For Minnesota beauty junkies, the pages of Vogue seem like a tease. They offer vivid descriptions of the world’s finest fragrances, which, to actually smell, would require a plane ticket to Paris. Or so we thought. The new La Petite Parfumerie in downtown Excelsior has the good stuff. (Note: Beauty-retail goddess/owner Diane Wissink closed her heavenly Cherie Boutique in Wayzata and reopened as this lovely parfumerie.) Serge Lutens, Acqua di Parma, Tocca, and L’Artisan sit atop glass cases like beautiful, smug models, while an expert saleswoman helps you navigate the intricacies of selecting a signature scent. Despite its name, the shop is expansive. Plush rugs, crystal chandeliers, and shabby-chic cabinets lend European flair. La Petite Parfumerie also carries coveted skincare lines Fresh, Kiehl’s, and Caudalie, and exclusive cosmetics line T. LeClerc. The real beauty, of course, is that you no longer have to leave the Cities to find—or smell—them.
La Petite Parfumerie
Some of the world’s most sought-after fragrances are right under your nose at this dainty downtown Excelsior boutique
