We would like to thank all our wonderful visitors and invite you to come and explore our new permanent home at 1551 Johnston Street (map), Vancouver BC.

Tart Boutique has finally come home to Granville Island where she can be supervised by her big sister, Edie Hats! She is a place of hedonistic delights, where pleasure reigns in a fun and theatrical atmosphere.

For more information, please go to www.tartboutique.com.

Cologne is the very lightest form of any scent.  It has the highest concentration of alcohol so it disperses relatively quickly.

Eau de Toilette is slightly more concentrated – the ratio of perfume to alcohol is higher so while it is still a nice light way to wear a scent, it has more staying power than cologne.

Eau de Parfum is even more highly concentrated.  This can be quite powerful and usually comes in an atomizer so that you can spray it in a fine layer.

Perfume is the most concentrated form and is often very expensive.  As they say, “a little dab’ll do ya” – you really only need to use the tiniest amount.  Perfume almost never comes in a spray.  It would be overwhelming.


Rather than using a lot of strongly concentrated perfume, you can extend the life of a scent on your skin by layering it.  Use a soap, shower gel or bubble bath, and then treat yourself to a luxurious body lotion in the same fragrance.  Finish off with a fine mist of eau de toilette and you will carry the scent with you for much longer.

Scents in their bottles don’t last forever either.  Temperature fluctuations, and especially excessive heat, will cause them to deteriorate; destroying their complexity and making them smell a bit sour.

Your perfume will last a lot longer if you can store it in a place with a consistently cool temperature.  If you like to display your collection, try to choose a spot that doesn’t get too warm in the sun.  Keeping your scents in the bathroom is not usually the best choice.

Visit Qortezan for an exclusive collection of unique fragrances you won’t find anywhere else.  Try a beautiful gift set combining a fragrance with a lotion, soap or shower gel.  Nothing lasts forever, but you can make the most of a good thing!

Qortezan: Live Royally
1035 Mainland Street (Yaletown)
Vancouver BC
Phone: 604 685 7755
www.qortezan.com

There is not much in the world more intimidating than the perfume counter at a big department store.

Edie at Sephora's in Paris

If you are like me, there is not much in the world more intimidating than the perfume counter at a big department store. It’s not just because of the incredible mixture of scents hovering in the air, though that’s part of it.  It’s all those choices, all those special words they use, all those ladies behind the counter that seem to have access to some alchemical secret that’s … well … secret.

I recently had the good fortune to meet with Parise Yun, a perfume expert and representative for some of the unique scents available at Qortezan.  She shared some of her experience and wisdom with me and helped to demystify the art of choosing the right perfume.

Most perfumes are fairly complex and have at least 30-40 different ingredients in them.

Durance Pillow Perfume

The first thing that hits you is the top note.  This is the first impression you get when you spray a perfume and it can actually be quite fleeting.

Next, as the top note disperses, the middle notes come through.  This is the heart of the fragrance – a bit of everything that is essential to the perfume.

After about 10 or 15 minutes the perfume begins to “warm down” and the bottom notes begin to surface.  These are often warm woodsy lingering components.

Chemistry is everything.  Every scent will take on different characteristics depending on your skin and its acidity.  Once you have waited for all these layers to emerge, you can start to get a sense of how it reacts with your body chemistry.

Here are some tips for trying a new scent.

Fleur D'Ombre - Ombre Bleu

If you think you’ll like it, spray it on your wrist.  Resist the urge to rub it – that will mash up all the ingredients and they won’t get a chance to settle and develop in all their intended complexity.

Wait about 20 minutes before you decide to buy a perfume.  It takes that long for you to know if you really like it.  If you find yourself smelling your wrist for the whole 20 minutes, you’ll know it’s right for you!

Visit Qortezan and let us help you find a scent you’ll adore.  Our collection of exquisite women’s and men’s fragrances features unique perfumes that you won’t find anywhere else.  And that means no more department store fragrance counters!

Perfume Selection at Qortezan

Audrey Hepburn

The Little Black Dress, known affectionately as the LBD, is one of Qortezan’s specialties.

It’s one of the few wardrobe essentials that can truly take you anywhere: the grocery store, a cocktail party or, well, Paris.

The LBD is all about versatility. It can be one of the hardest-working items in your closet, especially if it fits perfectly and makes you feel sexy. Fortunately, there’s a Little Black Dress out there for every size, shape and personality.

Here are some tips for finding the perfect LBD.

They say there are only a few main body types. While we think this is a very simple way to look at our unique bodies, it helps to find out what will flatter your silhouette and give you room to express your own personal style.

Coco Chanel

Curvy women look smashing in fabrics that drape well with a cut that shows off the waistline. A wrap dress or belted shirt dress will accentuate your sexy curves.

Women with a smaller bust can emphasize their assets with strategic gathers, rauching and other details. Simple sheaths or chemise styles, A-line or wrap dresses are stunning choices.

Play up a fuller bustline by showing a little leg and a hint of cleavage. Fabrics with a bit of stretch skim your curves. A sleeveless sheath or princess dress would be a knockout choice.

A boyish figure can look more feminine in styles that define the waist. Accessorize with an attention-getting belt, look for detailing at the waist or an A-line silhouette.

Angeline Jolie

If you have fuller hips, you can create length with designs using vertical seams and details. A tailored bust or waistline with a slightly flared skirt is very sexy.

Inspired? Visit Qortezan at 1035 Mainland Street in Vancouver. We have an ever-changing, growing collection of perfect Little Black Dresses carefully chosen for quality, design, travel-friendly fabrics and most of all, style.

The David Anthony Project

From flamenco to jazz, from classical guitar to opera and pop, Qortezan’s special entertainment evenings are a complete sensual experience. Nourish your body and your spirit with the pleasures of live performances by some of Vancouver’s most talented musicians.

Enter an atmosphere like a courtesan’s private chambers. Treat your senses to an experience like no other by immersing yourself in the gorgeous surroundings and sensual pleasures of Qortezan.

Coming soon:

Pancho and Sal
Thursday, November 12 from 7-9 PM

We’re very happy to welcome Pancho and Sal to the Qortezan stage this Thursday. One of Vancouver’s most unique and beloved musical duos, they’re bringing their magical combination of Latin, Reggae, Flamenco and original poetry to Qortezan. Please join us for an evening of inspiring music, incredible instrumentation and pure pleasure.

Marek Wojtaszek & Maria Avila (Flamenco)
Saturday November 14 from 7-10

Qortezan is pleased to present two core members of the popular Vancouver flamenco group, La Triana. Guitarist Marek Wojtaszek has trained extensively in flamenco technique and has distinguished himself as an accompanist to the most influential flamenco figures in Vancouver. Maria Avila – singer, dancer, palmera and percussionist – is one of our most multi-talented flamenco artists, performing in and around Vancouver to spellbound audiences for many years.

Lindsay May
Saturday, November 21 from 7-10

BC singer/songwriter Lindsay May graces the Qortezan stage on Saturday November 21st. Her music is a powerful blend of soulful, rich vocals, original lyrics and bluesy arrangements. Polished and sincere, her voice embodies her passion for music and is sure to send shivers down your spine.

Also coming soon: Geraldo Alcala (flamenco guitar), Juan de Marias (Spanish/classical guitar), Diana Diaz (Latin).

Get all the latest information on entertainment at Qortezan by visiting our Events page and subscribing to our newsletter.

Their recent article on Qortezan gets right to the point: Qortezan is special because there’s nothing to be shy about in such beautiful surroundings.  With so much on offer to encourage a sensual approach to life, Qortezan is a pleasure boutique that will make you feel like Royalty!

Read the article here.

Chasing fashion has never been more exciting, as designers like Michael Kors create new runway collections based on the hit TV series “Mad Men”. The design department for the award winning series has fashionable heads turning to an era in which women were elegant and feminine, men dressed in slim suits polished with skinny ties and pocket squares and would never be seen without a handsome hat.

Mad Men character, Don Draper

Mad Men character, Roger Sterling

This show has brought back great fashion, reminding us why we love the 1960’s. As you search to recreate this classic style be sure to visit us soon.

It’s all in the way you wear it and the story you tell with it.
There are so many ways we humans communicate. We use words and modulate our voices, we gesture and cast meaningful glances. The way we dress tells a story about who we are and what we want.

People are usually most conscious of the expressive power of what they wear for a job interview or a first date, but why not use this power more often and more deliberately?

What’s your story?

For men, nothing could be simpler. The crisp clean lines of a well-made white shirt speak volumes about a man’s confidence and refinement. Do you wear cotton or silk? Do you notice the fine details of craftsmanship and tailoring? Nothing is so direct, so uncomplicated or so elegant.

Now for women. Imagine a beautiful woman padding around a luxurious hotel room wearing nothing but a man’s white dress shirt. Think Bridget Bardot or Marilyn Monroe – women who wore the white shirt with unselfconscious sensuality. This is the woman who rises tousled from bed and covers herself with her lover’s dress shirt discarded from the night before.

And there’s the white shirt worn with power and sexy confidence. Simple, perfectly fitted, paired with a business-like suit and a hint of lace beneath, this is the story of a woman who works and plays in a “man’s world” and holds her own.
Qortezan specializes in the sexy, expressive possibilities of the white shirt. We consider it an iconic essential that belongs in every wardrobe. Use your imagination: what’s your story?

Please visit Qortezan at 1035 Mainland Street, Vancouver for a collection of exceptional white shirts that will inspire your creativity.

Toronto-based Erazo is practically self-taught, gaining impeccable leatherworking technique by working for a fine leather furniture company.  Inspired by the fine art of corsetry and the costume of classical ballet, she says that the ideal of perfect symmetry lies behind her corset belts.

Each individually crafted belt is a work of wearable art.  Many are made from vegetable-tanned leather for beautiful tones of rich red, deepest black, and dramatic cobalt blue.

Perfect for any time of the night or day, try pairing a wide wrap belt with a long tunic or sweater and leggings.  Match it up with a pair of striking high boots to really turn heads.

For evening, try a buckled corset belt with a simple little black dress for a sexy retro hourglass look.  Pair it with a sleek pencil skirt and a delicate camisole for a stunning contrast in texture and feel.

After evening, Susana Erazo belts can even be worn for sexy allure in the bedroom, right against your skin.  Unlike many other designers, Erazo leaves her leather naturally unlined so it breathes sensually along with you.

Visit Qortezan in Yaletown and experience the entire line of Susana Erazo belts.  Perfect for the holidays, perfect anytime.

Please join us at Qortezan and let Tart Boutique prepare you for the witching hour. Cast a spell on Hallowe’en night with sexy costumes, tricks and treats that will bewitch your beloved, body and soul.

October 21, 2009 7-10 pm

Explore the realm of sensual sorcery and enchantment. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and receive an exclusive trick-or-treat gift bag prepared especially for you.

Qortezan: Live Royally
1035 Mainland Street, Yaletown
Vancouver, BC
604 685 7755

http://www.qortezan.com/