Buly is the kind of place lovers of historical fiction dream about. Tucked away inside a cobblestone street on rue Bonaparte in Paris’s sixth arrondissement, it’s like stepping back in time into a 19th century apothecary. That’s because it’s modelled after the apothecary first opened by Jean-Vincent Bully in 1806.
Bully (the person with two Ls) set up shop to sell his perfumes and vinegars. His signature Vinaigre de Bully did so well, it had all of Paris smitten. In 2014, husband and wife Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac-Touhami dusted off the cobwebs and resurrected the brand, preserving and building upon what began centuries ago (this was after Ramdane read Balzac’s novel, César Birotteau, which the author had based on Jean Francois Bully).
My first visit to the shop in Paris was full of regret. I came, I saw, and I left with a bottle of oil, the the only thing I could afford with the dire conversion rate. I was counting down the days (and pennies) until my next visit until this little piece of good news came my way: Buly 1806 had opened up shop inside New York’s Bergdorf Goodman, much closer to home (other locations include Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong and London).
The New York location is no Paris but the experience is special in its own way. It’s a totally different experience – more art deco than antique apothecary – and purposely so to reflect its department store surroundings, which was created in 1899. The salespeople wear cloche hats modelled after the one Coco Chanel wore in the 1920s, and the marbled counters were flown in from Paris.
The hand cream: Pommade Concrète Balm
This Insta-famous hand and foot cream, easily recognizable from the carnival fair-esque palm on the packaging, is the one thing most people buy when you visit, likely because it’s one of the more affordable items there.
The oils: Sesame Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Rosehip Oil
A dozen little glass vials of vegetable oil sit lined up, boasting various properties and benefits. There’s rosehip oil, which is great for scars, a soothing sweet almond oil that helps with rosacea, and apricot kernel oil that targets dull skin among others. Ask for the catalogue, which will detail all their benefits.
The toothpaste: Opiate Dentaire Toothpaste
It’s hard to resist a fancy toothpaste and Buly’s toothpaste is by far the fanciest. It uses calcium and magnesium to cleanse, and a blend of cucumber, mint and coriander to refresh.
The water-based perfumes: Eaux Triples
There are twelve different scents ranging from damask rose to orange blossom, including exotic ones like Al Kassir (a sandalwood, geranium and cardamom concoction) and Sumi Hinoki (a smoky cypress). There’s also an option to personalize the box with your name via calligrapher.
