Where exquisite scents and time-travel collide...
Last month I met up with a publicist-turned-friend from my NYC days who I hadn’t seen in 10 years. (When I realized I was pregnant the last time we saw each other my mind was blown.) She was in town for the soft opening of the Krigler boutique at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach—but our coffee date was more for personal than business reasons—or so I thought.
After an hour or so of catching up and talking about the drastic changes in the media and publishing worlds, we were joined by the ever-so-charming Ben Krigler—and my olfactory world will never be the same. As someone who appreciates (and craves) a good story behind a scent, I was mesmerized by the history of this fragrance house that dates back to 1879—and the fact that Krigler is the atelier behind the signature scents of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ernest Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, countless royals and many other historical heavy-hitters.
I was amongst the first to experience the new jewel box of a shop at the Four Seasons, which was a treat for much more than my nose. Ben took me back in time, explaining the brand’s nomenclature (the numbers associated with the perfume names have significance) and the inspirations behind each scent. Many date back to Ben’s great-great grandfather, Albert Krigler, whose first fragrance was created as a gift for his future wife.
Literally dizzy from all of the stories and intoxicating scents, I had to choose one to take home with me—and thankfully Ben was making mental notes of my reactions to each of the more than 25 juices I sampled. There was no question that Lieber Gustav 14 (created in 1914 and Marlene Dietrich’s favorite) was the one. With a striking purple hue and completely unique blend of black tea, lavender, geranium, leather, sandalwood and tonka bean, I was literally sniffing myself the entire drive home—and I was so giddy after my afternoon that my husband was actually a bit suspicious about where I had been—and what I had been doing.
Adding to Krigler’s allure is its exclusivity… The only places in the U.S. you can experience these scents in person are the Plaza Hotel in NYC, the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and the Four Seasons in Palm Beach. You can, however, order samples through the website—and if perfume is your jam, I highly recommend doing so. The house also offers soaps and scented candles in its most popular scents (hostess gifts, people!)—and Krigler is also one of the only parfumeurs that still offers couture-level bespoke scents if you’re willing to invest up to a year (and a sizable chunk of change) to get it just right.
The next time you want to treat yourself—and your nose—to a heavenly experience (if you happen to be in New York City, Los Angeles or Palm Beach), be sure to make a trip to Krigler. And good luck deciding on just one scent.
