Various cafes, boutiques, and bookstores line the sidewalks. Tigerlily Perfumery (now Ministry of Scent) stands alone as a truly rare gem in San Francisco. As the only U.S. store solely specializing in featuring small house and independent perfume brands from all over the world, there is always something new to discover.  Fragrance lovers from all over the world flock to the boutique to discover a new parfum or get their hands on hard-to-find oils and toilettes. At the center is Antonia Kohl, the owner, and founder of Tigerlily, and this Friday afternoon, she is in the middle of a fragrance consultation. I walked in while Antonia was talking to a mother and daughter, discussing various scent notes and bases.

As I browsed around the shop, I couldn’t help but listen in on the conversation. She explains various notes and describes the story behind each brand in depth. It was reminiscent of a sommelier and when you choose a new perfume, you are essentially doing a tasting. No one is more qualified or friendly to lead than Antonia. “My first experience with perfume was in the second grade,” she recounts, “when a little boy in my class stole a bottle of tea rose perfume from his mother to give to me.” Her love of fragrance grew in her adult years to vintage and niche perfumes, “whenever we would travel, we’d look for boutique fragrance shops that might carry something hard-to-find and different.” However, it wasn’t until some soul-searching during a difficult period taking care of her parents did she consider a change of pace. After 20 years of working as an executive producer and chief designer in the tech and gaming industry along with encouragement from her husband, Kohl decided to follow her nose.

Growing from a pop-up to a full-fledged store in the span of 5 years, Tigerlily is an institution for the fragrance community in the Bay Area. Boasting over 60 independent brands from all over the world, they take immense pride in what they stock and the brands they support, “we really try to be a platform that shines a light on not just small perfumeries but the people who make the perfume themselves.” They have also fostered the community through workshops and events, “Fragrance can really bring people out of their shells and I love hearing their stories and learning about their lives through the lens of perfume.” Her mission for bringing beautiful, rare fragrance isn’t stopping with workshops and events, she is expanding the gospel with a new venture, Ministry of Scents, premiering at the end of this year. Tigerlily has captured the giddy excitement of discovering your new favorite fragrance in a gorgeous, friendly, and open environment. If you are in the area, be sure to drop by for a new fragrance or sign up for a workshop. I promise it will be worth it.

 What’s a normal day for you?

“Because I work with the public, there is no such thing as a normal day. I generally get up around 7:00 am and, on good days, get a bit of exercise before I look at emails and customer service inquiries. I’m at the shop by 10:30 am and usually don’t get home until 9:00 pm in the evening.”

What is one product everyone must try?

“In our store, I would recommend that everyone try L’Air du Desert Marocain by Andy Tauer. I say this because it’s so beautiful, but also because it’s poised to become an evergreen classic that people will love for decades to come.”

Who is your beauty icon or role model?

“Many people probably say this, but my mother is my beauty icon. She was a feminist, an artist, a writer, and a nature lover who lived in simple jeans and striped t-shirts.”

“I was lucky to have parents who always made me feel special, smart, and beautiful. As a young girl who struggled with weight and feelings of being different, it was inspiring to have a mother who encourage me to express myself through music, art, and self-presentation.”

One thing you can’t leave the door without?

“I wear fragrance and mascara every day, even when I’m hiking. Bright orange-red lipstick is my power color and it comes with me most of the time too.

Personal philosophy to beauty and fragrance?

“Express yourself, be free and have fun!”

Ministry of Scent

973 Valencia St.

San Francisco, CA 94110