Heavenly Scents : Perfume City and the Almost & Perfect china shop are sources for elegant gifts.
Two types of merchandise are almost foolproof for holiday gift giving: perfume and tabletop acces sories.
Perfume is probably the most popular and acceptable gift for almost anyone on your list. But please, avoid the cheap stuff or knockoffs. Don’t know what fragrance to choose? Try one of the hot new fragrances you’ll find at Perfume City. For a discounter, Perfume City has an excellent selection, carrying many of the latest perfumes on the market at great prices.
This year, Moshino is considered a winner. A 2.5-ounce eau de toilette spray that sells elsewhere for $70 is $45 here. Romeo by Gigli in a 3.4-ounce eau de parfum is $49, compared to $78 at many perfume counters. Another hot fragrance is Cabotine by Grefs, which is $39, instead of $58, for 3.4 ounces.
A new fragrance for men from a famous Italian designer is called Versace. You’ll see the three-ounce eau de toilette spray in the department stores for $48, but Perfume City’s sticker reads $38.
The old standards for men and women are discounted from 15% to 60%. You’ll also find many fragrances here--Bal a Versailles, Je Reviens or Coriandre--that have all but vanished from the department stores.
The Almost & Perfect English China Shop has a wealth of tabletop accessories at excellent prices. Owner Ruth Hertz has expanded her inventory to include merchandise made in the United States as well as Europe.
One new line is from the Wilton Co. of Mount Joy, Pa., which manufactures products made of Armetale, a metal that retains cold as well as heat. Made from a combination of 10 different metals, it won’t break, chip, crack or dent, is nontoxic, safe for cooking and elegant enough for any holiday table. A nine-inch Boston bowl in a highly polished finish retails at many stores for $50, but is $29.95 here.
Another new addition to the inventory is Caithness glass from Scotland, best known for paperweights. This mouth-blown and hand-engraved glassware is a collector’s joy but generally carries a high price. The Almost & Perfect English China Shop’s discounts bring it into a more comfortable price range. A four-inch bud vase that retails for $40 is $19.90.
More familiar names like Wedgwood, Aynsley and Royal Doulton are on the shelves, discounted between 20% and 40%.
Where to Shop What: Perfume City, 12215 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Hours: Through Christmas Eve, open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Cards: Visa, MasterCard. Call: (818) 763-1875. What: The Almost & Perfect English China Shop, 14519 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Hours: Through Christmas Eve, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (5:30 p.m. Saturdays), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express. Call: (818) 905-6650.
