It started with a vision to capture the history and beauty of perfume. It soon became a labor of love to create the ideal environment to inspire others while preserving the history, artistry and beauty of perfume bottles, vanity items and ephemera through the ages.

The collecting journeys of co-founders Jeffrey Sanfilippo and Rusty Hernandez-Sanfilippo came together to establish Perfume Passage Foundation, opening a private, 8,000-square-foot museum in 2019 at the Sanfilippo estate. 



The four different galleries begin with a trip back in time as you stroll through a 1900s Parisian Passageway, exploring window displays detailing the history of iconic French and American perfume houses.

Discover the interior of a 19th-century American drugstore and soda fountain. Restored to its former glory, the displays of perfumes, barbershop items and early cosmetic products in the apothecary bring the room to life. Learn about the science of scent and perfume-making through an interactive experience. 

Transport yourself into the Art Deco Gallery to relive the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs of 1925. Inspired by the Expo's iconic Rene Lalique fountains, the gallery highlights perfume bottle design, exuding the spirit of the Art Deco movement.

The Vault gallery highlights the treasures of the Perfume Passage collection. Artifacts include a cologne bottle from Napoleon I, vinaigrettes, chatelaines and rare perfumes that illustrate the magnificence of perfume through the ages.

In addition, there are a variety of special exhibits, including Made in Chicago, miniature perfumes, ladies compacts, purses and a 1940s Beauty Bar display case filled with vintage beauty products.