If Saks Goes To Court, What Happens To Your Favorite Perfumes?

I learned to love aldehydes on the eighth floor at Bergdorf Goodman. A spritz of Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady, a raised brow from a sales associate, and suddenly my rent money smelled like Turkish rose. Now reports suggest Saks Global and its crown jewels Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman could be heading to bankruptcy court. I am not interested in corporate fairy tales. I want to know what happens to the perfume.

First, store exclusives could wobble. Think Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Her and Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him, or limited BG editions from Roja Parfums. These partnerships live on paper contracts and foot traffic. If the lights flicker, expect renegotiations, quiet discontinuations, or a migration to brand boutiques and specialty retailers.

Second, inventory shock. If doors close or consolidate, stock may move fast. Watch for waves of perfectly legit bottles drifting into the gray market. That could mean sudden deals on Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, Creed Aventus, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Dior Sauvage, even rarer birds like Xerjoff Naxos or Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique. Savvy shopping is fine, but know your seller and your batch codes.

Third, the center of gravity shifts. Indie and niche houses that rely on high-touch counters will double down on sampling and direct to consumer. Expect stronger presences at Luckyscent, Twisted Lily, and Aedes de Venustas, and more discovery sets landing in your mailbox. The joy of wandering a glowing hall might give way to kitchen-table blotters and late-night sniffing sessions. It is less glamorous, but sometimes truer.

Not everyone will flinch. Concession-style brands with deep-pocket parents can flex. Chanel Les Exclusifs, Dior La Collection Privée, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden often have the infrastructure to weather a restructuring. They will reroute shoppers to their boutiques and keep the samples flowing.

If you adore a counter-only favorite, sample now and decide if a full bottle deserves a spot before distribution gets weird. I still remember that first Portrait of a Lady cloud at BG and the hush it left behind. Retail empires rise and fall. The good juice survives, it just changes address.