Za Za Takes on New York: A Scent-Sational Spring Weekend
Za Za Takes on New York: A Scent-Sational Spring Weekend
Thank you, New York City, for welcoming Za Za with open arms and open hearts💗!
There’s nothing quite like exploring a city with no formal agenda—especially one as rich in inspiration as NYC. I kicked off my weekend with a wander through Tribeca and the Financial District, neighborhoods I hadn’t fully immersed myself in for years. A big thanks to the always-inspiring @perfumeversenyc newsletter for pointing me to my first stop: the brand-new @printempsnewyork department store.
This space is a love letter to both architecture and artful retail. The thoughtful merchandising and Parisian flair made each floor feel like a curated gallery. Pro tip: don’t skip either side of the building—and definitely make your way to the Red Room. One of their wonderful guides (who looked like she’d stepped right out of Paris) pointed me toward the shoe department and a show-stopping Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture exhibit suspended above the fragrance section. Talk about sensory overload—in the best way.
Family Finds in Tribeca
One of the unexpected joys of this trip was stumbling across a treasure trove of STEAM-focused, kid-friendly spots. Shoutout to @Boomerangtoys, @Craftstudionyc, @Cricketscandy, and @Thefashionsquadschool—amazing hubs for creativity and exploration. It’s so energizing to find spaces that nurture imagination and curiosity, especially when they align so beautifully with the world of Za Za.
Sniffapalooza: A Dream Day for Fragrance Lovers
Saturday brought a major highlight: Sniffapalooza’s Spring Fling! Founders Karen Dubin and Karen Adams have built such a vibrant community of scent enthusiasts, and it was an honor to join them for this iconic NYC event.
We kicked off at @Malinandgoetz with a warm welcome and a goodie bag to collect our treasures. From there, the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits—we wandered from boutique to boutique, exploring scents at:
It was a scent-lover’s dream.
A Fragrant First for Za Za
At the Sniffapalooza luncheon, I was honored to present alongside this amazing lineup of passionate fragrance gurus:
Stephen Dirkes, Scents of Grenada
Hez & Devorah Binkowitz, Founders of Hez Parfums
Gustavo Romero, Founder of Fragrance Alliance Network
Kim Van Dang, Co-founder of Van Dang Fragrances
Nadia Kadri, Founder of Perfumeverse NYC
Karen Dubin presenting Essential Parfums
Nate Jenkins, Founder of NJJ Fragrances
Nils Beeman, President North America, Trudon
David Ecker, sharing Clive Christian and The Harmonist
za Za interactions!
It was especially exciting to debut our first “Sweet Scents & Stories: A Fragrant Workshop for Young Explorers,” hosted with @Fragrancealliancenetwork. Huge thanks to Gustavo Romero, Daisy Bow, and Karen Dubin for embracing Za Za’s mission and helping us bring this sensory storytime to life.
We kicked off the morning by introducing attendees to Za Za and her magical bee buddy, Lizzy. After some lemonade and macarons (because every kids fragrance workshop needs a little sweetness too), we dove into the world of scent through engaging STEM activities of smelling, storytelling, and drawing. I loved watching imaginations light up as new smells were discovered and and personal fragrant tales were crafted. Absolutely magical.
And guess what? We’re already talking about future collaborations—so stay tuned!
A Weekend to Remember
This trip reminded me why Za Za’s mission resonates: fragrance has the power to connect us—across ages, backgrounds, and cities. Whether you're a long-time perfumista or a grown-up looking to share joyful, sensory experiences with the kids in your life, there’s a place for you in the world of Za Za. Big thank you’s to Amy Marks-Mcgee (@Trendincite) and Daisy Bow (@je_suis_daisyb) for being champions of Za Za’s Scent-Sational Super Power stories and Scent STEM activities from the very beginning. They’ve constantly helped provide guidance that helped make this NYC weekend come together💗!
Thank you, NYC, for the unforgettable memories, and to everyone who helped make this weekend so scent-sational.
✨ Follow along for more adventures, pop-up events, and sweet-scented stories. Za Za’s just getting started.
