Fragrance retail has come a long way since the terrors of the department store spritz squad. For the curious scent customer who seeks a more leisurely experiential purchase, there are adventures to be had. Take, for example, the beautifully conceived Mexican fragrance brand Xinú. The creation of designer Héctor Esrawe and brand studio Cadena, Xinú is designed to represent the rich botanical landscape of the Americas, both visually and olfactively. Two gardens flank the Xinú store in Polanco, Mexico City, while inside, a table acts as a cabinet of curiosities, the haul of an imaginary naturalist. It features glass objects, stones, woods, resins and metal; a landscape designed to tell the story of ‘handcrafted processes, artistic expression, natural species, aromas, textures, light and shadows’. The scents were created by classically…
