An NYC perfume and tea walking tour in NYC? Yes, please! I first came across Scents & Sips NYC on Instagram and I immediately followed. I recently had the opportunity to take this sensory adventure (courtesy of Scents & Sips). In this post, I’ll be sharing what the tour was like, the stops we visited, and reviewing the overall experience.
What is Scents & Sips NYC?
Scents & Sips is a guided walking tour through the Meatpacking District, Greenwich, East and West Village of New York City. The focus is primarily on perfume and tea. While these two things might seem unrelated at first glance, they do have quite a bit in common. I’ve only recently begun learning about perfume so I was excited about that aspect of the tour. Scentrepreneur Nadia’s approach is one of slow travel. Our group was small and we were encouraged to take our time while experiencing everything.
The Tour Stops
The Alchemist’s Kitchen
To start the tour, we met Nadia at The Alchemist’s Kitchen. I’ve walked by this space many times but had never stopped to visit before. They offer a range of herbal remedies and beauty products. One of my favorite finds was Dirty Grass from Heretic Parfum. It was very reminiscent of Japanese green tea. We enjoyed a few different adaptogenic drinks at the adjacent Elixer Bar. They also had a range of different teas and herbs available. I was happy to find familiar names like Kettl listed on their menu.
Santa Maria Novella
Our next stop was Santa Maria Novella, a company with roots that trace back to Florence, Italy in 1221. The scents here seemed to be a bit more old-fashioned but that is with good reason. Their oldest scent, Acqua della Regina, pays homage to Catherine de Medici. The space was beautifully built in a way that allowed us to linger over each scent.
D.S. & Durga
At D.S. & Durga, I was struck by how immersive their scents were. The candles and perfumes had unusual names like Concrete After Lightening and Let’s Dive which told stories through aroma. They even had a fun quiz you could take on an iPad to see what scents are best suited for you.
ELOREA
ELOREA‘s store was a unique combination of perfumery, an art gallery, and a cafe. Their scents are inspired by Korea’s rich olfactory traditions. Unsurprisingly my favorite was Heaven, which has hints of Boseong green tea. The back of the store has a cafe that offers coffee and signature drinks. They also have matcha, but I think there’s a real opportunity there for them to serve Korean teas.
Kolkata Chai Co.
After all that walking it was nice to sit down for a break at Kolkata Chai Co. We enjoyed warming cups of Kesar Chai alongside samosas. It was pleasantly spicy with a hint of saffron. I’ve often encountered this company at events in NYC but had never had the chance to visit one of their cafes before.
Aesop
Aesop is a brand whose hand soap I have seen in every fancy bathroom in NYC. They recently launched a new scent called Virēre. It is inspired by steeping fresh fig in a morning cup of green tea. I was delighted to be handed a cup of green tea with a slice of fig to sip while browsing.
Naxos Apothecary
The next stop was Naxos Apothecary. Their fragrance and body care are inspired by the island of Naxos in Greece. The beautiful shop was full of beautiful glass bottles, a feast for the eys and the senses. The scents here gave a fresh and clean impression.
Korres
The last stop was Korres, a related brand to Naxos Apothecary with a focus on sustainability. A staff member explained the company’s extensive plastic recycling programs and gave us cute beaded bracelets. I fell in love with their White Tea perfume. It will be added to my holiday wishlist this year.
Would I Recommend It?
I would definitely recommend Scents & Sips NYC, especially if you enjoy both perfume and tea. I don’t think that even needs to be a requirement though! This was a fun way to explore another side of the city I had not seen before. Go into your tour with an open mind (and nose). Let Nadia lead the way and you’ll have a fantastic time. I could have used a little more tea along the way, but Nadia and I discussed that she is working on adding more tea-related tour stops soon.
Do you have a favorite tea-inspired perfume? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
This experience was courtesy of Scents & Sips NYC. Opinions are my own.
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