Clouds that talk, drawers that sing, and sensory delights every way you turn; the newly-opened Jo Malone London boutique in Harajuku is the stuff olfactory dreams are made of.

Tokyo might not seem like the most obvious location for a global flagship, but it actually makes a lot of sense for the British fragrance house. The opening coincides with Jo Malone’s 15th anniversary in Japan, and joins 50 other retail boutiques in the country. It’s also proven a chance to have some fun and push the boundaries of what it means to discover and shop for scent in real life.

The boutique is situated right in the centre of Omotesando Hills in Harajuku. The shopping precinct has a little bit of everything: designer, high street, incredible vintage and off-beat boutiques. The Jo Malone store spans 2,540 square feet, a huge space that houses almost the entire range, from classic scents to the Cologne Intense range. There’s even exclusives inspired by Japanese ingredients: Nashi Blossom and Cherry Blossom.

It’s not your typical retail experience. Instead, the boutique is all about discovery, marrying British quirk with a youthful energy that’s distinctly Japanese. It’s not all about shopping, either. There are floating paper clouds that whisper compliments, a ‘cabinet of curiosities’, the interactive ‘shell phone’ that calls the British coast and a chandelier that sits on the shop floor, as if it fell from the sky. You can immerse yourself in the Cologne Intense cave — an experience dedicated to the scented range inspired by the magic of far-flung destinations. There’s all the classics too, like Wood Sage & Sea Salt or English Pear & Freesia.

The boutique design was led by Global Creative Director Wandjina Glasheen-Brown. It’s a world away from what you might imagine to be a Jo Malone London fit out. Instead, it’s an incredible mix of warm woods, soft pastels, stark white and moody red. Its furnished with a mix of antique pieces and custom artworks commissioned by both Amyisla McCombie and Academy award-winning set designer Shona Heath.

There is also a huge emphasis on gifting and personalistion. There’s customised wrapping, engraving, scent layering stations and moments dedicated to home fragrance. It’s the best experience anyone can have exploring the perfume universe, in one of the greatest retail destinations in the world. If you’re in Tokyo, it needs to be on your list.

RUSSH had the very fortuitous chance to visit the boutique opening in Tokyo — a night of sensorial overload (of the best kind), fragrance discovery and the best Harajuku has to offer. A look inside the night that was, below.