I have found the Mecca of all scents and products that are nothing less than divine. The store itself is very beautifully decorated. They have all types of high end brands of perfumes and cologne, better than the mass produced stuff you find at Sephora. The salesgirl, Natalie, was very sweet and really knows her stuff in scentology. She helped me find the perfect perfume (L'Artisan) and dusting powder (Santa Maria Novella). She also introduced me to these candles that were used by the French Monarchy (Cire Trudon). Treat yourself! read more

Aedes is a beautiful store in the West Village. It is adorned with jewel toned chairs and drapery. Everything is super elegant, and reminds me of a parlor in a French castle. So Posh! They carry some of the most coveted perfume and beauty brands in the world such as: Serge Lutens Ambra de Venezia Montale Carthusia Lartisan Perfumer Those are just a few of the brands they carry. They also carry a large supply of niche skincare and candles for the home. The men at Aedes are beautiful and wonderful and they will treat you like royalty. If you are ever in the West Village stop into Aedes. I guarantee you will leave there with a smile on your face...and smelling delicious! You can order from them at Aedes.com Tell them MonkeyPosh says hello! read more

Service and selection are impeccable. Yes, the store can feel overwhelming at first because where does one begin to find their "perfect scent." The staff at Aedes is very well-informed and helpful in navigating through their fragrances to help you with your choice. They are not pushy like the department stores. This store is also the perfect response to the Sephora-chains. I wanted to have a unique fragrance. The staff at Aedes helped me find a fabulous replacement to my MARC JACOBS eau de toilette (I loved how it smelled - but the scent would go away by the end of the day.) After trying to decide between Creed's "Love in White" or L'Artisan Parfumeur's "La Chasse Aux Papillons" - I decided on the latter because it had a slight spicy note at the nose. I am a big supporter of shopping locally, even when I travel. If you want a unique selection of high quality fragrances, excellent customer service, and to support a local, small business - SHOP AT AEDES DE VENUSTAS. **SinceI made a visit in-person to the store, I am thankful that I can also re-order my perfume or later decide to buy the Creed scent via Aedes' online store. read more

Aedes...so heavenly! The Aedes catalog reads like a short story collection and has nice looking graphics and typesetting to boot. Well worth picking up or requesting via the website. Yes, the staff is generous with samples, attentive, and attractive. They are also very well versed in describing the various scents and making recommendations. The store is luxuriously warm and inviting and the two little dogs are very cute. Smelling good has never been so much fun... read more

This is not your typical fragrance store that you see in Barneys or Bergdorf Goodman. The owners are very helpful and very knowledgable about their fragrances. If you know what you like or what purpose you want to use it for, they are able to give you suggestions to which scents are best suited for the occasion. Whether is a night out or a casual work scent, This place got you covered. Was not disappointed about the products or the customer service I received. read more

Wow... one of my favourite stores in NY, I am a bit of a perfume junkie but this store is amazing for anyone who likes to smell good. They have hands down one of the best edited buys of perfume in the world, they carry the right product from old favourites to edgy stand out scents. I have found things here that I continue to get compliments on. Miguel is a darling and is so helpful with layering of scents and pushing you try things and not buy them up front. Extremely knowledgeable staff... that will always turn you on to the right product. And not to mention its a very beautifully decorated space. Go.....Buy......Smell, you will not regret it. read more

I'm not sure what happened to this place but the service here has gotten so nasty. It's a shame b/c they have a really great selection of niche perfumes but the guys who work here are bitchy. They're cold, judgmental and down-right rude. Once, I asked if there was a specific note in a scent I smelled and he pretty much shamed me and rudely said no like I was a moron. Turns out, when I read about the notes, I was right. Maybe their whole brand is about being snobby but it doesn't work for me. If you're looking for good scents with better service, try scent bar in noho. Aedes makes the luxury of buying fragrances uncomfortable. And frankly, I'm not handing over $300 for a bottle of anything there. Overall, while the store smells divine. The service stinks! read more

I love this store and hope it stays open forever. I can see how customers could interpret the staff as "cold", but after a few visits, I've come to realize that they just take a more hands off approach. Unlike Saks or Macy's where they literally attack you with samples, the gentlemen at Aedes allow you to browse and take your time, and are more than willing to help when asked. Aedes is a true NYC gem... As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason to go anywhere else! read more

I love this boutique. The scents are unique and the service is fabulous!

Not the most welcoming vibe. With that said , they have an amazing selection. You have to search their website before entering . Then they work with you on scents you make like at the front counter. Like I said, not that welcoming but grateful there's a spot in my neighborhood with great candles . Just know what u want before you go, pick it up, leave . No shopping around the shop or small talk . read more

DIMLY LIT PLUSH FRAGRANCE BAR We rang the doorbell of this fragrance boutique and were transported into another time and place. The air was filled with a myriad of smells and deep house music was playing in the background. There were fresh flowers throughout the store and each line of niche cologne was meticulously arranged. We were greeted by the owners and their cute dog. We smelled our way through the houses of Creed, Diptique, Sergeo Lutens, L'Artisan Parfumeur, and Heely. Push the doorbell and transport yourself into a plush fragrance shop. read more

I credit Aedes with sparking my interest in niche perfumery over three years ago! I started off with their samples, and worked up to full bottles of Frederic Malle's Iris Poudre, Lys Mediterrannee, L'Eau D'Hiver, and the scent I wore on my wedding day -- by Kilian's Rose Oud. It's no surprise that I made a point to stop by the shop on this trip to New York. Even though I already own a pretty extensive scent wardrobe now, Simon and the rest of the staff here were able to surprise me with their recommendations and had a wealth of knowledge to share. The boutique is gorgeous, and they carry such an impeccably curated range of brands and scents. My husband, who is just starting to take an interest in scents, and I were both able to discover something new to love -- he picked up a bottle of the new Orto Parisi's Boccanera (crazy stuff -- his first spray lasted TWO days!) and I got a full bottle of Byredo's Bal d'Afrique. read more

This little shop is such a gem. They have a well edited selection of hard to find perfumes. The shop itself has a very luxurious feel to it. The two gentlemen that helped me were very knowledgable and so nice. They even gave me a bunch of samples with my purchase that were catered for the notes that I like. read more

Wonderful, calming little shop that features beautiful displays and gorgeous fragrances. They have the usual selection of Dyptique candles and a plethora of fragrances - many unusual and hard to find. The owner and his boyfriend work here and they're very friendly and helpful. Places like this can be intimidating to those not "in the know" but they go way out of their way to make customers feel safe and comfortable. Don't think because the door is locked they're not open - you have to ring the doorbell and be buzzed in. read more

Horrible customer service, bought expensive perfume via internet. Opened it sniffed it, something was bad about the scent like it had gone bad. Tried to resolve with client and would not even consider a store credit. Said once it's opened he would not take back. Granted I received in the mail last night. Buyer beware...... read more

I decided to go back to Aedes and try it again after a negative experience a while back. Karl, the owner, helped me this time. I'm so happy I gave Aedes a second chance. Their selection rivals most perfumeries in the city and niche fragrance is a huge hobby of mine. Thank you Karl for all your help. You totally get me and what I'm looking for. I'll be back soon as my collection of perfume continues to grow! read more

There are two very friendly dogs on the premises. That's reason enough for me to come. For the none dog lovers, the small store manages to stock quite a few hard to find fragrance lines, including Frederic Malle, Le Nez, The Different Company, Juliette Has a Gun, Amouage, Commes de Garcon including the Incense line, and Serge Lutens. The shopkeepers let you browse without hovering, but I do wish fragrances were kept on lower shelves since I needed help to get down several testers which were beyond my 5'2" reach. The best part is that they'll give you free samples of anything you'd like to try out, no purchase required. If they don't already have samples on hand, they'll decant you one directly from the tester. I can see how the place comes across as snooty--you might have to ring the doorbell to get in and the staff didn't exude much warmth. However, they really do have a wonderful selection and being able to get samples before you commit to a full bottle is really helpful. read more

This place is the place I dreamed of all my life. Wh n you were little and thought growing up to become a lady with flowing locks and fancy dewy skin and iridescent viral fingernails. When your life would be flooded with love and pink rise petals. This is that place, that ethereal spot on the physical earth. It's like a little glass and brass box where Enya videos are stored. It's like a technicolor realization. Like walking into The Dreaming. read more

I visited their original location before they moved to the LES and was in awe of their shop & selection. Sadly, the person who was working there at that time, who had helped me, no longer does and works at another perfumerie in the city. I went out of my way to visit their new location, which is not easy to spot, btw. There's no sign, just a slight window with feathers and a few bottles on display. You have to ring a doorbell to be let in. It's almost like they don't want anyone in their shop. I realize I wasn't wearing designer clothes when I came to visit, but it was a humid day in NYC, and I just wanted to be comfortable and smell new fragrances that were on my list. As soon as I was allowed to be let in the door, I was met with icy cold customer service. He asked if there was anything he could help me with, but two words into my reply, he had already dismissed me and started tapping on his iPad. I was the only customer in the shop. I asked a couple of questions which he answered short & brusquely. It was clear he was not into helping anyone that day or maybe just me for whatever reason. My favorite was when I dared to ask him for a sample or two. I had even said I would pay for them, and he looked me in the eyes and told me that they don't give samples in store--that I would have to go online if I wanted samples. Even with the frigid service, I bought a bottle of perfume which he then asked which samples I wanted ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Needless to say, it was pretty heartbreaking to have gone out of my way to visit a perfume shop that I think is beautiful and stocked with amazing fragrance houses including their own lovely fragrance line, but after being made to feel like I wasn't a worthy human being, I can't, in good conscience, recommend this shop to anyone nor will I go back especially when I can go to other places like Osswald, Tigerlily--many fragrance houses have their own shops now as well--that have much better service. Maybe the guy was busy or having a bad day. Maybe you'll have better luck if it's a destination you really want to go to. I'm no Pollyanna, and I don't think anyone has to be effusively nice to me, but they definitely don't need to treat me like a second-class citizen. In this day and age where it just feels like there's enough bad things happening in the world constantly, do we really need to treat each other badly especially when they're coming to support *your* business? read more

This review is so overdue...My husband and me enjoy our niche fragrances and venture to Los Angeles to visit some of our niche fragrance houses. With that said, when we want to escape and have the whole ambiance experience, its time to visit our favorite store Aedes De Venustas in NYC. The owner Karl has greeted us on occassion and we love sampling and traveling through time with every fragrance with him. He is exceptional and knowlegable and we never feel like we have to buy. The staff is so helpful and they leave us to wander and experience which is very important to us. Just keep in mind when you leave this beautiful boutique you will feel slightly light headed, like you had a fine glass of wine. Kuddos to the owner(s) and staff for making this a place of enchantement always. Till my next visit which will be very soon. read more

I love this shop and wish this treasure was in my neighborhood. Lots of high-quality, rare and hard-to-find home and personal fragrances sold in a small shop that drips with elegance, luxury and sensuality. I went in the morning, just as they were opening, and the two gentlemen working were very polite and helpful. read more

I hate to give away my secrets but here it goes. I went to Paris a year ago. I spent very little money, hard to do in Paris, but I did come home with one very and I repeat very special item. Perfume from Serge. I will not tell you guys which scent I am gaga over, that is personal, but I will tell you that it's here in New York City. Aedes is small, dark and truly a bewitched little shop. The staff will point you in the right direction, do not be afraid to stay and smell the roses. The online catalog is also a great if time is not on your side, try the samples , I swear they last forever. read more

Came in here a few weeks back, poor product knowledge and very aloof staff member. Wanted to ask the manager a question he would not come out from behind his curtain to answer. A shame as seemed like there was a good selection, just spent our money elsewhere read more

My experience was solely online so please view it as such. I placed an order through Aedes' website for Amouage. There was a hiccup in the order, so I e-mailed customer service and Karl responded with a very humble reply. In my opinion, Karl went above and beyond making amends. Not only did he reimburse me for my shipping cost, but he expedited the shipping at their expense AND sent me a nice gift on top of that! To me, that is customer service, and Aedes now has an online customer for life. I hope to visit this place next time I'm in NYC. These are fragrances that you won't find at the mall, so if you're looking for something truly special, I encourage you to consider Aedes De Venustas. read more

My first experience at Aedes about a year ago was fantastic. My wife and I are fragrance collectors and I'd heard so much about the store that I made a special trip down to Christopher Street last Spring. I did not intend to buy anything. I left having purchased $800 of fragrances. Two gentlemen at the store were very welcoming, helpful and took time to find fragrances that met the criteria that I was seeking. I came back today (June 2013) a year later and my experience couldn't have been more different. I came ready to spend $1,000 and left spending nothing and don't intend to return. The woman behind the counter seemed bothered to get off her chair (which she's obviously sat it too many times) to help me out and when asked about a particular Amouage fragrance (Ciel for men), she insisted there wasn't such a fragrance. Well, there is. She returned to her chair, ostensibly to rest from the strenuous walk to the Amouage cabinet. A man appeared from the back of the store -- "Good, I thought. ... someone who might want to engage with a customer like my first experience in the store." Wrong again. He too wasn't aware of Ciel by Amouage. I asked for some recommendations for animalic fragrances with civet notes, and I'm not sure he knew what I was even asking. He presented a light citrus fragrance to me and a couple of others, with no description of what he was presenting or why. Me: "Please tell me something about this particular line of fragrances." Him: [no response]. He retreated behind the counter and became involved in a drawn out conversation with the aforesaid woman affixed to her chair. I wanted around the store for about 30 minutes sniffing here and there and wondering about some of the interesting boutique fragrances I was sniffing. A quick Google search on my iPhone indicated that Amouage Ciel for men was available at a number of retail stores including a couple small stores that focused on the boutique fragrances. I visited one (review forthcoming) that was delightful. You were greeted with a door that actually opened, an attractive, knowledgeable sales person, and -- remarkable -- no attitude. I left after spending $1,200. Hey, Aedes you're running on fumes (and I don't mean "perfumes"). C'est la vie. Or maybe it should be "Ciel" la vie. read more

So disappointed with this place! I was in NY on vacation last week, and went out of my way just to go to this store. After all the wonderful reviews, I was looking forward to seeing their beautiful store, smelling some niche fragrances about which I've only read, and maybe learning something from their expertise. My experience instead was a cold reception with not so much as a "hello." After ten or twelve minutes of this, when it became clear I wouldn't even be greeted despite my friend and myself being the only customers in the store, I gave up and left. I don't know if the person working was having a bad day, is burnt out for retail, or just thought I wasn't worth his time, but it was truly disgraceful treatment. As someone who works retail herself, I can honestly say I've treated homeless people who have entered my doors with more kindness than I was shown here. read more

Aedes has a good selection. But the services is unacceptable. Ive bee shopping for a new fragrance and Ive been in the store a few times in the last few months. Consistently, the service is incredibly rude. They are not at all interested in helping you find a fragrance. They act like you are disrupting them. If they dont take care of customers, I dont know how they make money. Ive never been treated worse. Even worse - when I finally made couple selections, they were out of stock. This happened to me 2 times. this day and age, businesses like this fail. I hope they are making money on their website. They should just close their retail shop and run their website from a New Jersey warehouse. In NYC I highly recommend MIN, Osswald, and Barneys for a similar and excellent selection. read more

Gorgeous perfumes, crap customer service. The staff make you feel like you're NOT COOL ENOUGH to be in their store. The one good thing about this place is their perfume sample set: $25 for 7 samples. Fortunately, you don't have to go to the store for this, just order it online. read more

I'm a fragrance junkie , so I was looking forward to my visit of this fragrance mecca. I have one of their fragrances, which I love. True to form, their fragrance selection is, outstanding, with a few things you won't find anywhere else. The store is dark , moody and Victorian in feel. There is unfortunately no place to sit while you try different fragrances. This is a big negative as it takes awhile for scent to dry down and work with your body chemistry. A bigger negative is the obnoxious service. There was very little interest in providing me with any service. I have over 30 fragrances, with many from the most esoteric perfumers. I will never visit again. If you want to spend a lovely afternoon finding just the right fragrance, go to MiN New York. They too have many exclusives and the service is unparalleled. The best department store for fragrance is Barneys. A very good selection with good service. It boggles the mind when service for an unnecessary luxury item is so poor. Money is hard to come by, time is precious and life is short to be treated badly. Spend your time and money elsewhere. read more

This is what I imagine heaven to be like. It is a perfume lover's paradise - decadent, luxurious, exclusive and expensive. If you want to pick up a super unique fragrance for your honey (or yourself), this is the place to do it. They have some lovely Frederic Malle, Kiton, Santa Maria Novella, and several other brands I've never even heard of. Love. read more

I know the brand Aedes is an instition amongst perfumeries. But I'm just not a huge fan of the store. The need to be buzzed in immediately set an unwelcomed tone. To some, it feels like exclusivitity- but not in my opinion. Inside, despite the handful of times I've been inside, I didn't feel welcomed. If I was greeted, it must be extremely forgetful and half hearted as I don't remember it. As far as discussing the various fragrances, I never felt that comfort level as I had with the associates in Osswald and Twisted Lily. It has been a walk in, walk out type of store and I'll still go when I need to get certain perfumeries, but this location will not be my go-to. read more

Breathtakingly gorgeous store with an amazing selection of luxury niche fragrances. Sales staff are a teensy bit overbearing, and some are more helpful/knowledgeable than others. Nick has a great nose, and picked out a number of scents that resembled aspects of the discontinued perfume I brought in. Unfortunately I didn't find the One during my visit, but I will return whenever I'm in the mood to try out fancy scents in an equally opulent shop. read more

Rang the doorbell and was let in on a beautiful Friday afternoon. A bit awkward at first because I thought I tried to go through the wrong door and when someone unlocked the door I was almost at the next store's door and then it was locked when I tried to open it again. We were finally in after that. Immediately entering the store, the smell just took you in a good way. It was the best smelling store(fragrance or any other) I have ever been to. House music was playing at a noticeable volume which was great. The products looked/smelled so awesome. One of the men behind the counter said, "Let me know if you need anything" in a hurried way without looking up. But I just assumed he was busy. No biggie. Went through a bunch of fragrances with my girlfriend who was helping me choose a new cologne since my old one was running out. After going through a ton of different fragrances for about 15 minutes, we asked for help. One of the men there(didn't get the name, dark complexion and dark gelled hair) proceeded to help us out. I told him that I kind of liked this one fragrance but a bit more masculine. I wasn't too sure how to describe what I wanted. More spice perhaps? Anyways, he told me he didn't know what masculine meant to me so he couldn't help me out. I tried to be more specific by throwing in other words to describe what I wanted but I guess I never hit that one key word/note. He just looked at me like I was mentally incapable of anything. So, I finally said citrus scent after feeling defeated. He sprayed about 15 different fragrances. My girlfriend tried to help me out with more specific words for a scent but he immediately dismissed her saying no, he only wants citrus. So, to sum it all up, the store layout was great as was the decor. The products themselves were outstanding(though I didn't buy anything). But I really didn't appreciate the service here. Maybe it was the one and only guy who messed it up for the others. The other guys didn't seem stuck up at all. Hopefully it was because the store itself was incredible. That plus the random stocker boy who had the biggest smile but in a creepy way. Shop here. But do learn a bit of fragrance vocab just in case. read more

One of the best selections of fragrances in New York City and arguably among the best in the world. It's a shame the experience of being in the store is decidedly lousy. Customers have to buzz in before they can enter - it feels clubby and unwelcoming to outsiders even before you enter. The haughty service is complemented by leaden decor of taxidermy and ornate furnishings. Inventory that appeared available on the website wasn't offered to sample. Worst: the inside smells so overwhelmingly awful to the point that it's difficult to evaluate scents in the store. I've been spoiled by the relaxed atmosphere and thorough competence provided by Scent Bar in LA. Others may love Aedes De Venustas because this is their preferred experience of artisanal perfumery, or because they've been made to feel welcome by the staff there. Neither of these are true for me. read more

I decided it was time for a richer, more grown up fragrance in my life and having read the online selection of upscale brands at this store, thought it would be a wonderful place to start. My boyfriend and I visited the store on a sunny winter Saturday; he was also considering a new cologne. When we walked in, it took a moment to adjust to the gloomy lighting; somewhat like entering a 19h century drawing room where a seance will soon take place. Ok, it's an atmosphere. There were 2 men behind the counter, one of whom was assisting a female customer. We began to peruse the shelves and I assumed, of course, that one of the gentlemen would offer some help when they were free. However, even after the only other customer in the store exited, we were not acknowledged in any way, shape, or form. This went on for 10 minutes. One of them simply chastised his small dogs for running around the store. They were very cute, but even when they ran past my legs, he never stopped to smile or say hello or acknowledge that I existed in time or space. Needless to say, the coldness was less than conducive to shopping, so we left without purchasing a thing. Next time, I'll head to Barney's for nearly the same selection without the haughty attitude. read more

Good selection of perfumes but the staff is very unhelpful. As a previous reviewer mentioned I did not feel welcomed and it seemed as if I was burdening the sales person by asking questions and for help. Will definitely not be back. read more

Placed an online order for two items totaling $530 on January 7. My credit card was charged the same day. I called the store on the tenth because I hadn't received an email that the order shipped. I was told it wouldn't be sent until the twelfth, five days after the order was placed. I appreciate local businesses and all, but it's looking like lucky scent from now on. read more

While visiting NYC my friend suggested I stop into this shop. She's knows I die for fragrance. This is the most beautiful and fun perfume shop I've ever seen. I got a fragrance I'd never smelled before and two candles. I'll most certainly make this a destination every time I visit NYC!! read more

Wonderful experiences both in the store and online. I came to the store looking for the right fragrance after disappointment with standard department store fragrances, many of which I hated, none of which mesmerized me. When you walk into the store, it is like entering another world full of beauty and sensuality. The gentleman I spoke to in the shop patiently introduced me to fragrance after fragrance. At the end, he wrote down a list of the ones I liked best, and I went home and purchased the samples online. One of the extra samples they included in my order entranced me, so I purchased the wonderful Aedes de Venustas Musc Encense. It arrived quickly and I am so in love with this scent. I also received many more samples that I am excited to try. Thank you for your generosity, patience, and for introducing me to these wonderful fragrances. read more

This is the place to go for fragrance and gifts! This shop is luxurious, the guys are friendly and the items are so well curated! It is simply a step above the rest!!!! Really gorgeous ambiance, flowers and attention to detail plus it smells like heaven. I want everything in the store! The best place for gifts in NYC. "Hard" to find fragrances and amazing soaps, candles and gifts! Charming little store that makes you feel like you you have left NYC for another era. Go.... read more