A cult favorite of the fragrance world unveils its flagship store.

Anthousa (Greek for ‘the perfect bloom’) is proud to announce the opening of its flagship store in South Lake Union on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Until now, the luxury line of home fragrances was only available at Nieman Marcus, Barneys and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as a number of worldwide specialty stores.

Despite the limited release, Anthousa has earned a cult-like following among consumers; several celebrities, including Mandy Moore, Kate Bosworth and Jennifer Garner, have touted the company’s euphoric scents. Now, Seattleite bloodhounds have access to Anthousa’s entire inventory in their own backyard.

Much like the fragrances themselves, the chic space – conceived by Larry Hooke Interior Design – is meant to whisk customers to far-away places. Founder and Creative Director Maria Christofilis, a Seattle native, curates Anthousa with scents and colors inspired by landscapes around the world. The catalog says it all: ‘Vanilla, Grapefruit & Blood Orange,’ ‘Fig Leaf & Bitter Almond’ and ‘Pomelo & Kumquat,’ are just a few of the selections.

In addition to the signature favorites, two new fragrances became available earlier this year. ‘Violet & Black Currant,’ a floral cassis blend, was the product of a collaboration between Anthousa wallpaper guru de Gournay of London. ‘Parisian White Tea,’ a Fall 2011 Limited Edition, is a sumptuous blend of Meyer lemon, wild lilies, white tea, heliotrope, fern leaves and pink tuberose, grounded by rosewater, ylang ylang and a note of sheer musk.

Anthousa products are available either as a diffuser in an elegant canter or as a 7.3-ounce candle – and both options are as eco-friendly as they are traditional. The alcohol-free blends diffuse up to nine months, come in multiple sizes and are available in sets of three. The vegetable-based candles, complete with a 100 percent cotton wick, burn up to 50 hours. All Anthousa items are presented in stylishly hand-wrapped gift boxes.

Let’s face it – as winter rears its cold, gray head, Seattleites will spend much of their time indoors. While there’s nothing wrong with this annual hibernation, our living rooms are bound to get a little stale in the process. Let Anthousa help – after all, they’re right down the street now.

Anthousa  |  900 Lenora St. (Suite 105), S. Lake Union   |   (206) 441-0123