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About Necessities and Peaufiné

Two stores. One shared story.

Our Story

  • The Pioneering Years

    Necessities was founded in 1985 by Suzanne Bocxtaele, a true bon vivant whose frequent travels to major cities made her realise that Belgium was missing the emerging world of niche perfumery.

    She became the first in the Benelux to introduce brands that were virtually unknown at the time: L’Artisan Parfumeur, Penhaligon’s, Creed, Annick Goutal… small, artisanal houses that had stepped away from mass production to focus again on quality raw materials and more personal, expressive compositions.

    From a small shop on Schuttershofstraat, she spent decades bringing a smile to her customers’ faces.

  • A New Chapter

    Suzanne retired at the age of 78 but had already welcomed her daughter-in-law Cathy into the business ten years earlier.

    Necessities moved to Steenhouwersvest and continued to expand its selection of brands. Around the same time, Maxime Bocxtaele, Suzanne’s grandson, joined the team, further strengthening Necessities’ reputation for service and craftsmanship.

    Today, Necessities has become a reference in Antwerp, where the team takes the time and has the knowledge to guide fragrance lovers towards the right scent.

  • A New Branch

    Convinced that the Necessities approach of service and expertise could extend beyond fragrance, the team launched Peaufiné in 2021, a premium beauty boutique with a strong focus on niche skincare and make-up brands.

    The philosophy remained the same: carefully selected, high-quality products that are thoroughly tested before entering the store, supported by a knowledgeable team that takes the time to find the right solution for each need.

    Co-founder Kora-Lee Lust brings the same level of passion and exceptional expertise that customers have come to expect from Necessities.

  • Today

    What began in 1985 as a pioneering initiative has grown into a house where selection, independence and knowledge are at the core.

    Four decades later, Necessities remains guided by the same conviction: passion, service and expertise.

Values

  • Personal Guidance

    In-store, time is taken to listen and ask the right questions. Words are translated into scent, with clear and precise descriptions of what to expect. Choosing a fragrance is rarely as simple as the first impression. Scents evolve over time, smell different depending on context, and become harder to evaluate as the nose fatigues. Guidance is structured around that reality, so each fragrance can be experienced in the right conditions.

  • Selection Above All

    Every brand in the store has a clear reason to be there. Because it is exceptionally strong, because it shows something rarely encountered, or because it represents the best of niche and exclusive perfumery. Sales alone is never the deciding factor. What matters is what a brand brings.

  • Looking Beyond Notes

    Fragrance is often described through notes, but that is only one layer. Attention is also given to olfactory architectures and the molecules behind them, and to how a scent evolves on skin over time. We test all the fragrances we represent thoroughly, so we know what you can expect. This leads to a deeper understanding of what you are smelling.

  • Experience That Gives Direction

    More than 40 years and three generations of perfume expertise provide context. Changes in perfumery have been observed over time, making it easier to recognize what endures and what fades.