Burgins Perfumery

Description

Nestled at the top of Coney Street just a perfume spray away from the historic Mansion House, Burgins Perfumery is a York landmark having been ever-present here since 1880. It first started trading as a pharmacy selling perfumes, but these days, though the odd request for pain-killers or suppositories is still received, the demand is more likely to be for their renowned range of leading and exclusive fragrances.

Burgins is reassuringly traditional with a décor that reflects its Victorian origins, whilst its wooden shelves line the walls from floor to ceiling, teeming with glass bottles, colourful boxes and tempting gift sets. Part of Burgins’s real treasure is its breadth of stock. If a customer wishes to track down a perfume they used to wear as a teenager, or one that reminds them of their mum or gran, Burgins should be their first port of call.

The tradition of Burgins has always been to offer outstanding customer service, with a shopping experience which draws customers back repeatedly, not just from within the UK, but from visitors from as far afield as the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They make the pilgrimage to Burgins in search of the long-lost, first-worn, never-forgotten favourite scent, and cater for clients of all ages, including the new younger generation of 10-18 year-olds who so voraciously idolise the pop band One Direction’s fragrances.

However, Burgins truly stands above its competitors with its range of niche and exclusive fragrance brands. Names such as ‘Floris’, ‘Grossmith of London’, ‘Atelier Cologne’, ‘Etat Libre d’Orange’, ‘Mona di Orio’, and even ‘4160 Tuesdays’ do not trip off the tongue, but have become synonymous with style, elegance and quality, something you appreciate as soon as you step into the shop.

Men are certainly not forgotten about here either. Apart from an equally impressive range of scents to rival the women’s, there is also an extensive collection of grooming essentials. It is noteworthy to point out that there are two growing bands of men: those who are ardent beard growers and shaving aficionados who relish the prospect of a close, wet shave as practiced by traditional barbers today. The British-made ranges include renowned manufacturers Edwin Jagger, whose razors, bristle brushes, stands, and shaving requisites are second to none. Quintessential brands also include G. F. Trumper, and Taylors of Bond Street. For the real gentlemen out there, Burgins are now proud to offer Scaramouche & Fandango, a range of distinctive styling and skincare products. Those men who love their beard and moustache, Captain Fawcett offers grooming essentials which include Moustache Wax, Beard Oil, Shaving Soap, and Eau de Cologne.

Burgins promises a shopping experience like no other. The shop still possesses historical artefacts from those early years, including pharmacists’ bottles for potions plus an ancient and historical prescription book into which each prescription dispensed was written. So, if you crave a little bit of heritage, and hark back to the days of personal counter-based service; if you want to sample its unique charm, ambience and customer values, and you want to experience staff who genuinely know their business, a visit to Burgins has to be a must on your visit to York.