Benegas: these are the fragrances that form part of the olfactory history of San Sebastián
Benegas: these are the fragrances that form part of the olfactory history of San Sebastián
Benegas was founded in 1908 as a men’s hair salon and perfumery with a notable English style, offering the most innovative French and English items of the time. Among their clientele were personalities from all over the world: intellectuals, artists, and members of royalty who spent their summers in San Sebastián. Today, Benegas is managed by the third and fourth generations of the same family that founded the business, although the perfumery has become more prominent over the years: its windows and shelves display an exquisite selection of brands with different origins, including Profumum Roma, Acqua di Parma, Penhaligon’s, and Ramón Monegal. In addition, the shop’s long-standing relationship with Chanel has allowed them to dedicate a space entirely to the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection of fragrances for men and women – scents which evoke portions of the life of Mademoiselle Chanel herself, making the Benegas Perfumery one of the few independent establishments in the world that offer these products.
In the 1990s, Benegas launched their own house cologne, featuring a combination of citrus and floral nuances made up of bergamot, lemon, orange blossom, lavender, and jasmine. Over time, they have gradually introduced new fragrances and soaps that they sell under the Benegas and SSirimiri brands. With the aim of further expanding their take on perfumery, this year they will complete the collection with new creations from both brands.
These fragrances designed by Benegas are jewels of olfactory history for the city. In fact, they are so important that the iconic Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra has included a line of amenities by SSirimiri in its rooms and suites; a very successful collaborative effort to bring local knowledge in this field a bit closer to the hotel’s guests.
In addition to perfumery, the boutique also has a space dedicated to the sale of cosmetics, with a makeup service and a large beauty cabin where they offer facial and body treatments combining manual massage techniques with the latest technology. For full-body lymphatic drainage massages, which are completely customizable, they use avant-garde products from the Spanish company Sepai. For facial treatments, in addition to the aforementioned brand, they also apply products and protocols by Chanel and by Nescens – a Swiss clinic which specializes in combating the signs of skin aging.
Over these 117 years, Benegas has been able to update and adapt to the requirements, trends, and needs of society, staying true to their original philosophy and passing down knowledge from generation to generation – becoming a true part of the olfactory history of San Sebastián.
Benegas
Calle Garibay 12, San Sebastián.
Tel.: +34 943 420 305
