer in production I believe.
It was with great difficulty that I finally concluded my amazing first visit to Fumerie. I discovered I had no time left to visit the other shops in Portland. For people in love with the world of fragrances, it is entirely too easy to spend countless hours at this charming location. Fortunately, I was able to somewhat prolong this wonderful experience by purchasing several samples to take home with me. Since then, I have truly been wanting to return to Fumerie Parfumerie. It'll definitely be one of the first stops on my list whenever I go to Portland.
Congratulations Tracy on your boutique's seven-year anniversary! Wishing you and everyone there all the best and many more years sharing the love of niche perfumery with those of us in Oregon and beyond! Thanks so much for the chance.”
-Eirik H.
“My fiancé Shaun and I visited the Fumerie in November 2022 to choose a bottle for our 13th anniversary. Our host was most welcoming and engaged us in lively conversation that spanned not only the wonderful niche fragrances on offer but our own experiences and thoughts about fragrance. As we sat at the cozy bar with at least thirty scents laid out before us, Shaun and I discovered a mutual love for unusual and indefinable fragrances. We had been collecting perfumes for a few years prior and knew that we both enjoyed bold, individualistic scents, however, we found ourselves in an environment where requesting notes of gasoline and mushroom were taken in stride with several selections quickly pulled for our consideration.
Fumerie introduced us to both old and new makers that we had not had the privilege to sample previously, and we discovered unique profiles that we could not have imagined, like the standout Nuit de Bakelite and our anniversary purchase, Meo Fuschini's 2# Nota di Viaggio (shukran...), two of our current favorites that are worn frequently and with passionate abandon.
During our conversation with our host, I shared my background as a chef and my current career as an environmental scientist. I've been interested in creating my own 'green' accords as there are endless profiles I've encountered in nature that have yet to be captured in a bottle.
Our host shared his own experiences in creating fragrances which inspired me to invest in a still and some basic perfuming supplies. I've been enjoying blending, aging, and creating oils, hydrosols, and compounds from local flora, and can credit our host's warm and unpretentious introduction into fine niche perfumery as an introduction to a pursuit I'll continue to enjoy throughout my life.
Thank you, Fumerie, for the wonderful memories, unforgettable sensory introductions, and boundless enthusiasm for all things fragrant.”
- Rayna K.
“The many houses Fumerie introduced me to that I would otherwise be sadly unaware of.”
- Blake
“Meeting up with a special perfume friend for a cool spring morning of sniffing at the shop, chatting with Tracy and each picking out a bottle to take home.”
- Tara C.
“When I walked past for the first time & saw the beautiful dried flowers hanging in the window, and they inspired me to hang my own above my bed. Rose is my favorite fragrance after all.”
- Zadie
“The very first time I perused fumerie.com, I was like a kid in a proverbial good smelling candy shop! A friend mentioned that Fumerie sells samples of niche fragrances, and if I were lucky, Slumberhouse makes a guest appearance when they are released. My first purchase was samples of Scents of Wood. I’ve already tried Plum in Cognac, which is a masterpiece, but these little cute samples are used after a nice shower or for a quick mood enhancer! Ever since I became aware of Fumerie, I check it every day in case Slumberhouse makes an unannounced release! It has become a daily ritual! I intend to visit Fumerie if I am ever in the Portland area!”
- Percy K.
“I remember visiting Fumerie for the first time and being amazed by the beautiful store and incredible selection. What stood out to me most, though, was Tracy's warmth and the generosity with which she shared her wealth of knowledge. I came away with fragrances that were new to me but have now become treasured fragrances. And I'm excited to visit the store again in a couple of weeks to see what new treasures await me! Thank you Tracy!”
- Lesli C.
“I began my fragrance journey about a year ago, but I have always been a very keen lover of scent. The town I go to university in has no dedicated fragrance spots, so I was thrilled to discover Fumerie on a trip back to Portland (my beloved hometown) over winter break. I came in with my younger brother, who has also just begun diving into fragrance. We were absolutely blown away by the sheer number of fragrances in the store! It quickly became clear that we had a lot to learn (in the most exciting way!). We purchased the fall sampler set and have had a blast smelling them and comparing notes. As broke college kids, it was exhilarating to smell some of the perfumes we drool over but cannot yet afford. We had such a magical experience at Fumerie, and I always recommend it to fellow PDX perfume lovers. Thanks for all that you do!”
- Helen P.
“It was just last fall. I was feeling a little lost and sad. I knew nothing about fragrance. I walked in and was greeted warmly. I sat next to a lovely woman and we kept sharing smells and likes. I never knew about niche. I only knew about “mall” fragrance. So 6 months later I’ve learned so much. I know designer, niche, indie. I know what I like. It all started at Fumerie. I found comfort in fragrance.”
- Courtney L.
“I first walked into Fumerie the summer before I moved to California for college. My attempt to prepare for adulthood by finding a signature scent may have been ambitious, but the quest ended up consuming my summer and revealing my passion for fine fragrance. I was introduced to Grisette by Lubin at Fumerie and the search was over. I have now graduated college, moved to Chicago, and recently I've accepted a position working for a fragrance manufacturing company. My fragrance collection has expanded, however, I still have and adore my bottle of Grisette, a truly unique rose scent that is feminine, playful and smells of fresh independence. Fumerie ignited a passion in me that continues to burn bright and I will always be grateful.”
- Meredith N.
“Just missing out on the surprise drop of the future unicorn and HIGHLY desired Black Grev from Slumberhouse and thinking I would never be able to obtain it. Ever. Then I sent you an email asking that if there was any left over (I had no hope really but figured I would take a shot) I would love to purchase it. A couple days later getting an email saying there were two bottles that were no longer spoken for and I was the second person to ask, and that it now one had my name on it. No words can describe the joy I received from that email. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and congrats on 7 years!!!”
- Travis W.
“After spending a year anxiously hunting Slumberhouse perfumes, another Fumerie loyalist filled me in on the email list. When Black Grev released, I got an email as soon as it released and bought a bottle on the spot. It was the first time I managed to avoid the stress and disappointment of finding out about a release only after it sold out.”
- Ryan J.
“I have had so many delightful experiences with Fumerie Parfumerie, which includes most recently the sampling of Quartana (Hemlock) for my 86 year old mother. It was absolutely heart-warming as I loved how her eyes lit up when I gave her the sample to try. Presently, we are experiencing a rapid decline of my father's health (her husband of 67 years) and this little gift was perfect to give as a slight pause from our circumstances. My mom is extremely particular about scent and not quick to purchase; however this little 'joy in a bottle' created a wonderful engaging moment for us.”
- Susan S.
“The last time I saw my friend Sarah, we were having wine at Division Wine with her mother. We walked down to Fumerie to indulge our senses and treat ourselves. As we arrived, Sarah's mother pulled me aside and told me not to tell Sarah, but she had lost her sense of smell and would I help her "put on a good show" as we explored the fragrances? We proceeded to have a delightful guided tour of so many amazing fragrances and I regret I do not remember the name of the wonderful individual who assisted us, but their vivid descriptions of each fragrance helped Sarah's mom conjure in her mind what it must smell like. Even though she could not actually smell any of them, she would remark "oh, the peach - I love the smell of peach" or "the smell of a forest after rain - that is always such a wonderful smell". Her experience was one of imagination and recollection based on the excellent descriptions provided by the Fumerie team member. Sarah's mother reminded me that fragrance lives in the mind as well as in our olfactory. This memory will always make me smile - it was a wonderful afternoon.”
- Lesley D.
“My first time at Fumerie is my fondest memory there. It was a rainy morning in January and I was set to meet my friend there at the at 11am. I remember when I first opened the door there was a burst of a pleasant mixture of scents shadowed by the library-like shelf of perfumes in the background where a woman in a white button up shirt and black vest was arranging bottles. I felt like I was in a quaint little shop out of a story book.
As I walked in I was greeted warmly and we introduced ourselves. I took a seat at the counter and was prompted to tell her what scent profiles I’m most into, then she began to pull an array of bottles from the shelf. I took my time and smelled each one and was so surprised that I liked almost every single one! I had been so used to the impersonal mall fragrance shopping experience where I always left with my usual perfume because I never liked anything else. This experience and the knowledge from the passionate people working there opened up a whole new world of fragrance for me as I’ve never been a fan of shopping for perfume online either. My friend finally arrived and she also sampled an assortment of fragrances. We had so much fun sniffing away that we didn’t even realize two hours had gone by! It was tough but we finally decided on which perfumes to purchase. I left happy and with a new obsession that day. I haven’t stopped raving about it since.”
- Theresa L.
“When I first started getting into fragrances over five years ago a friend if mine had a sample of Tauer 02. He had talked about the Fumerie so I ventured to the Fumerie and met the amazing owner Tracy and purchased my very first niche bottle of Tauer 02. I will often stop by to purchase something or just spend time learning about notes from Tracy. All of my memories have been positive.”
- Drew W.
“I’m honored to discover your wonderful perfume store and start my collection of Slumberhouse from my first bottle that I ever got from you. I’ve been following your wonderful store since then and can’t wait to visit you some time soon in person. Your store is one of the reasons I’d want to come to Portland. Thank you! Happy anniversary!”
- Margarita E.
“I have a wonderful memory of coming in on a cold winter evening to listen to Luca Turin speak about fragrance. I am quiet and don't go many places by myself, but this time I did. As soon as I entered the shop, I was whisked into a series of conversations with wonderful people who all seemed to know each other, but as it turned out, they didn't, they just were lovely and excited and in love with scent. Luca was wonderful, of course, and I cherish my signed book. Something shifted that night and I love perfumes and talking about them even more than before.”
- Jackie A.
“Even before I read to the end of the email announcing your anniversary, I was thinking, Fumerie really is one of my favorite shops in Portland that I’d recommend to any visitor. It’s classy and yet you always give people in the shop all the time in the world to smell everything. I love that you gave me and my niece and sister the tip to smell a bit of skin between sniffs. So unassuming and real, and I’m glad to have the coffee bean thing debunked. My young niece and I like to visit perfume places together. She was overseas in Belgium as an exchange student and she brought me a gift of samples from a parfumerie there. We visited your shop when she was here. You were so patient and unaffected about letting us see what we liked and answering her questions (she wanted to know about how long perfumes could last and you explained to her how to store them and still enjoy them by rotating them out). You hosted a sweet book party one summer eve and I remember being struck by how cool and interesting all the people in the shop were. Every time I go in, there are both men and women sampling and shopping. It’s pleasing to have such a welcoming place to learn about and find such nice things.”
- Briana M.
“I remember first stepping foot into Fumerie years ago when I had just turned 22. I had always been meticulously utilitarian in my expenses up to that point and I entered this space with the intention to finally treat myself to something decadent as an adult. I was greeted by Fumerie's warm and illustrious owner who took me on an olfactory tour through many many samples after hearing about my favorite scents and sensory experiences. I knew immediately when the one had been found. I made my most hallowed purchase and have worn that scent every special or not so special occasion since to remind myself to enjoy life's beauty. All of my friends have heard my rave reviews of the store and most of all the woman behind the counter that made me feel seen and cared for in such a personally profound moment. Thank you!'“
- Devon R.
“My first “adult” fragrance was an unexpected gift from my dad. The perfume was Diva by Emanuel Ungaro. It was spicy and made me feel invincible. When I asked dad why this particular perfume, he said he wanted me to know I was the best and to never settle. Since then, I’ve always had a special fragrance - a combination of layered scents that make me feel like me, and feel like the scent was created only for me. Visits with Fumerie allows me to reclaim that first experience with perfume and I know I’m in the right place to discover another unique way to express who I am.”
- Greta G.
“My memory is from November 2022, the only time I've visited the store (I live in British Columbia) and Michael spending close to an hour with me and letting me smell dozens of perfumes. I walked away with about a lot of decants. It was such a lovely experience with the way the store looked, the ambiance, and all the lovely smells. I took a number of pictures and occasionally look back at them fondly.”
- Nicholas M.
“I stumbled into Fumerie, shortly after I moved to Portland while Christmas shopping. I was so excited to talk with Michael who was passionate and friendly. I have attended two events- the Scents of Wood event and Fragrance Swap 8, and I told my partner I feel like "I have found my church." It's thrilling to meet people who share an enthusiasm for discovering new fragrances. Thank you, Tracy, for creating a lovely shop and community space.”
- Traci M.
“At the event where Andy came to premiere Au Coeur du Désert, I purchased my first Tauer perfume ever: the original L'Air du Desert Marocain, which I'd always loved. Andy was signing bottles, and when I asked him to sign mine, I think maybe he was a little bummed that I didn't like the new Au Coeur since I wasn't buying that one instead. But I did! I just liked L'Air even more. Anyway, Andy was super nice and it was a great event.”
- Joshua B.
“Love coming to the boutique with my friend Renea. We step up to "the bar" and sniff until our hearts are content. Always have great catch-up chats with Tracy and step away with a glorious bottle of something delicious!”
- Diane D.
“I came into the store with several people already sitting at the counter. I smelled fragrances that I had chosen, then started talking with the other people at the counter and smelling the fragrances they had chosen. The mutual conversation and discovery with fellow fragrance enthusiasts was very enjoyable. And I left with a sample of something that I normally would have never tried because they were smelling and testing it and loved it. Now I love it, too!”
- Erin P.
“My positive memory is actually buying my first bottle of perfume at Fumerie! My dad was really sensitive to fragrances growing up, so I never experimented with it when I was younger. I didn’t really know where to start with perfume but I knew I didn’t want a big name fragrance, so I researched and found Fumerie. I came in and sniffed lots of samples, and chatted with the lady behind the counter about what I wanted and ended up with Imaginary Author’s Memoirs of a Trespasser. Now I want all the perfumes, and love to come in to grab samples and get new suggestions!”
- Lexie B.
“I came in once and there was a woman sitting alone with probably 10+ different bottles in front of her. She looked so happy and like she was having the best time ever. She invited me over to smell Poets of Berlin with her so we could decide if that's what David Bowie smelled like.”
- Alia D.
“I greatly enjoyed the early in-house events involving the materials used in perfumery. They gave me a chance to experience many of the notes I had only read about in descriptions of fragrances. I mean, how many chances does anyone have to actually smell whale vomit? The in-house events also brought together a very diverse group of people united by their love of fragrances in a space that celebrates that love.”
- Chad H.
“A slow walk down division street on a sunny day brought me into Fumerie a few summers back. I didn’t know what to expect. Walking into this little gem, within the first ten minutes, I was wafting little samples of the most incredible smells I’ve ever encountered. My daughter, who was with me, is also a scent lover. The gentleman at the counter asked if she wanted to smell something like “blueberries”. He passed her a small sample of the smell and her eyes rolled back in delight, saying “can I eat it?” She loved the smell. And so did I. Now we both wear this special scent. Thank you for the forever memory, and this delicious perfume.”
- Lana V.
“A dear friend (and my only friend who is also truly a fragrance enthusiast) was visiting me from the Midwest where I'm originally from. I live in Seattle but love Portland so we took a day trip there. We both new Fumerie was on the top of our list of spots to visit. I'd been several times before but it was magical going with him and sampling all the fragrances we've discussed and dreamed about. The staff let us have a field day and enjoy ourselves. We made purchases but by no means are extravagant spenders. I think one of the things that makes Fumerie so special is the focus is on the magic of niche perfume and not sales goals. A day I'll never forget!”
-Kyle T.
“Best memory would be my first time going to Fumerie. I had been talking to my friends about wanting a signature scent and looking into perfumes. Then later that day while on the way to Artifact, lo and behold there's Fumerie! It felt like the universe had heard my request and delivered. Went in and left with Jeroboam Origino.”
- Adriana A.
“It was probably right around the time you opened, when my young daughter and I were waking by and decided to stop in. Many months prior, I had smelled a fragrance on a customer at my place of business- one that I instantly fell in love with. I followed this particular customer around my store, trying to decide if it would be appropriate to tell her how lovely she smelled and ask her what she was wearing. She was eager to tell me it was called Molecule 01. Not having ever really experienced in person perfume shopping, I was a bit gun shy and slightly intimidated to inquire whether Molecule 01 was a fragrance you carried. I didn’t want to insult. I was so thrilled to discover that you did. You were so lovely, and happily offered me a sample tube, which I actually still have. It’s long since been emptied but amazingly, still holds its scent. My budget at the time did not allow me to purchase a bottle, but you treated me just as kindly, as if I were a paying customer. Thank you for that.”
- Amy M.
“First experience was with mom and we had a lovely time. I had just started my wine education class and so we were sampling perfumes and describing the notes. It was special because my mom was visiting and loves perfume. It was a moment I will always treasure.”
- Kimberley D.
“I will always remember the first day I visited Fumerie. A coworker who knew I liked fragrance recommended a new perfume shop for me to check out. To my surprise, it was close to my home and when I walked through the doors I saw a familiar face, Tracy, who had helped me with several amazing fragrances at another local perfume shop. I was so excited to see she had opened her own business and have been shopping with her ever since.”
- Faye G.
“My favorite perfume day, and the day I happily associate with Fumerie and Tracy, was a crisp, sunny late fall morning in Portland over 6 years ago. I excitedly drove to my first, official perfume event. The experience felt surreal because I couldn't imagine people like me; people wildly, deeply excited by perfume and everything associated with it (instead of those that merely tolerated my hobby or thought it was strange). It didn't take long before I was talking and laughing with people who shared that passion. People that loved talking about patchouli and how it can get chocolatey or wet and earthy, that liked the smell of moss, that appreciate a skanky civet note (that know what civet smells like), that unabashedly love rose/olibanum/gardenia etc; I FOUND MY PEOPLE. It wasn't long before we landed in front of the counter at Fumerie. Greeted by Tracy's smile and dozens upon dozens of fragrances, the group wasted no time. The energy of our group amped up as we all began spraying and testing, all the while talking, laughing and breathing perfume, perfume, perfume! I remember laughing to myself because no doubt we could be heard from the street but any curious potential patrons could literally not fit into her shop and potentially risk hearing damage because the level of our voices kept rising with every new bottle she brought out to test.
The smell of Fumerie sticks in my head always. The amalgamation of deep base notes and sharp green top notes and the warm heart notes of hundreds of fragrances. That smell is intoxicating to me and I associate it with joy, with connection and discovery.
Thank you Fumerie, and thank you Tracy for many years of happy scented discoveries and friendships bonded over scented memories!”
- Anna V.
“Ever since I was younger I always loved to smell great. I never knew I was missing a whole world of fragrance until I visited Fumerie. My boyfriend and I decided to celebrate our 8th anniversary in Portland and he said we had to stop by Fumerie. I was excited but did not expect to be blown away. When we first arrived I was nervous because it was a cute shop with fragrances I have never heard of. When we went inside we were greeted by Tracy and she was welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. She shared her knowledge with us and answered any and all questions with such a pleasant response. Not once did she show that she was annoyed with us or the questions we had. We ended up taking two fragrances home that day and since then we have collected over 25 fragrances from Tracy. Thank you for sharing your wonderful shop, your vast knowledge, and for being a warm personality in a dark world.”
- Madison G.