Quite a display isn’t it?
Glass amphorae filled with the finest extraits, pink puffs for sweet smelling powders and crystal flacons everywhere awaiting decants of the prized perfumes.
And as one might expect there’s a story behind it…
Today, by pure chance The Dandy came upon a business card (shall we say ‘calling card’, it does sound so much better?) that one thought one had lost forever.
Which would have been such a shame for it was given me by the splendid Ms Diane Haska who reigns supreme over the beautiful scene we see above.
For it is The Caron Boutique at Phyto Universe in New York City and Diane more than ably fills the entirely appropriately named position of Caron Ambassador there.
Whether that is Ambassador to the entire United States or merely the Empire State The Dandy is unsure, either way the diplomatic nomenclature could not be more apt: Diane is gracious and wise, graceful and discreet and utterly charming.
Everything one could ever hope for in an ambassador and attributes far exceeding those normally possessed by persons involved in the sale of scent.
Meeting Diane was a highpoint of My American Adventure, her passion for the house of Caron and its products shines out of her and informs the manner in which affairs are conducted in this petit palais of perfume.
Helpful and knowledgeable in equal measure, though charmingly camera and interview shy, in the flesh she is an animated, elegant and witty figure replete with funny tales of fragrance critics and reminiscences of days gone by when the Big Apple’s big stores would hire models to parade their perfume halls promoting the latest smells from Paris and beyond.
So entrancing is Diane in fact that The Dandy almost lost track of time and forgot that he was at Caron on an emergency errand to acquire a bottle of le 3eme Homme for his own brother’s wedding which was less than an hour away!
Fear not friends, the fragrance was found and, unlike the bride, I was not late for the matrimonials.
If ever you are in NYC and have a little time to spare, or indeed can make some time spare, do be sure to visit this sumptuous shrine to seriously beautiful perfume.
Oh, and for those of you who were worried that it was gone forever, a certain someone still has a supply of perfectly lovely Poivre…
Do tell Diane The Dandy sent you!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
Diane Haska is Caron Ambassador at
Phyto Universe
715 Lexington Avenue at 58th Street
New York
NY 10022
T: 212 308 0270
W: phytouniverse.com
Post Script:
The Dandy should make clear that he paid for his own prefume that day and any enthusiasm shown here is the genuine article and not bought and paid for!!
The Perfumed Dandy. 
Three cheers for this fabulous Manhattan adventure. What a find Miss Diane is. I have marked my itinerary for my next trip to New York, Phyto Universe as a must see on the big island. As always you style leads the way land covers the rest of us in your fragrant dust.
Dearest Lanier
I feel that we should celebrate the likes of Ambassador Diane, especially as she is working so hard to keep a little flame alive in our hearts for a brand as august and historically important as Caron.
When you’re next in NYC you must pop in as I’m sure you’d get along just Dandy!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Wow. If ever there were celestial locations on this mortal coil, surely Caron’s boutique on Lexington in NYC would be one? I see all those delicious urns and must still my beating heart at the wonders they contain! Thank you for that vicarious pleasure, Dandy! 🙂
Dearest Sheila
How sumptuously put!
It is indeed a place of heart-skipping beauty.
Hopefully one day you may get there too!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Is that you in the mirror, taking the picture, Mr. Dandy?
Dearest Lily
Hopefully all you can see is a little arm and a crisply ironed half sleeved shirt!
A secret… f you look hard enough some hint of The Dandy can be espied in quite a few of the photographs that are my own…
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I’m going to look much more carefully at these photos in future!
Dearest Alice
Tee hee.
Now I shall have to go all Hitchcock and intentionally insert myself incognito into the shots!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Most fortuitously I was ironing my fragrance-themed T-shirt tonight – the one which pictures a Caron-style urn, and bears the legend: “Urn…spend” (the inference being on one’s perfume habit…
Diane sounds like a worthy ambassador for the brand and all its fragrant accoutrements. I have seen Guerlain fans but never Caron powder puffs!
Dear Vanessa
What a splendid t-shirt… did you have it made especially?
Diane is every inch a worthy diplomat to represent Caron in these turbulent times.
And as for those powder puffs aren’t they just cosmetic perfection!?!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Diane Haska is wonderful. I’ve purchased parfums from her, one of which is my favorite Alpona.
Dear Mary
I’m delighted that you’ve had the opportunity to meet Diane, she is indeed, wonderful… as is Alpona.
Perhaps one day I’ll get the chance to review it too if enough people suggest it!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy