Just opened in the Junction: Knows Perfume. Owner Christen Cottam definitely knows it.

The design is smart (open ceilings so shoppers won’t be overwhelmed by the co-mingling of bottled aromas), the selection of independent fragrances from around the world is generous (men’s and women’s, spicy and floral, earthy and fresh, musky and light), and the try-before-you-buy policy is customer-friendly.

We hate to name-drop, but here are a few of the shop’s featured products and lines (check the slideshow for images):

L’Artisan Parfumeur This Parisian niche perfume house creates fragrances that feel like perfect gifts – except you’ll want to keep them yourself.

Penhaligon’s England’s premiere perfumer with classic scents for men and women.

Juliette Has a Gun A fun, hip line of fresh, young scents.

Aroma M Oil-based scents fit for geishas, beautifully packaged in Japanese hand-crafted papers.

Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Fragrances made from traditional French perfume recipes that come in old-fashioned glamorous red glass bottles.

Smell Bent This Santa Monica-based company mixes high quality ingredients with humor producing playful and funky scents like Sunshine and Mama Cassis. Definitely not your ordinary perfume collection.

McBride A Lucky magazine cult favorite brand that makes soy soap bars and luscious body balm at wallet-friendly price points.

MBeze Check out the air-plane friendly small bottles or the signature body mist spray.

And soon to come: diffusers from the Anthousa Collection, a Seattle-based line.